Hi everyone,
Here is another great game that can be used in class:
http://www.andkon.com/arcade/puzzle/flashmastermind/
Mastermind is an old board game that I used to play when I was younger. It's great to see that it is also available as a flash game that can be easily accessed anywhere. If you aren't familiar with mastermind, the instructions are as follows:
The object of this game is to guess the sequence of four colored pegs the computer has selected at random from the circled colors in the right field. You start filling the holes at the bottom row with pegs, and each time you have completed a guess (i.e. filled all four holes) the computer will respond by giving you one peg for each correct color - white if your guess was also in the right place, otherwise black. (But you will not be informed about which colors were correct. That part you will have to figure out for yourself.) If you haven't managed to guess the sequence by your 10th guess, the computer will reveal it to you and the game ends.
Mastermind proves to be a great way to get students into an algebraic state of mind as they have to use guess and check as well as substitution skills to arrive at the correct answer. This would be a resourceful and fun way to introduce students to algebra or simply guessing and checking.
Hope you find it useful!
Dante
I remember playing Mastermind on the floor in my grandparents' living room after school when I was younger. I love this game, and I think it is a great activity for getting students to think logically. I think that students would really like this as a consolidation activity when they first learn guess and check. They could work on a few problems first, and then play with a partner for a little bit. This would also be great for an activity students could do if they finish a task early, or have indoor recess. And the best part is they can't lose ny of the little pieces if it is electronic!
ReplyDeleteGreat find!