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First to Fifty

Materials

2 students
1 calculator (This is appropriate for all calculators)

Activity

This is a calculator activity game used to stimulate critical thinking skills at all elementary levels.

1. The first student begins by entering a 1, 2, or 3 into the calculator and passing the calculator to the second student.

2. The second student must add 1, 2, or 3 to the current value displaying the sum. The calculator is passed to the first student.

3. The first student add 1, 2, or 3 to the previously displayed sum and displays the new sum and passes the calculator to the second student.

4. The winner is the student that displays 50 on the
calculator.

5. Play again but allow the second student to go first.

Student Questions

1. Did anyone use a strategy when playing "First to Fifty?"

2. Was your strategy successful?

3. Does it matter who goes first?

4. At what point in the game do you know who wins??

Have students play as many times as time allows. Students will begin to see that if a player reaches 46, they have won. When you sum the display to 46, the next player must sum to 47, 48 or 49 (adding 1, 2, or 3). Therefore, you win on your next turn.† Have the students see if they can get the winning number even lower than 46.

Final analysis
If you go first and enter 2, you can't lose.