From: Gail (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: Apr 16, 2002 at 06:16:48
Subject: Re: Calculator activities

Here is a game called "wipeout" that helps students practice place value.

Have them all key in the same number, something easy to remember, like
987,654,321

Then ask them to "wipeout" one of the digits without changing any of the
other digits.  When they finish their turn, there should be a new number,
987,605,432.  See how the 5 has been "changed" into a 0?

Here is what usually happens at first...

Ask them to "wipeout" the 5. Many students will just press "-" and "5" the
first time they try to solve this problem.  They will end up with 987,654,316,
and be very surprised. They should key the beginning number back into their
calculators and try again. Eventually they will discover that they need to use
the place value as they subtract, so  "-" "50,000" will wipe out the 5.

You can also use this with decimal place value.  Even the strongest students
have to think a bit before they gain automatic response.

 -Gail, for the T2T service


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