Algebra Superheroes is a game that I collaboratively designed with Elle. We started with 36 Superhero cards that she found online which require students to plug in variables to figure out their hero's strength, agility, speed, and intellect. Students then enter their heroes in tournaments, which result in them either losing health and/or attack points, or earning "treasure cards", which I made (some of which are based off the game Munchkin. Plagiarism is not my intention!). This means that students must constantly alter their heroes abilities, requiring them to review basic math facts.
I had so much fun writing the treasure cards. They were very silly. For instance, the 'Bad Hare Day' was a curse you could attack an opponent with in which a 'Bad Hare' trips them, and reduces their speed. New Zealanders have a raunchier sense of humor than Americans, as a general rule and this is reflected in schools. I would never be allowed to include the card titled the "Boots of Butt Kicking" in an American school, but it was hilarious!
The best part of this activity was how involved the students got. Some of my boys who had a tendancy to goof off or who generally weren't the top students academically really enjoyed playing the game and therefore put in the neccesary time and thought to become experts. As it was near the end of the year, we had a board game morning and a couple boys asked if they could play the Superheroes game. Sure, if you want to practice algebra during your free time, that is fine by me! I ended up playing with them, and they started ganging up on me! (I am quite competitive, as most people know, and was not about to dumb down my strategy for the youngsters. My strategy was quite effective until it turned into the two-on-one.)
The next day, the teacher I wrote the game with asked if she could borrow six students to teach the game to small groups in her class. I sent over those boys and a few others. They performed admirably and really did an excellent job as teachers. Perhaps what they need is more leadership positions.
I had so much fun writing the treasure cards. They were very silly. For instance, the 'Bad Hare Day' was a curse you could attack an opponent with in which a 'Bad Hare' trips them, and reduces their speed. New Zealanders have a raunchier sense of humor than Americans, as a general rule and this is reflected in schools. I would never be allowed to include the card titled the "Boots of Butt Kicking" in an American school, but it was hilarious!
The best part of this activity was how involved the students got. Some of my boys who had a tendancy to goof off or who generally weren't the top students academically really enjoyed playing the game and therefore put in the neccesary time and thought to become experts. As it was near the end of the year, we had a board game morning and a couple boys asked if they could play the Superheroes game. Sure, if you want to practice algebra during your free time, that is fine by me! I ended up playing with them, and they started ganging up on me! (I am quite competitive, as most people know, and was not about to dumb down my strategy for the youngsters. My strategy was quite effective until it turned into the two-on-one.)
The next day, the teacher I wrote the game with asked if she could borrow six students to teach the game to small groups in her class. I sent over those boys and a few others. They performed admirably and really did an excellent job as teachers. Perhaps what they need is more leadership positions.