The Game of Skunk

http://wassclass.com/daily-math-work-term-2-continued/

Well, this is really considered a middle grades game but it IS fun and provides a little active fun for students if you have some extra time or need an activity on a shortened day.

There are number of descriptions of this game on line. NCTM Illuminations has this detailed description with activity sheets. You can even buy this game on line (why?).

And you can even develop a theoretical probability investigation with this game. See Mr. Wass's Room 21 Class Website and his entry from June 5, 2013

Daily Math Work: Term 2 – Continued

The game of SKUNK involves 5 rounds (the letters S,K,U,N,K). A pair of dice is rolled and students accumulate points represented by the sum of the numbers on the dice. A variation is to accumulate points represented by the product of the numbers on the dice.

At the start of the game, all students stand up. Dice are rolled and students earn points represented by the sum of the dice (or product). 

Students decide to remain standing (and keep accumulating points) or sit for the remainder of the round, and keep the points they've accumulated without risking losing points. 

Students who are standing choose to sit or keep standing each time the dice are rolled. If a "1" is rolled, the round is over; and all the students who are standing lose their points for that round. If double 1's are rolled, students who are standing lose all the points they've accumulated in the game.

It's an exciting game of chance and it's fun to see who sits down quickly and who is a risk taker and stays standing. 

At the start of each round as I shake the dice in my hands I chant "Sit or Stand" and throw the dice once everyone has decided what they are going to do.

You can print out a worksheet for students to use in keeping track or students can just write the letters across the page and make their own columns.

The game of SKUNK was originally created by Dan Brutlag and published in NCTM's Math Teaching in the Middle School magazine in April 1994.