Kalah

Calculator Kalah

Science Process Skills

Relating

Applying

Math Skills

Problem Solving

Reasoning

Algebra

Statistics

Numbers/Operations/Computation

Life Skills

Problem Solving

Materials (per group)

Hand Held Calculator

Doing the Activity

Turn on your calculator.

Press the AC key to clear the screen. AC means "all clear"; C means "clear".
If your calculator does not have an AC key, press, the C key twice.

Play 73 Kalah, using the following rules:

0 is never used in Calculator Kalah.

Player 1 enters any digit, 1 - 9, followed by a + sign. (for example 8 +)

Player 2 enters any digit, 1 - 9, followed by a + sign.

Players take turns adding digits 1 - 9 till 73 is displayed on calculator screen.

Players who total 73 are winners.

Players who go over 73 are disqualified.

Play again! This time, Player 2 goes first. Experiment with different strategies.

Reflecting

How could this game be played without a calculator?

What did you find out about addition of single digit whole numbers?

Why can't you use zero in this game?

What did you have to consider when making choices?

Applying

How can you change the game to use subtraction instead of addition?

What could you do to become better at this game without the calculator?

What could you do to help someone else become better at this game?

Design your own game using the calculator.

More Challenges
You bought a big card to send your friend for her birthday. It will be late if you don't mail it today. Such a big card needs $1.00 postage. Your go to the post office to buy stamps, but you are too late, the post office window is closed! You notice a vending machine that sells stamps in the post office lobby. But, these machines require exact change. What are all the possible combinations of nickels, dimes, and quarters that equal a dollar? Develop a strategy to figure out how many combinations are possible.

Careers
Calculators are a kind of computer. Computer engineers design machines that can calculate in less than a second problems that would take many hours to solve with a pencil and a piece of paper. To find out more about careers in computer engineering, contact; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Web site: http://www.ieee.org

Internet Sites for students

Mancala Game on-line www.imagiware.com/mancala/

Other decision making games on Yahooligans Games, chess, checkers, reversi, backgammon, word search, go fish:
http://games.yahoo.com/games/yahooligans.html?identity=chat_pf_0&grade=4_6

Internet Sites for leaders

Mr. Titan's Math Page: Challenge problems, Number tricks, Tessellation's, and Games.
www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Tower/1133

Activity Source

"Funtivities: Hands-on Science and Math." Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Extension Distribution Center (515) 294-5247, order # 4H-952 for grades 4-5, #4H-952LDR for grades 4-5 leader's guide, #4H-953 for grades 6-8, #4H-953LDR for grades 6-8 leader's guide.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

Site contact
E-SET ISU Extension Extension Sites Search
Contact information: Vicki Speake x1speake@exnet.iastate.edu
Updated: October, 1999

NNST CYFERNet

	Calculator Kalah

	Science Process Skills Relating Applying Math Skills Problem Solving Reasoning Algebra Statistics Numbers/Operations/Computation Life Skills Problem Solving
	Materials (per group) Hand Held Calculator
	Doing the Activity Turn on your calculator. Press the AC key to clear the screen. AC means "all clear"; C means "clear". If your calculator does not have an AC key, press, the C key twice. Play 73 Kalah, using the following rules: 0 is never used in Calculator Kalah. Player 1 enters any digit, 1 - 9, followed by a + sign. (for example 8 +) Player 2 enters any digit, 1 - 9, followed by a + sign. Players take turns adding digits 1 - 9 till 73 is displayed on calculator screen. Players who total 73 are winners. Players who go over 73 are disqualified. Play again! This time, Player 2 goes first. Experiment with different strategies.
	Reflecting How could this game be played without a calculator? What did you find out about addition of single digit whole numbers? Why can't you use zero in this game? What did you have to consider when making choices?
	Applying How can you change the game to use subtraction instead of addition? What could you do to become better at this game without the calculator? What could you do to help someone else become better at this game? Design your own game using the calculator.
	More Challenges You bought a big card to send your friend for her birthday. It will be late if you don't mail it today. Such a big card needs $1.00 postage. Your go to the post office to buy stamps, but you are too late, the post office window is closed! You notice a vending machine that sells stamps in the post office lobby. But, these machines require exact change. What are all the possible combinations of nickels, dimes, and quarters that equal a dollar? Develop a strategy to figure out how many combinations are possible.
	Careers Calculators are a kind of computer. Computer engineers design machines that can calculate in less than a second problems that would take many hours to solve with a pencil and a piece of paper. To find out more about careers in computer engineering, contact; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Web site: http://www.ieee.org
	Internet Sites for students Mancala Game on-line www.imagiware.com/mancala/ Other decision making games on Yahooligans Games, chess, checkers, reversi, backgammon, word search, go fish: http://games.yahoo.com/games/yahooligans.html?identity=chat_pf_0&grade=4_6 Internet Sites for leaders Mr. Titan's Math Page: Challenge problems, Number tricks, Tessellation's, and Games. www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Tower/1133
	Activity Source "Funtivities: Hands-on Science and Math." Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Extension Distribution Center (515) 294-5247, order # 4H-952 for grades 4-5, #4H-952LDR for grades 4-5 leader's guide, #4H-953 for grades 6-8, #4H-953LDR for grades 6-8 leader's guide.