Take Away Bundles

The "Take Away Bundles" game is an educational activity designed to help children practice the concept of subtracting multiples of ten from a two-digit number. To play, children will need a few items: a pair of dice—one that rolls multiples of ten and another that rolls numbers from 0 to 9—a 1 to 100 board, counters, and base ten apparatus such as bundles of straws. This hands-on approach not only makes learning subtraction engaging but also reinforces the understanding of place value and the decimal system.

During the game, players take turns rolling the dice to create a two-digit number, which they then represent using the bundles of straws. For instance, if a player rolls a 53, they would gather five bundles of ten straws and three individual straws to represent the number. After creating their number, players choose a multiple of ten to subtract from it, using the straws to help them count back and find the answer. The result is then marked on the 1 to 100 board with a counter. The objective is to be the first to line up three counters in a row, whether horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Throughout the game, players discuss how subtracting multiples of ten affects only the tens digit, leaving the units unchanged, thereby deepening their comprehension of the base-ten number system.