The Product Game

Rules

1. Player A puts a paper clip (or other marker) on a number in the factor list. Player A does not mark a square on the Product Grid because only one factor has been marked and it takes two factores to make a product.

2. Player B puts the other paper clip on any number in the factor list (including the same number marked by Player A) and then places one of their tokens (red or green) over the product of the two factors on the product grid. For example, if Player A marked "2" and Player B marked "6," Player B would cover the "12" square on the Product Grid.

3. Player A moves either one of the paper clips to another number and then places one of their tokens (red or green) over the new product. For example, Player A could move the paper clip from "2" to "9" and then cover "54" on the Product Grid because 9 x 6 = 54. 

4. Each player in turn moves a paper clip and marks a product. If a product is already covered, the player does not get to place a token for that turn. 

5. The winner is the first player to cover four squares in a row - vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

Suggestion for Teachers and Adults:

Talk with students about how to develop a strategy (both offensively and defensively) if they are aimlessly marking product squares at random.

NCTM Standard: Number & Operations, Problem Solving

Grade Level: Grades 4-8

Number of Players: 2

Materials: Gameboard, paper clips, two sets of tokens