The Suspend game is great for critical thinking and spatial reasoning (as well as hand eye coordination), but a 5th grade student had an idea where we could also practice addition and subtraction. This is a great example of how you can add more math to any game with a little creativity.
In this game 1-4 players balance 24 different sized notched and rubber tipped wire pieces onto a tabletop stand. Players must roll a colored die and then add a piece of that color, which can be challenging! Balance and understanding the center of gravity are key to understanding the required strategy! The Suspend game includes: 24 Game Rods, Wooden Base, 4 Frame Rods, Colored Die, and a Wooden Connector.
Here is a video from Hobby Kids TV if you want to see how it works.
What my student added was this idea: She gave each color rod a value and we wrote a key on the board. If you balanced a rod, you got that many points and added to your total. Â However, if you knocked any rod off, you had to subtract that from your score. I have played this with young children using small numbers to practice addition/subtraction facts. I have also played with older children using double and triple digit values and even values including decimals.
For more games please see my complete list of Math Board and Card Games