DIY Jenga and System of Equations

Have you read DIY Jenga yet?  It's an e-tutorial about how to change Jenga into an educational game where you can write on the surface of the blocks and erase it later.  My students frequently request this game and I love that we can pull it out at a moments notice and start playing.

For some reason this year, I have a lot of Algebra I students.  When system of equations started flowing into their lives, they were stressed.  It was just a different way of thinking than they were used to this entire semester.

I decided to blend together systems of equations and DIY Jenga to make it a more playful experience.  Basically all you need to do is write one equation per block.  If you are looking for equations in a flash, visit Spark Notes.

To play the game, write the equations on the blocks. The players will each draw out two blocks and solve for the solution using elimination or substitution methods.  Graphing may just take a lot longer, but in a tutoring situation...that is okay too.

Game is over when the tower tumbles over.  Rebuild and play again.  Just a side note about the solutions,   they may not work out nicely as in whole numbers, but allow the student to use a calculator to check their work.

I couldn't help but share this fun systems of equations video, it's quite catchy and I love that the teachers are so willing to make a video-all to help their students remember!