Teaching Mean, Median and Mode – lets play Mean Wars!

Mean Wars was the first card game we made. It started as a game I made up to help my students practice mean, median, mode and range, and the first time I played it, I used normal playing cards. However I found that students were distracted by the playing cards, so I decided to make my own cards with numbers on. Strangely, this had the desired affect, and students were focused on the task at hand.

Because the mean is sometimes harder to work out (as it will not be a whole number) I sometimes allow use of a calculator in class to give students a little hand.

It was through this game, that Sam and I decided to go into business together making resources. He started as the graphic designer, and I started as educator/ideas generator. As time has gone on, these two roles have blended.

I love this resource, not just because it was our first, but also being it is a classic. I still have students asking me if we can play it.

The cards give students an interactive way to develop a deeper understanding of Mean, Median, Mode and Range data.

I find that the interactive aspect to the game really helps students to engage with the task and as a result they are more focused on building their knowledge. Because the mean is harder to work out I sometimes allow use of a calculator.

For each round, 9 cards are dealt out (or this can be any number of your choosing) and students decide if they wish to go for their median, mean, mode or range for their score. This goes on for four rounds, but each type of average can only be used once. The winner is the person with the highest score at the end.

My students love this activity, and I like to use it as a revision tool for Averages.

 How I use it –

I tend to use this game for groups of 2 to 6 players.

Round 1: For the first round I get students to find the MEDIAN value of their cards.

Round 2: Students have to find the MODE value of their cards. If there is no mode they get 0 points. If there are Two+ modes they can add them together.

Round 3: Students have to find the MEAN value of the cards. Which they then round to the nearest whole number.

Round 4: For the final round students have to find the RANGE of their cards.

After each round I get students to write all of the scores on the sheet. The winner of the game is the player with the highest overall score after round 4.

This was just the first of many games, activities and worksheets we have been making and continue to make. If you have any other games you’d like us to make, we are on facebook and twitter:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlestreams/

Twitter: @LittleStreams