Fair and Unfair
Fair and Unfair
Fair and Unfair
Alternate Instead of beads, the teacher can use different types of beans, different types of
Options for the cereal, counters, stones, twigs, or other small objects that the teacher can collect
Resources a lot of.
Goal The first pair of students to correctly sort the fair and unfair numbers wins.
Steps Step 1: The teacher creates groups of beads of different colors in 2 sets for each
group. For example, the teacher could create groups of 5 red beads, 7 blue
beads, and 10 green beads. The teacher will need one group of each color for
each pair.
Step 2: Split all students into pairs. It is important for this game that you have no
groups of 3.
Step 3: Provide each pair with one group of beads of each color.
Step 4: When the teacher says “start”, the pairs of students race to determine
which colors are “fair” colors and which are “unfair” colors. “Fair” colors are
those that can be split evenly among the two students i.e. even. “Unfair” colors
cannot be split evenly among two students i.e. odd.
Step 5: When a pair finishes sorting each of the colors, the students in that pair
raises their hands.
Step 6: If the teacher determines that the pair successfully sorted their colors
into fair and unfair colors, then that pair wins.
Enrichment ● As a follow-up game, the teacher can write numbers on a central board.
The pair that decides which numbers on the board are fair and which are
unfair using the beads at their station first wins. Have students practice
this game until they can play it without needing the beads.
● Use groups of 3 students to help students practice their multiples of 3.