Place Value and the Navajo Stick Game

Abstract

My curriculum unit is designed to teach students to learn, understand and know how to use the place value system while playing the Navajo Stick Game. There are many concepts and skills when teaching the place value system and it is very adaptable for the Navajo Stick game. Our students need to know how to use the place value chart to their advantage when manipulating the chart.

Place value encompasses the four operations (addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication), decimals, fractions, estimations, and rounding, and more. Teachers need to understand and to be able to teach the skills to students thoroughly and efficiently when using the place value system. To explain it efficiently, teachers need to use the mechanical application, use different manipulatives, and stress the relationships between math skills because they are all interrelated and have connections to the place value system. When teachers make these connections when teaching then students have understanding and confidence in knowing how to use the place value.