Collect the gold coins
How many gold coins can Digit Dog collect? Digit Dog is trying to collect the pirate’s gold coins. Here is a map of where the pirate keeps the coins (download and print your map here)
Use the Digit Dog pirate counters to move on the board (download here)
There are 8 rooms and the number tells you how many coins are in each room. Digit Dog has to go into the rooms and collect the coins BUT he can only go into each room ONCE.
How many coins can Digit Dog collect?
How many different ways can he go though the rooms?
Can you record his routes? How might you do this?
What’s the most coins you can collect?
What’s the smallest number of coins?
Look for children who are planning the routes and can explain their thinking.
Simplify the task
- Put gold coins in each room so that Digit Dog can collect them as he goes through. He can then count them at the end to find out how many he has.
- Put Numicon® shapes in each room so that Digit Dog can collect a shape when he has gone through the room. These can then be added together to find the total number of coins. Using the shapes encourages children to calculate rather than count in ones.
I went to rooms 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8. How many coins did I collect altogether?
I have put the shapes on the number line so that I can see the total without counting in ones.
Encourage children to use number bonds to find the totals.
3. Use the blank store and put just numbers 1, 2 and 3 in the rooms.
4. Put just Numicon® shapes or coins in the rooms – no numerals.
Extend the challenge
Use the blank store and put higher numbers in each room.
Challenge children to find all possible routes and to explain how they know they have found them.
Digit Dog Challenges 