The Gaming Life

BV MATTHEW C. WINNER AND MEGHAN HEARN

Wii Learn
Surprise elementary grade students with a fun way to learn math

or tlic past two years, we have been using a tool to

snjjport matli instruction in our schools tbat is as
familiar to many students as riding a biketbe Nintendo Wii. Viewing tbe video game console through tbe
eyes of an educator has opened up a world of niatbeniatical
applications througli wbicb students can master concepts,
teacliers ean align with the Common Core Standards, and
classrooms can reflect students' ex|3eriences and interests.
Tlie Common Core State Standards Initiative is impacting
seliools nationwide. Never has there been a more important
time for teaclier librarians to ensure tbe relc\ anc\' of their programs within tbe larger context of this educational reform.
Tbese changes require us to have an awareness of and align
library instruction witb Common Core Standards in order
to stay an active member of tbe conversation and eontinue
to sn]3]X)rt student learning in a way tbat goes liand-in-liand
witb tbe efforts made by other educators in tbe sebool.
While drawing eonneetions between AASL's (American
A.ssociation of Scbool Librarians) Standards for tbe 21st
Century Learner aud tliosc outlined in tlie Common Core
Englisb Language Arts Standards may be accomplished
more easily by teacher librarians, identifying your role in
supporting tbe Mathematics Standards can secure your
identity as an instructional leader within tbe scbool. Take
advantage of a wonderful opportunity to eollaborate w itb
nuitli teachers to impact stndents' understanding and mastery of matb concepts and skills.
Matthew is an elementary scbool teacher librarian working with students in kindergarten througli fifth grade at
Longfellow I'.lemeutary Scbool in Colnmbia, MD. Mcgbaii
is a matb support teacher at Veterans Elementary School in
Ellieott, MD. An avid video gamer, Mattbew was excited
to bring tbe Nintendo Wii into tlic elassroom as an instructional tool. Megliau, a matb enthusiast, was dedicated to
integrating teebnology into the matbematies elassroom. Ibgetber, tbey were determined to further define tlie role tbat
tlie Nintendo Wii can play in matbematies instruction.

The WJi as a Tool

We arc incor])oratiug tbe Nintendo Wii into tbe classroom
as an instruetional tool, not as a replacement for mathematIS School Library Journal APRII, 2012

ies teaching. Much like students use graphing caleulators to

solve eomplex eoniputatiou, tbe Wii can be used as a tool to
enbauce instruction because it generates numbers tbat liavc
pli\'sical meaning for students. Wii has a number of sports and
fitness related games, intended for 1 to 4 players and rated 1'',
for Everyone b} tlie Entertainnient Software Rating Board
(ESRB), tbat have numerous real-world applications and provide a wealth of opportunities to conneet to matb eoneepts.
Using tbe Wii console and a remote, players ean engage in
games of tennis, baseball, golf, boxing, and bowling with Wii
Sports. Witb V\'/) Sports Resort, students can compete alone or
witli otlicr players in 12 islaud-tlienied games including basketball, table tennis, air sports, arebery, swordplay, and wakeboarding, riie Wii MotiouPIus eontroUer is required. Wii Fit
Plus improves balance .skills witb over 15 games plus a wide
range of exereises. The Wii Fit Balanee Board is required.

Sample Wii-lntegrated Math Lessons

In an activity we call "Wakeboard Differenees," students
in tlie second grade take tnrns using VV';; Sports Resort in
a wakeboarding game. Tbis sport involves being pulled bcliiiid a speedboat wbile riding atoj) a wakeboard and jumping tlie waves. Skilled wakeboarders are able to laud fli])s,
twists, and more while traveling at top speeds. In tlie game,
players bave two minutes to aebieve a bigh score by steering
using tbe wireless remote in order to juui]) tbe wake. 1 be
more eonseeutive times tbe player lands a jump, the higher
the points earned.
In tbe following lesson, v\e utilize matb journals for students to record data and calculate the difference between
two ^-digit numbers. A worksheet or pieee of lined paper
can be used iu plaee of the journal.
Lesson: Wakeboard Differences (Wii Sports Resort).
Crade: 2. Time: 45 min.
Common Core Math Standard(s): (2.NBT.2) Numbers
& Operations iu Base leu/Uuderstand Plaee Value/Count
within 1000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s. (2.NBT.7)
Numbers &' Operations in Base Ten/Use Plaee Value Understanding and Properties of Operations to Add and Subtract/Add and subtraet w itliin lOOO, using eonerete models

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or draw ings and strategies based on plaee value, properties

of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and
subtraction.
Lesson/Activities: As Stndents take turns generating
scores by playing the game, have the spectators represent
their seore using Base Ten Blocks or Digibloeks and reeord
the number in both standard and expanded form in their
journal. As students reeord the information, ask them questions sueh as: "How far is that number from 100?" "What
is the next ten after that number?" Once all students have
taken their tnrn, have them partner with another student
and find the difference between their value and their partner's value. Ask students to share their strategies. If time allows, ask students to work with a new partner.
In designing our lesson, we anticipated the need for
spectator engagement, so we bnilt in learning tasks for
them to eomplete while one student is playing the game.
Most often, all the students are focused and excited, eheering on their classmates and reeording the data and ealcnIating the answers.

More Lesson Plans

Lesson: Golf Target Praetiee (Wii Fit). Crade: 4. Time:
45 min.
Common Core Math Standard(s): Explain why a fraetion
a/b is et|ui\alent to a fraction (n x a)/(n x b) by using visual
fraction models, with attention to how the number and size
of the parts differ even though the two fraetions themselves
are the same size. Use this principle to reeognize and generate equi\alent fraetions.
(4.NF.2) Compare two fractions with different numerators
and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or nnmerators, or by eomparing to a benchmark
fraetion such as 1/2. Recognize that comparisons are valid
only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record
the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and jnstify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraetion model.
Lesson/Aetivities: In this game, participants hit a golf
ball towards a target surrounding the hole. The eloser the
ball lands to a hole-in-one, the more points are awarded.
Before stndents begin their game, ask: "What is the best
possible seore you can get eaeh time?" (100) and "If you
seored 100 every time, what would be the total best score
you could get for a game?" Stndents take turns hitting the
ball towards the target. Ask students to work in pairs and
record the ratio (the number of points seored ont of 100
total points) as a fraction eaeh time a student takes a turn.
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Students should find an equi\ aient fraction and record it on

an index card. Below eaeh fraetion, ask stndents to draw a
representation ofthat fraetion. Ask them: "How are you going about finding an equivalent fraetion?" The game ends
when ten players liave taken a turn. Ask students to reeord
the ratio of the total points earned to the total points possible in fraetion form and simplify. Direct pairs of students
to order their fraetions from least to greatest. Ask: "Where
does the overall fraetion fall in relation to the other fractions?" and "Is the overall fraetion eloser to 0, 1/2, or 1?"
Lesson: Converting Ski Jumps {Wii Fit Plus). Crade: 5.
Time : 45 min.
Common Core Math Standard(s): (5.MD.1) Convert
among different-sized standard measnrement units within
a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 em to 0.05 m),
and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world
problems.
Lesson/Aetivities: Stndents take turns generating jnnip
distanees using the Wii. As individual students make their
jumps, direct the spectators to reeord five of the distanees on
a piece of paper. The seores will appear in meters, so students
will need to convert the measurement to kilometers as well
as centimeters. Provide students with place value mats and
ealeulators to help them make the conversions. Ask students:
"What do you notice about the \alue of your uumber as yon
eonvert it to kilometers/deeimeters?" and "Why do you think
it might be important to learn to convert measurements?"

Support
There are many more possibilities for math lessons and
applications using the Wii. Bringing the device into your
elassroom is just the beginning. Onee you have mounted
that hurdle, you will begin to diseover the excitement as
math comes alive for your students. We have created a
wikispaee for those interested in eollaborating and learning more about our experiences. For more information
about the Common Core Standards in Mathematics, visit
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/mathematies.
'To learn more about using the Wii, inelnding a free webinar and lesson ideas for grades K-7, visit http://Wiilearning.
wikispaees.com.
Meghan Hearn (meghanhearn@gmail.com) is Math Support
Teacher, Veterans Elementary School, Ellicott, MD, and
Matthew Winner (mwinne2@gmaH.com) is Library Media
Specialist, Longfellow Elementary School, Columbia. MD.
APRIL 2012 School Library Journal i '

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