Exploring Krypto

Resources and Tools for Elementary Math Specialists and Teachers

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This lesson plan provides the teacher with an activity for introducing the game Krypto, which helps to develop number sense, computational skill, and an understanding of the order of operations. Players are given five number cards. They combine them, using the standard arithmetic operations, to create a target number. As students investigate the game, they develop strategies for finding solutions efficiently. The plan includes learning objectives, materials needed, questions to ask students, assessment options, extensions, teacher self-reflection questions, and a link to the online version, Primary Krypto, (catalogued separately).

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Contributed by: Samuel E. Zordak - Author, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Publisher

Math TopicAlgebraic Thinking, Basic Operations, Number Sense, Number Concepts, Mathematical Practices, Mathematical Processes

Grade Level3, 4, 5, 6+

Resource TypeActivity, Game, Lesson Plans

Additional Information
- AudienceEducator
- LanguageEnglish (USA)
- Education Topic
- Interdisciplinary Connection
- Professional DevelopmentNo
- ContributorSamuel E. Zordak - Author, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Publisher
- Publication Date2008
- RightsCopyright (c) 2000 - 2011 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  http://illuminations.nctm.org/termsofuse.aspx
- AccessFree access
Standards
- Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
  Select a standards document:
- Standards for Mathematical Practice[K-12]
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.[K-12]
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively.[K-12]
- Operations and Algebraic Thinking[K - 5]
- Understand properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division.[3]
- 5. Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide.2 Examples: If 6 × 4 = 24 is known, then 4 × 6 = 24 is also known. (Commutative property of multiplication.) 3 × 5 × 2 can be found by 3 × 5 = 15, then 15 × 2 = 30, or by 5 × 2 = 10, then 3 × 10 = 30. (Associative property of multiplication.) Knowing that 8 × 5 = 40 and 8 × 2 = 16, one can find 8 × 7 as 8 × (5 + 2) = (8 × 5) + (8 × 2) = 40 + 16 = 56. (Distributive property.)[3]
- Multiply and divide within 100.[3]
- 7. Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 × 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.[3]
- Write and interpret numerical expressions.[5]
- 1. Use parentheses, brackets, or braces in numerical expressions, and evaluate expressions with these symbols.[5]
- 2. Write simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpret numerical expressions without evaluating them. For example, express the calculation "add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2" as 2 × (8 + 7). Recognize that 3 × (18932 + 921) is three times as large as 18932 + 921, without having to calculate the indicated sum or product.[5]
- Number and Operations in Base Ten[K - 5]
- Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic.[3 - 4]
- 2. Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.[3]
Related Resources
- Primary Kryto

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Exploring Krypto

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics