Elementary Pull-Out: Pseudo-Monopoly

The Elementary Mathematician, COMAP's award-winning K-6 newsletter is available for the first time in electronic format. Each issue contains a collection of K-6 mathematic lessons that are fun to teach and exciting to learn.

Each issue of The Elementary Mathematician contains a Pull-Out section which includes thematic lessons based on the national census, wildlife, other cultures, technology, and provides a practical way to bring the concepts and pedagogy of the NCTM Standards into your classroom. 

Note: The information below was created with the assistance of AI.

Level of Mathematics
This activity is well-suited for upper elementary to early middle school students, typically Grades 5–7.

Mathematical Complexity: Moderate

Requires comfort with percentages, basic arithmetic, rounding, and conceptual understanding of reciprocals.

Involves multiple-step problem-solving and introduces some strategic thinking.

Prerequisite Skills
To engage effectively with the game, students should have:

Strong fluency in multiplication and division

Understanding of:

Percentages and decimals (e.g., converting 15% to 0.15)

Rounding rules (especially to the nearest dollar)

Prime numbers and divisibility

Reciprocals and their calculations

Calculator proficiency (including use of the percent key)

Basic record keeping and attention to accuracy in multi-step math

Application Areas

1. Real-World Financial Literacy
Mimics real-life financial concepts:

Earnings

Taxes

Bonuses

Commissions

Investments and selling with interest

Introduces financial decision-making in a game-based context

2. Mathematics in Game Design
Integrates game mechanics and mathematical strategy

Players must decide between different outcomes based on percent-based evaluations (e.g., when to buy primes)

3. Collaborative Learning
Supports group learning and peer checking (auditing others' accounts for math errors)

Encourages discussion of calculation methods and percent shortcuts

4. Critical Thinking and Strategy
Adds complexity with ownership rules and commission mechanisms based on number divisibility

Enhances numerical reasoning and foresight

Subject Matter Overview
Key Mathematical Topics:

Percent calculations (taxes, bonuses, interest)

Multiplication with decimals

Rounding to nearest whole number

Prime numbers and divisibility

Reciprocals and unit rates

Strategic problem-solving

Game Mechanics Include:
Rolling dice/spinners to generate numbers

Calculating taxes based on pre-defined brackets

Awarding bonuses for certain conditions (e.g., rolling primes)

Buying/selling primes with reciprocal pricing

Keeping a running total and auditing other players

Correlation to Mathematics Standards
Common Core State Standards (CCSS):

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NBT.B.7: Perform operations with decimals to hundredths.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3.C: Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.B.3: Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals.

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.EE.B.6: Use variables to represent numbers in real-world problems.

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4: Model with mathematics (real-life financial simulation).

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP6: Attend to precision (especially in recording and rounding).

NCTM Content and Process Standards:

Number and Operations: Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, and relationships among numbers (especially primes, reciprocals, and percents).

Algebra: Understand patterns and relationships (e.g., percent rules as algebraic expressions).

Problem Solving and Reasoning: Solve problems that arise in mathematics and real-life contexts using logical strategies.