Classroom Strategies for Playing an "I Have Who Has..." Game

There are several strategies that have proven successful when implementing this activity:

Whole Class Game:
1.Distribute one card to each student, then distribute the extras to strong students in the beginning and to random students as the class becomes more familiar with the deck.  

2. As you distribute the cards, encourage students to begin thinking about what the question for their card might be so that they are prepared to answer. When all cards are distributed, select the  student with the starter card to begin. Play continues until the game loops back to the original card or ends with the "end" card (games are written differently). That student answers and then says "the end" to signal the end of the game.  

3. After the class is comfortable with this game format, consider using a stopwatch to time the class game. Record the time on the board so that students try each game to beat their current best time. This practice encourages students to stay attentive and prompts students to practice basic facts so that the class time improves. The current record for one of the Multiplication games is held by a fourth grade class in New Jersey who completed the deck in 59 seconds. Try to beat this record!

Discourage students from calling out answers by adding 5 seconds onto the class time whenever you hear an answer from someone who does not hold the card. Use the same penalty for students who express vocal displeasure with delays by other students.

Partner or Small-Group Play:  
1. One student deals out the cards to all players.

2. Players arrange the cards face-up in front of them. Students will find that arranging the cards in order from least to greatest will help them locate cards quickly.

3. Play begins with the starter card.

4. Play continues as in the class game. Whoever has the card that answers the question reads that answer and then reads the question on that card.Students turn over the cards after reading them. The first person to turn over all his/her cards, wins the game. [Note: this is completely random but don't tell the students!]

5. Shuffle the cards and repeat the game.

Video Conference Play with Another Class Across the District:
Contact Angela.Conrad@humble.k12.tx.us or Kimberle.Bales@humble.k12.tx.us and we will help you find a partner class within our district or elsewhere if you don't have one. Select the game you would like to play and we will take care of splitting the cards evenly. After the and your partner teacher agree on a time and date, we'll take care of the rest! Just get ready to have some fun!

Thanks to MathWire.com for some of the directions.