Grade 2: Sum-thing Special in Math Class
Second graders in Mrs. Katie Mimnall’s class recently welcomed Mrs. Kelly Palma’s first-grade class into their classroom to teach them a math game called “Shut the Box.”
The goal of the game is for students to use addition and strategy to cross off as many numbers as possible on a game board labeled 1 through 10. Students worked in pairs, sharing one board and talking through each move together.
To play, students rolled two dice and added the numbers together. They then decided which numbers on the board to cross off. Sometimes they crossed off the total they rolled, and other times they chose a combination of smaller numbers that added up to the same amount. Once a number was crossed off, it could not be used again. As more numbers were crossed off, students had fewer choices, which encouraged them to think carefully about each decision.
The round ended when all the numbers were crossed off or when a roll could no longer be made using the numbers still open. Any remaining numbers were added together at the end, with lower totals showing stronger strategic play.
Through this activity, students practiced addition, composing and decomposing numbers, and thinking ahead. Working with first graders gave second graders the opportunity to lead the game, talk through strategies, and support their younger partners, while first graders built confidence learning alongside older peers.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
