SIMCC Games · Teacher guide
Magic Squares
Place numbers so every row, column and diagonal has the same total.
- Trains
- Addition · Sharing a total equally · Reasoning about rows, columns and diagonals
- Ages
- 7 to 12
- In class
- On your own. One device each. Choose First steps: four lessons. Then Lower Division: 3 × 3 squares of 1 to 9, with the magic total shown.
A ten-minute starter
- Show about 2 minAdd 1 to 9 with the class: 45. Share it between three rows: each row makes 15. That is the magic total, and every column and both diagonals make it too.
- Play about 6 minStudents choose First steps and work through the lessons, then try Lower Division.
- Talk about 2 minAsk: which number always goes in the centre of a 3 × 3 square of 1 to 9, and why?
Questions to ask the class
- Why is the magic total of 1 to 9 equal to 15?Listen for: All nine add up to 45, shared by three rows: 45 ÷ 3 = 15.
- Row 1 has 8 and 1. What does it need?Listen for: 6, to make 15.
- A square uses the even numbers 2 to 18. What is its magic total?Listen for: 30: they add up to 90, and 90 ÷ 3 = 30.
A common mistake
Making every row add up and forgetting the columns and diagonals.
How to help: Each line shows its sum so far and what it still needs, such as "12 of 15, needs 3". Ask them to read every line before they check.
Assign it
On the coach dashboard, choose your class under Cohorts. In Assign practice, pick Magic Squares and the drill First steps or Make it magic, add a due date if you want one, then press Assign. Students find it on their Train page.
Set First steps for a new class, then Make it magic.
Results show on the dashboard by student and by game once the server has checked them.