What It Is
The Next Big Game is a 10-session, 15–20 hour hands-on Math Lab where students return to Mega Mini Games as experienced Design Campers. They play three new oversized professional-quality fraction games — Rollerslide, Collision, and Apex — then design and build a more complex original game. The lab culminates in a Game Expo where students present and play each other's games.
Activities use physical materials, such as 200cm polypropylene Rollerslide tracks, double-sided felt Collision boards (33″×22″), 55″ Apex mats, Hot Wheels tracks, marbles, curling pucks, and bean bags. Game boards are durable; paper-based design materials are consumable — students keep their work.
The Story
Returning Design Campers are tasked with creating The Next Big Game for Mega Mini Games. They start by making a meter stick, play structured mini games, then move to the advanced game set: Rollerslide uses polypropylene ramps and marbles to explore fraction addition, Collision uses a felt board and pucks for fraction multiplication, and Apex uses a track and bean bags for fraction division.
In sessions 6–10, students shift into design mode. They receive design training, make a plan, produce their game, create a scorecard, and host a Game Expo. Each task requires students to use fraction operations in authentic, creative ways. The curriculum is taught through a web-based slide portal at algebrastudio.org — Howie is the on-screen instructor in embedded videos. No special training is required.
Who It's For
- 5th grade teachers looking for hands-on supplemental curriculum in fraction operations
- 4th and 6th grade teachers who need fraction review or enrichment
- Afterschool and summer program directors who want turnkey STEM programming
- Curriculum coordinators looking for hands-on, standards-aligned supplements that work alongside any core curriculum
What's in the Kit
- Rollerslide mats (200cm polypropylene tracks)
- Collision felt game boards (33″×22″, printed both sides)
- Apex mats (55″ polypropylene tracks)
- Hot Wheels tracks and connectors
- Marbles, curling pucks, bean bags, ping pong balls
- Connector straws and craft materials
- Player's guides, planners, jobs poster, teamwork poster
- Quick reference booklet
10 Sessions at a Glance
How It Works
Every session runs through a web-based slide portal at algebrastudio.org. Howie is the on-screen instructor in embedded video mini-lessons — he introduces each task, demonstrates the math, and guides students through the activity. No special training is required. Open the kit, follow the slides, and go.
Sessions are designed to run between 45 and 90 minutes, with some extending longer at the teacher's discretion. The curriculum works as a daily block (3–4 weeks), a twice-weekly enrichment (5–10 weeks), or an afterschool/summer program.
Sample Lesson
Standards by Session
The Next Big Game covers adding and subtracting fractions, multiplying fractions, dividing fractions, and mixed number operations standards already in your grade 5 scope. It supplements any core curriculum and gives students a chance to apply the math you're already teaching.
| # | What Students Do | Standards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Make a meter stick — equivalent fractions; fraction of a whole | 4.NF.A.1 |
| 2 | Play Mini Games — add & subtract fractions with like denominators | 4.NF.B.3 |
| 3 | Play Rollerslide — add & subtract fractions with unlike denominators | 5.NF.A.1 |
| 4 | Play Collision — multiply fractions | 5.NF.B.4 |
| 5 | Play Apex — divide fractions | 5.NF.B.7 |
| 6–9 | Design, build & test advanced fraction games | 4.NF–5.NF |
| 10 | Game Expo — present, play & evaluate games | 4.NF–5.NF |
Career & Workplace Connections
Each Next Big Game session connects to a real-world career role that uses the same math students are learning. For every session, we provide a one-page Workplace Connection brief that introduces a professional — such as a recipe developer who scales ingredient quantities using fraction multiplication and division, or a sound engineer who mixes audio tracks using fractional decibel adjustments. These briefs give CTE directors and career-readiness coordinators a concrete way to show students how fraction operations appear in careers across culinary arts, audio production, manufacturing, and construction — making The Next Big Game a natural fit for programs that integrate academic content with career and technical education pathways.
Kit Sizes
All three sizes run the same 10-session curriculum. Teams are 4 students each.
Starter Kit
Trial size. Two teams get the full Next Big Game experience.
- 2 team material packs
- Rollerslide, Collision, Apex game boards
- Game design kits with craft supplies
4-Team Kit
For smaller classes, intervention groups, afterschool programs.
- 4 team material packs
- Full set of oversized game boards and game pieces
- Game design kits with craft supplies
Full Kit
Full-class including materials for all 7 Next Big Game teams.
- 7 team material packs
- Complete game board library with all game pieces
- Game design kits with craft supplies
Cost Per Student
Starter Kit: $399 ÷ 8 students = $50 per student. 4-Team Kit: $749 ÷ 16 students = $47 per student. Full Kit: $1,195 ÷ 28 students = $43 per student. 15–20 hours of instruction. Game boards are durable — only paper-based design materials need replacing.