Buy Learning Resources Totally Tut Math Operations Game

Customer Ratings:

Totally Tut was recommended to me when I mentioned to a friend that my son was needing more math games to play. Before I purchased the game all I knew about it is that it would get the family playing a game that would make everyone think in "numbers". We love the game. Not only does it help with math skills, it is fun. The game can be played with children that can only add and subtract or you can add in multiplication and division. A great game for the entire family.

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This game could be more fun if they had taken more care in the production. It says ages 6 and up. The operation tiles should be more accurately stamped. When they are placed on the board the multiplication and addition signs are crooked making them look like the incorrect operation (the plus looks like a multiplication). This is confusing for a young child just learning his/her math facts.

There definitely needs to be more green tiles. The green tiles are for the level two game with the multiplication/division. There is only 8 tiles with 2 each of 4 numbers.

The 'red' tiles are not red at all, but the same as the orange tiles. Orange tiles are supposed to be answers for the level one game and red tiles are answers for the level two game. The only way you can tell which is which is because of the higher number on the 'red' tiles.

After reading the reviews on this game I was a little dissappointed, but I can make more tiles and keep the 'red' tiles seperate. It isn't as much fun as I thought it was going to be.

I homeschool my children and need lots of fun and educational games.

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We really like this game. I bought it as a fun way to work on math skills. My son really enjoys it. It's a game of skill, but there is also luck involved which keeps it exciting. It is a fun way to hone math skills. The only complaint I have is that some of the playing pieces needed to be glued back together when we received it.

Honest reviews on Learning Resources Totally Tut Math Operations Game

I believe that this game should be played once children are very comfortable with their math tables. A math table being all the combinations of two 0-9 numbers with an operator (i.e. +, -, *, /). To utilize more power within the game, it helps if they know double digit subtraction and addition as well.

I believe this games takes the child beyond their basic math table memorization into more of an applied level of math concepts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I believe this games stretches their critical thinking skills due to the increase in equation variables beyond 2 and the freedom to utilize any operator in combination to make the desired equation result. As some have noted, don't expect this game to help them learn their math tables it will be much too difficult for them, and possibly have an undesirable effect upon their early math psychology.

The manufacturer divides the game into 2 progressive levels of play. Level 1 is for those who can add and subtract. Level 2 is for the combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. However, as a creative parent, you can actually make more levels of play that better suite your childs math knowledge. You could modify the play for other combinations such as, addition only, or addition/subtraction/multiplication so it progresses with the level of the child. You could also limit the size of the result number to make the play easier.

Personally, I do think that this game is better for quick learners, the kids that know their math tables very early K, First, Second and maybe third grade. My suspicion is this game may not hold long interest for a 4th, or 5th grader, but I could be wrong.

How the game works:

Each player has to pick a result number which may be identical or different. This is the value that each player must construct their own 3 multi-numbered, multi-operator equations to equal. Upon building all three equations, the players pyramid will be full.

Example, let's say the result number that a child picked was 10. This number in their pyramid goes at the top. In addition to this result number, they had to initially draw 5 unseen numbers from the pile of color-coded number groups (note: color separated depending on the level of the game to be played). From these 5 numbers they must try to figure out what combination they might be able to make into an equation that would equal this result number (for our example was 10). To win the game they have to build 3 different equations to equal their result number before other players finish their own equations.

The equation nearest the top of their pyramid is the simplest one, requiring only 2 numbers and 1 operator (i.e. plus, minus, multiply, divide). The next equation is a bit more difficult requiring 3 numbers and 2 operators, and at the bottom of the pyramid is the hardest equation which will require 4 numbers and 3 operators to equal the result number. The operators can be mixed depending on the level of play for the child. Back to our example, 10 was the answer result, but say, the child initially drew the numbers 2, 3, 5, 8, and 12 to start. It is their turn so they have to build any equation from these numbers that equals 10. If the child only knows addition, they could build either, 8 + 2 for a 2 number equation at the top row of the pyramid, or better yet, they might choose 2+3+5 for a 3 numbered equation at the middle. Before they build as many equations as their numbers might allow, they spin a dial for various twists to the game (trade a number, steal a number, draw a number, and no new number). Once they build any equations, they get to draw one new number from the pile to add to their remaining stash of numbers to use on their next go around. This process continues until the first player to build all 3 of their equations to equal their own result number wins the game.

The Mind Power of this game:

What I really like about the game is the child must try to process multi-variables (their chosen numbers) and various operators(e.g. single , or a combination) to create their equations. This is very good pre-algebra exercises with the basic numbers and operators. It certainly makes them think beyond their basic memory of the learning math tables 2 number arithmetic with a single operator. For this reason, I am very happy to have the game. I can't say it is the most fun game to play, but it is certainly worth adding to the collection of mind-shaping games for learning with some fun behind them.

More examples of creating equations:

Level 1 (addition/subtraction operators)

You have a result number of 4 which all your equations must equal, and you happen to draw 5 initial numbers that are 1,1,3,7, and 9

You could begin your play by building the most difficult equation first:

9 + 1 + 1 7 = 4

Level 2 (Addition/subtraction/multiplication/division)

You have a result number of 27 which all your equations must equal, and you happen to draw 5 initial numbers that are 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10

You could begin your play by building the most difficult equation first:

8 x 5 10 3 = 27

I hope this is helpful to you in understanding the level of difficulty, the strategy, and the power behind the games ability to make the child think.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Learning Resources Totally Tut Math Operations Game

Totally Tut is an excellent game. I love it and so do my kids. There two levels. We only play on the easier level, because my daughter is six and she wouldn't understand order of operations. It is a challenge; but she can do it, and sometimes, she wins!

Basically, the tile at the top is the answer the children must get with their other tiles. They use two, three or four number tiles, depending on what tier of the pyramid they want to build. They must be the first to fill up their pyramid to win. There's a bit of luck involved. Using the spinner, the kids can steal tiles from other players or trade, get new tiles.

The more challenging game adds in multiplication, division and order of operations, so it can grow with the kids.

One suggestion for improvement with this game is it needs pouches for the tiles, much like the Scrabble pouches. That way, we don't have to start each game trying to flip each and every tile over and mixing them up.

Another thing is the red and orange tiles are exactly the same color. I'm not sure if that's a mistake, but I can't tell them apart. One of them is supposed to be the answer tiles for the more difficult game and the other is for the simple game. Of course, we just have to look at the numbers to distinguish them, but it would be nice if they were color coded as the instruction manual says they are.

I think this is a terrific learning game. I can't believe it's not more well known. Maybe it is, but I'm out of the loop. Every family with kids should own it, and definitely teachers in the classroom for rainy day game days or afterschool centers. It's not just learning. It's fun!