PENTATHLETE CORNER - RAMROD
If Pentathletes are to be good Ramrod strategists, they need to know many more Two-Rod Captures than some of the longer, more obvious Captures. Therefore, before learning the rules to the game of Ramrod make sure that students know the numeric values of the rods as described in the Ramrod Chapter, Adventures in Problem Solving, Book I, Activities II and III, pp. 142-143. This is very important when students are trying to discover all of the various combinations of Two-Rod Captures in the Purple Playing Area. Also, make sure that students practice the Complements of Values in the Purple Playing Area as suggested in Activity VII, p. 154 and Ramrod Complements Worksheets, Activity VIII, pp. 155-157. While doing these two activities Pentathletes are practicing the Missing Addend Form of Subtraction that is algebraic in nature. After students have learned the rules to Ramrod and have discovered some of the more obvious Captures, Pentathletes should investigate other, lesser known Captures, which will make them much more flexible and strategic players. In addition, through guided discovery, Pentathletes should learn how to defend three and four-step Captures. "It's Your Move" problems in Investigation Exercises Book I, pp. 11-17, assist with this process.
|