Grade
3

Math in Our World: Snakes & Ladders

Sasha's driveway has 45 squares for the Snakes and Ladders game. There are 9 rows and each row has 5 spaces. Each space is labeled with the a number, counting by 1s from 1 to 45. The numbering starts in the bottom left and goes to the top right. Four snakes and five ladders connect spaces across the board.
Sasha's Driveway
Rayne's driveway plan is a sketch on grid paper, 8 feet wide by 18 feet long. The bottom row is drawn to show 4 equal spaces. It looks like there are 9 rows.
Rayne's Driveway Plan

Sasha drew this Snakes and Ladders game in his driveway. Rayne wants to make one, too. First Rayne measured their driveway. Then Rayne drew a sketch of their driveway to find out how many squares of the game board they could fit.

  1. What do you notice? What do you wonder?
  2. Use pictures, models, or numbers to describe this situation.
  3. What mathematical questions can you ask about this situation? Answer all the questions you can!
  • Create your own sketch of Rayne’s driveway. How many squares can you fit if all of the rows have 4 squares?
  • What’s the size of each square in the driveway?
  • Show your work to someone else, and explain your thinking. Did they understand?
  • Ask whether they have any other questions you can answer!

Do you have a favorite game you could draw on your driveway, sidewalk, or outside at school? Check with your parents or teacher first. Then make a plan for your game. Draw the game with chalk and ask your friends to play.

Printable Version

Google doc for printing and copying

Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions