A number is called, if the student has the number on their card, they mark it and when they have 5 in a row, column or on the diagonal, they win. Whatever variation you play they are the usual directions. I used to naturally assume that EVERYONE knew how to play bingo. Over the years, I have become better at explaining how to play games before we begin. The salesman thought they said “Bingo” and the game got the name we know it by today. Years later, a salesman noticed a game using beans at a carnival booth in 1929 where the winner yelled “beano” because they were using beans as markers for the boards. It originated in Italy and spread to Europe. History of Bingoīingo has been around forever, nearly 500 years. But I’m usually “one number away” from winning. Mine too, I am a keen bingo player and have been known to sit for hours in a bingo parlor trying to get lucky. One of my students favorite games is Bingo. So in math class, when we play games we are making it easier to learn those math skills. When we play a game, it lowers our stress level and makes it easier to focus. It isn’t all fun and games in a math class–but it could be, and probably should.
