Blind Mans Number System:

1. Create a Venn Diagram of the Real Number System on a large concrete slab using sidewalk chalk or create one on the floor.* 2. Make several cards with numbers that fit into all categories of the real number system. 3. Find or make blindfolds (cut up old T-shirts work well). 4. Group students into partners. 5. Blindfold one of the partners and have them hold up a card with their number facing outward. 6. The partner that is not blindfolded will verbally guide their partner to the correct area on the diagram without telling them the number. Once they are in the right spot they should ask the teacher to check them. 7. At this point, the teacher will either say Correct and have them switch places or Incorrect and they will try again. They must get it right in order to change places and get a new card. 8. Students continue to work with the cards until class time is over taking turns being the blindfolded partner.

Our students absolutely loved this activity. They begged to play it. You can see real progress on their knowledge of the number system on day 2 of this activity. This was always something that was hard for students to commit to memory but we felt that this made a huge difference in their understanding. *An alternative to this activity can be used by drawing the Venn Diagram on a white board and putting magnets on the back of the cards.