You’ve made it to the ancient tomb, now it’s time to get the treasure! In this suspense-filled digital game, students will navigate a series of estimation and rounding questions to earn treasure. Each correct answer brings them one step closer to claiming the prize… but there's a twist!

After answering, students must decide whether to keep the treasure they’ve earned or risk it for the chance to win a bigger reward. If they answer the next question correctly, the prize value increases. But if they get it wrong, they fall through the trapdoor and lose everything from that round!

Throughout the game, students will round numbers and estimate sums, differences, or totals. For example: “Estimate 285 + 146.” Some questions involve estimating costs in financial transactions, perfect for building number sense and checking the reasonableness of calculations.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Round numbers to the nearest ten, hundred or other place value
• ✅ Estimate the outcome of addition and subtraction problems
• ✅ Use estimation to check the reasonableness of calculations
• ✅ Apply mental maths strategies in everyday and financial contexts
• ✅ Engage with numeracy content through a risk-based, decision-making game

How to Play:

1. Students are presented with an estimation or rounding question and multiple answer options.
2. A correct answer reveals a piece of treasure.
3. Players then choose to either bank that treasure or risk it to try for a bigger reward.
4. If they answer the next question incorrectly, they fall through the trapdoor and lose all unbanked treasure.
5. The game continues through multiple rounds, combining maths knowledge with strategic decisions.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during number and operations units focused on estimation strategies
• 💡 Great for applying mental maths to real-life and money-based scenarios
• 💡 Ideal for Year 4–5 students building fluency with estimation and place value rounding
• 💡 Follow up with a hands-on rounding activity using play money or large numbers

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Let students personalise their experience by choosing from six characters before the game begins
• 💛 Select the number of players or teams at the start of the game to suit individual, paired, or group play
• 💛 Send the QR code home for students to play as a homework or revision task

Let’s Steal – Estimation & Rounding sharpens mental maths skills while giving students the chance to weigh risk and reward on their quest for treasure!