EQUAL TO
How to use this in the classroom
Percentman extends the Fracman/Decimon family to percentages and FDP conversion. The maze contains a mix of fractions, decimals, and percentages — students eat only the values equivalent to the target. The cross-representation aspect makes this the strongest game in the trio for Year 5–6 students preparing for FDP conversion tests.
FDP conversion drill (disguised)
Every pellet eaten is a conversion done correctly. Run as a station rotation in a percentages unit — 15 minutes will give students 50+ conversion reps with engagement nobody would maintain on a worksheet.
Assessment-prep tool
Especially useful before standardised tests where FDP conversion is a frequent topic. Students play repeatedly without fatigue.
Talk-aloud pairs
Pair students at one device — one drives, one explains why each pellet is or isn't equivalent. The verbalisation builds the explanatory skill that exams test.
What it builds
Cross-representation FDP fluency. Students who know 50% = 0.5 = 1/2 separately often can't see them as the SAME quantity in a mixed list. The maze format forces that integration — every decision requires picking out the equivalent regardless of which form it's written in.
Common misconceptions it surfaces
- Form-locked recognition — A student sees the target 50% and eats only percentage pellets, walking past 1/2 and 0.5 because they 'don't look right'. Reveals the form-locked thinking that prevents flexible problem solving.
- Conversion procedure failure — Some students know the procedure for converting 25% to a fraction but freeze when they have to do it under time pressure. The arcade format exposes procedural-only knowledge vs. conceptual understanding.
- Trailing-zero traps reappear — 0.50 vs 50% vs 0.5 vs 5% — the maze deliberately mixes these so the place-value misconceptions from decimals work resurface in the FDP context.
Differentiation
- Going slower: Start with wave 1 (target 50%) where all three representations are present but the values are familiar. Build to fifths and tenths.
- Going faster: Wave 4+ introduces tricky equivalents like 12.5% = 1/8 = 0.125 — strong stretch for Year 6+ students.
- Extension: Students play with paper at the ready and write the THREE equivalent forms (F/D/P) of each target before the wave starts. Combines fluency with explicit conversion practice.
Pairs well with
- Fracman — fractions-only version (introduces the mechanic)
- Decimon — decimals-only version (bridges to FDP)
- FDP Converter — explicit conversion drill