Another Math Card Game

We discovered a new card game this week that we all enjoy playing. It can easily be adapted for all levels of math skill.

What you need:

· Deck of cards

· Several 3x5 cards cut in half

· Paper and pencil to keep score

With the 3x5 cards, draw on them math signs like this:

I will explain how to play on the very basic level first. Make three math equations with blank spots for the cards.

Deal out 12-16 cards face up for the person to see. The player is to use the cards to fill in the blanks in the equation. Aces represent 1, 2-10 represent their face values, and face cards represent 10. The equations may be filled in quite simply, like this:

Or, you may get more complicated, using more cards, like this:

If you fill in all the equations using all your cards, you get a bonus of 25 points. If you do not use all your cards, the ones that you did not use score against you.

Scoring is as follows: Ace through 9 score 5 points. Ten through King score ten points. So, if you do not use all your cards, add up the ones you did use and then subtract what was left over.

Keep the equations the same for all the players until one round is played; but deal each player his own set of cards. For the next round, change the equations. For example, for round one, you may have all addition problems. Then, for round two, you may have two addition and one subtraction. After five rounds, the person with the highest score wins.

For higher math levels, you may set up equations that are quite complicated, like this:

(_____ + _____) – (______ x ______) = ________

Or even more complicated, like this:

{[(____ x ____) – (- ____)] + _____} x _____ = ______

For these more complicated equations, you may want to have fewer equations to work in a turn and deal out more cards to play with. If you deal out more cards you may have to re-shuffle the deck before each player gets to go as you will deal out different cards for each player.

Even with just doing addition and subtraction, we found that a timer would be a good idea. My boys, of course, wanted that 25 point bonus and took forever trying to use all the cards. I would set the timer for five minutes. That way little guys do not feel so rushed that they freeze and get frustrated. The older, more confident math student should have no problem with the timer.

Give this game a try and let me know how you like it. In the meantime, we’re going to keep going.

Blessings,