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Simple Math Games to Make

Math is a fundamental skill needed in nearly all aspects of life. Why not make it a fun way to enjoy family time? A pack of playing cards can be used to create many different math games. Use them in the car on trips, at a picnic or on rainy days. Math games are easy to take along and are great learning tools.
  1. Greater Than/Less Than Numbers

    • Number "top it" is a game that teaches greater than/less than. It has rules similar to the card game War. Remove everything except the number cards 0 thru 10. Shuffle the cards and stack them in the middle. Each player takes a turn flipping over the top card. The card with the highest value wins, and the winner collects the cards that were flipped during that round. When the deck is depleted, each player counts his cards. The player with the most cards wins. For variation, make the winning card be the lowest number instead of the highest.

    What Number Is It?

    • Which number has the highest value?

      Eliminate all the cards except the numbered ones. Cards 0 thru 9 should remain. Shuffle the cards and deal three to each person. Each player uses the digits on the cards to create the highest possible number. In turn, each player then has to say her number correctly. The highest number wins, and the winner collects the cards used in that round. Repeat until all the cards are depleted. The player with the most cards is the winner. To add difficulty, deal four or five cards, and require the players to say where the comma would be. This is also a great teaching tool for number place values.

    Use Math Facts to Create a Number Sentence

    • Create number sentences to equal the value card.

      Use only the number cards 0 thru 10. Shuffle the cards and place in the middle of the players. Flip over cards, placing two cards on one side of the deck face-up and three cards on the other side face-up. Place the next flipped card face-up in front of the player whose turn it is. This is the value card. The player will have to use addition and subtraction to create a number sentence to equal the value card. For example: if the value card is 3 and the face-up cards on either side of the deck are 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6, the player could say five minus two equals three (5-2=3). The number sentence could be longer, such as four plus five equals nine minus six equals three (4+5-6=3). The player then collects the cards and replaces the face-up cards and the value card with more from the deck. The player with the most cards at the end wins.

    What Place Is It?

    • What number is in the ones place?

      Use the number cards 0 thru 9. Place three cards together face-up and use the digits to create a number. One person asks the other players which place a certain number is in. For example: Cards 3, 4, 5 are face-up. Ask, "Which card is in the tens place?" The player to answer first wins. You can add more cards to create a larger number for added difficulty.

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