More or Less Math Card Games
Kdg/1st
Deck is divided equally between 2 players. Face cards can be taken out completely or assigned a value:
Jack, Kings, queens all 10, Aces-1
Decide as partners whether you play for “More” or “less” More meaning the bigger amount, less meaning the smaller amount
Each player turns over 1 card. Say the number out loud. Look at your partners card; is it More (bigger) than yours or Less (smaller) than yours?
If you are playing for more, the person who has the highest card gets both cards. If playing for less, the person with the smaller number on the card gets both cards. If the same number is turned over, those cards are laid on the table and a 2nd card is turned over; whoever earns those cards wins all four.
1st/2nd
Same as above. After cards are turned over, player with the higher card if playing for more or lower card if playing for less says how many more are on the card. Ex: I have a 9, you have a 5…my number is 4 more than your number.
2nd-Middle School
Same as above except 2 cards are turned over by each player. The numbers on the cards are added together if playing More, subtracted if playing Less.
Could also multiply the 2 numbers on the card.
Harder version: Each player turns over 3 cards and adds them up (practice doing it mentally and making “10s” when you add (8+2, 5+5, 1+9) etc.
Each player turns over 2 cards and that makes a 2 digit number. Ex:first card is 5, second card is 2, my number is 52. Then turn over a 3rd card and multiply that number by 52. Encourage kids to think of 52 as a 50 + 2 so if it was 52x3, they would think 2x3 and 50x3 and then put those answers together. This encourages the distributive property of multiplication.
ANOTHER GREAT GAME TO PLAY:
Making 10s
If I say a number, what number when added to it will make it equal 10?
Ex: If I say “5” what number will make the number add up to 10? 5+5=10
If I say 9? You say? (1) etc.
Increase difficulty by making the answer 20 instead of 10, then 30, then 40 and so on
Ex: If I say 14 you say? (6)
If I say 23, you say (7)
Kdg/1st
Deck is divided equally between 2 players. Face cards can be taken out completely or assigned a value:
Jack, Kings, queens all 10, Aces-1
Decide as partners whether you play for “More” or “less” More meaning the bigger amount, less meaning the smaller amount
Each player turns over 1 card. Say the number out loud. Look at your partners card; is it More (bigger) than yours or Less (smaller) than yours?
If you are playing for more, the person who has the highest card gets both cards. If playing for less, the person with the smaller number on the card gets both cards. If the same number is turned over, those cards are laid on the table and a 2nd card is turned over; whoever earns those cards wins all four.
1st/2nd
Same as above. After cards are turned over, player with the higher card if playing for more or lower card if playing for less says how many more are on the card. Ex: I have a 9, you have a 5…my number is 4 more than your number.
2nd-Middle School
Same as above except 2 cards are turned over by each player. The numbers on the cards are added together if playing More, subtracted if playing Less.
Could also multiply the 2 numbers on the card.
Harder version: Each player turns over 3 cards and adds them up (practice doing it mentally and making “10s” when you add (8+2, 5+5, 1+9) etc.
Each player turns over 2 cards and that makes a 2 digit number. Ex:first card is 5, second card is 2, my number is 52. Then turn over a 3rd card and multiply that number by 52. Encourage kids to think of 52 as a 50 + 2 so if it was 52x3, they would think 2x3 and 50x3 and then put those answers together. This encourages the distributive property of multiplication.
ANOTHER GREAT GAME TO PLAY:
Making 10s
If I say a number, what number when added to it will make it equal 10?
Ex: If I say “5” what number will make the number add up to 10? 5+5=10
If I say 9? You say? (1) etc.
Increase difficulty by making the answer 20 instead of 10, then 30, then 40 and so on
Ex: If I say 14 you say? (6)
If I say 23, you say (7)