We have always loved playing cards. Even more so when I know card games build math skills!
If your students are feeling a bit allergic to their math books change up the day and thrown down the playing cards. You can find many math skills in every common card game!
52 Pick Up – Counting
Go Fish – Matching
Solitaire – Number Sequence
Gin / Rummy – Matching, Adding, Subtracting
Black Jack – Adding, Subtracting
War – Greater Than Less Than Equal To
For a new spin on War, try our game, Addition War.
Watch our Hands-On Activities Video to see how to play the game by adding two cards to find the winner.
You can pick up a deck of cards just about anywhere! I especially like playing card games on vacation. The boys laugh we left our school books behind while I giggle they are still doing Math.
Tip: do not play cards when you are in a rush to do something else. When I get into a rush I usually add up points for my children and this completely defeats the purpose!
I have noticed my boys’ math skills are kept sharp when we are playing card games over the summer. We have far less “review” work to complete when we try to get back into the school groove after the summer.
