Gameschool Math with Card Games
Once a week we have a Gameschool Day which is always met by cheers all around! One of the resources I ALWAYS grab is Math Card Games from Right Start Mathematics. I thought I’d share our current favorite game and two simple tweaks that make it a brilliant way to practice math facts!
Keep in mind, this is just one game– there are over 300 in the book, covering numeration, addition, subtraction, clocks, money, multiplication, division, and fractions. The games in the book can supplement ANY math program.
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The game we are playing over and over right now is called Corners. Both my 5 and 7 year olds LOVE it, and it’s a fun challenge for me, too! The card deck has numbers on each of the sides of the card. There are many variations, but at my kids’ level, the object is to match the numbers that add to either 5, 10, 15, or 20. (We play a modified version because my older son is color blind and has trouble distinguishing the colors– you’re technically only allowed to match numbers that are of the same color. Ignoring the color does make it an easier game, but it doesn’t take away any of the learning challenge!)
What I love is that there are really THREE opportunities to work with math through the stages of the game. First, of course, is making those matches of how you’re going to arrange your cards to multiples of 5, maximizing your total score.
Second, each player scores his or her cards. My 5 year old is now doing this without the abacus– adding 65+15 for example by learning to add 65+10 and then another 5. I’m really astounded at his mental math at this age!
Third, tallying the scores is another layer of practice! A brilliant little tweak (suggested in the book), is to start your game at 1000 points so that your child is adding larger numbers; or, start your game at 100 points and each round SUBTRACT your score from the total, and aim to hit 0 exactly without going under.
This book and card decks are the resource I pack for trips– just toss them all in a tote bag and we are sure to have math practice at the ready! We’ve played games from this book with grandparents, and my kids are always excited to show their math skills!
The set includes 6 decks of cards (6 different decks- fractions, money, clocks, corners, basic numbers, multiplication), an abacus, fraction charts, and a DVD of how to play the games. Here’s the link to purchase. I am an affiliate and receive a small commission if you choose to purchase. They also offer a 60 day guarantee! Yay! (Although I hope you don’t need to take advantage of that 😉
If you’re interested in my review of the complete math curriculum from RightStart, you can find that here.
Do you do Gameschooling with your kids? I’d love to hear your favorite resources! Connect with me in the comments below, or on my Instagram or Facebook pages.
