2 or 22

Add using simple fractions in this fun math card game. All you need is a deck of cards, and you're ready to begin! This game is very similar to Blackjack, or 21, but with one key difference: the face cards are all worth 1/2.

Players will need to carefully calculate the value of their hands and decide whether or not they'd like more cards-- and they'll practice adding the fraction 1/2 in the process. This activity is an excellent way to help second graders develop reasoning skills and improve their understanding of fractions.

What You Need:

• Deck of playing cards
• Paper and pencil for keeping score

What You Do:

1. For the purposes of this game, jokers = 0 (optional), aces = 1 or 11, jacks = 1/2, queens = 1/2, and kings = 1/2.
2. Deal two cards to each player. Players can use mental math to add the value of their cards together.
3. The goal of the game is to come the closest to 2 or 22. In each round, players can request another card from the dealer. Players can also stop playing whenever they'd like by placing their cards face up on the table.
4. Players may play for as many rounds as they'd like.
5. When all players have laid out their cards, it's time to count up the hands and decide who's won! Let your kid do the tabulating-- which player has come the closest to 2 or 22? That player wins one point. If there's a tie, multiple players earn points.
6. Play until the deck runs out.

Variation:

Change the scoring so that instead of receiving points, players receive all of the cards from the round they've won. After one pass through the deck, the winner is the player with the most cards.