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by Brigid Del Carmen
Topics: Fifth Grade, Math

Games are a great way to ease your fifth-grader’s fear of new math concepts. Kids are always more willing to attempt a new skill when it’s presented in a fun, non-threatening way! “The Amazing Equation Race” is an interactive, fast-paced game that will make your fifth-grader fell more comfortable with simple equations. Although the terms “variable and “equation” are unfamiliar now, a few rounds will turn them into household names.

What You Need:

  • scrap paper
  • pencils
  • white paper
  • black markers
  • blue and red markers (optional)

What You Do:

  1. Cut 3 sheets of paper into 12 strips. On each set of stips, write the following equations in black marker:

n + 2

n + 3

n + 4

n + 5

Cut 4 sheets of paper into 30 playing cards. On 7 of the cards, write the following:

SUBTRACT 1

SUBTRACT 3

SUBTRACT 5

SUBTRACT 7

ADD 2

ADD 4

ADD 10

On each of the remaining playing cards, write a value for n (the variable), up to 10.

For example:

n = 1 n = 2

n = 5 n = 4

n = 7 n = 6

  1. When you are ready to begin the game, each player should get scrap paper, a pencil and 4 equation strips. Shuffle the playing cards and put them face down on the table.

  1. Player 1 begins by picking the top card in the deck. If it is a variable, player 1 fills in the value for n on his first equation strip (solve on scrap paper).

For example:

equation strip: n + 2

player picks n = 5

5 + 2 = 7

Player 1 now has 7 points

If a player pulls an ADD or SUBTRACT card, he adds or subtracts the amount from his points.

The winner is the first player to reach 25 points.

Note: If your fifth-grader’s score drops below zero, you may have to help her add and subtract negative numbers.

Extension: Save the game for the future when your child learns to solve equations with negative numbers. Just put a negative sign in front of some of the numbers on the playing cards.