"I'm the Greatest!" A Math Card Game

Grab a deck of playing cards, and let’s go! Challenge your child to find the largest sums possible. Whoever can find the biggest answers gets the points! Your second grader will have fun while improving his knowledge of how addition works. He will better his understanding of addition as he uses a critical thinking process to determine the best position for each number. With this fun alternative to studying, we won't be surprised if the flash cards grow a little dusty!

Skills:

• Addition
• Place value

What You Need:

• One deck of cards (Print a deck.)
• Pencil and paper (for each player)
• Timer (optional)

What You Do:

1. The object of the game is to win points by forming the largest sum.
2. Remove tens and face cards from the deck. If you have jokers, add them into the deck. Jokers will equal zero.
3. Shuffle the cards. Give each player six cards.
4. Players have exactly one minute to make a 3-digit plus 3-digit addition problem using the numbers on their six cards. Players should experiment and double check their work to ensure they have the largest sum possible.
5. The player with the greatest sum wins the round and one point. The first player to earn 10 points wins the game.

Variations:

• For younger players, deal two or four cards and form 1 or 2 digit sums.
• Adjust or remove the time limit.
• Change the scoring so players earn the number of points in their sum. Change the name of the game to Think Big!
• Change the name of the game to Small is Beautiful. Create subtraction problems instead.
• Use more cards. Try adding four digit numbers or five digit numbers.
• Work on place value. Have players try to create the largest possible 6-digit number with their 6 cards.