Prediction: A Division Card Game

Every third grader needs to master their division facts. Try using this fun activity to do just that!

All you need is a deck of playing cards, and you're ready to get started. You'll be working on division, differentiating between even and odd numbers, and practicing the skill of careful observation in this game. Find two to four players, and take turns being the dealer. Check your cards for patterns in order to earn points. Then, use your problem solving skills to decide which cards are missing from the game.

What You Need:

• One deck of playing cards (aces = 1, jacks = 11, queens = 12, kings = 13) (Print a deck.)
• Score sheet (Print this out.) or scratch paper and a pencil

What You Do:

1. Select a dealer. The dealer secretly removes three sets of cards, in their entirety (12 cards total), from the deck and puts them aside. For example, they may remove all four aces, all four 3s, and all four kings.
2. Then, the dealer shuffles the remaining cards and deals 10 cards, face up, to each player.
3. Players examine their hand to figure out how many points they will receive. Scoring is as follows:
   •     Even Numbers = 2 points
   •     Divisible by 3 = 3 points
   •     Divisible by 4 = 4 points
   •     Divisible by 10 = 10 points
4. If a card fits more than one of the scoring categories, they receive multiple point values for that card.
5. After scores are recorded, players carefully look over all of the cards on the table. Then they write down the three card values they believe are missing from the game.
6. Players share their guesses, and are awarded 1 point for each set of values they guess correctly (earning up to 3 points total).
7. Take turns being the dealer for each round. Play until every player has had a chance to deal. Then add up total scores to find the winner!

Variations:

• Change the number of sets of cards that are removed from the game, or remove just a few individual cards.
• Add more scoring categories to the list. For example, include "Divisible by 5 = 5 points."
• Adjust the scoring scheme. Give points away in the thousands, millions, fractions, or decimals, depending on what addition skill you would like to reinforce.