Card Games

Card Game 1:  Add with 1 to 10

The aim of the game is to add together two numbers from 1 to 10.

What do I need? All the aces and cards numbered 2 to 10. You should have 40 cards in total. 

How to play it – Ensure all players know the value of the cards (Ace has the value 1). Shuffle the cards and place them face down in two equal piles. Reveal the two top card by holding them facing upwards. Player 1 to calculate the sum of the two cards mentally and say it out loud. Once answered, place the cards in a separate pile. Player 2 to reveal the next two cards from the pile (remember one card from each pile) and calculate the sum of the two cards mentally and say it out loud.  Place the used cards on to the used cards pile and repeat playing, continuing with player 1.  

Alternative – Instead of adding, subtract the two numbers. Be aware that the answers could be negative numbers.

Suggestion – Each player can receive points for answering correctly or play against time.

Card Game 2:  And on and on

The aim of the game is to add cumulatively.

What do I need? All the aces and cards numbered 2 to 10. You should have 40 cards in total.

How to play it –  Ensure all players know the value of the cards (Ace has the value1). Shuffle the cards and place them face down in one pile. Reveal the top card and place it beside the pile. Player 1 to reveal the next card from the pile and add on the value of the revealed card to the first card facing up. Player 1 must say out loud the calculated sum for player 2 to use. Then, place this revealed card on top of the card facing up. Player 2 to reveal the next card from the pile and add on to the value calculated by player 1. Player 2 must say out loud the calculated sum for player 1 to use. Then, place it  on the pile of cards facing up. Continue playing by taking turns until no cards are left in the pile facing down. 

Alternative – 

1) Instead of the addend being the first card in the pile, give a multiple of 10 or a 2 /3 digit number as the addend. 

2) Instead of adding, subtract by starting with a given multiple of 10 or a 2 /3 digit number as the minuend. Depending on the number, be aware that the answers could be negative numbers.

Suggestion – Each player can receive points for answering correctly or play against time.

Card Game 3:  Two digits M10

The aim of the game is to add a multiple of 10 to a two digit number.

What do I need? All the aces and cards numbered 2 to 10. You should have 40 cards in total.

How to play it –  Ensure all players know the value of the cards (Ace has the value 1). Remove the four 10s. Keep them aside. Shuffle the rest of the cards and create three equal piles. Ensure all the piles are facing down. Add the four 10s to one of these piles and shuffle. Now keep this pile aside. Player 1 to reveal the 2 digit number from the two piles facing down. Notice the value of the two cards as a 2-digit number and not the individual value of each card. For example: a 2 and a 4, read from left to right should be read as the number twenty four and not as 2+4=6. Player 2 to reveal a card from the third pile (the pile that contains the 10s). This card has to be multiplied by 10 for player one to use as an addend. All used cards should be returned to the bottom of their respective piles. For example: Player 1 reveals the 2 digit card as twenty four. Player 2 reveals the card 3. This means Player 1 will be calculating the answer to 24+30. Each player to take in turn to reveal the 2 digit number and the multiple of 10. Remember that, the player who reveals the 2 digit number is the player who has to calculate the sum.

Alternative – 

1) Instead of the adding, you can subtract the multiple of 10 from the 2 digit number. Note that, depending on the numbers, the difference could be a negative number.

2) Instead of  a 2 digit number, start with a 3 digit number by creating an extra pile. 

Suggestion – Each player can receive points for answering correctly or play against time.

Card Game 4:  Double up

The aim of the game is to double numbers.

What do I need? All the aces and cards numbered 2 to 10. You should have 40 cards in total.

How to play it – Ensure all players know the value of the cards (Ace has the value 1). Shuffle all the cards. Place in one pile with the cards value facing down. Player 1 to reveal the top card and Player 2 to double its value and say it out loud. Player 2 to reveal the next card and Player 1 to double its value and say it out loud. Repeat.

Alternative – 

1) Instead of doubling a single card, remove the 10s and create two equal piles so that you can generate 2-digit numbers for doubling.

2) Instead of  a 2 digit number, start with a 3 digit number by creating three equal piles. 

Suggestion – Each player can receive points for answering correctly or play against time.

Card Game 5:  Halfway

The aim of the game is to half numbers.

What do I need? All the aces and cards numbered 2 to 10. You should have 40 cards in total.

How to play it – Ensure all players know the value of the cards (Ace has the value 1). Shuffle all the cards. Place in one pile with the cards value facing down. Player 1 to reveal the top card and Player 2 to half its value and say it out loud. Player 2 to reveal the next card and Player 1 to half its value and say it out loud. Repeat. Note that, in instances where a player states that the revealed card cannot be halved, use the images on the card to show how it can be done, particularly with odd numbers.

Alternative – 

1) Instead of halving a single card, remove the 10s and create two equal piles so that you can generate 2-digit numbers for halving. Be aware that you will need to address halving pictorially in a different way to that described above. 

2) Instead of  a 2 digit number, start with a 3 digit number by creating three equal piles. 

Suggestion – Each player can receive points for answering correctly or play against time.

More games coming soon …