Our Favorite Math Card Games - Simple and Fun
#0 Counting On (Preschool, Kindergarten)
Count On Exercise
What it practices: Counting On
Who it is for: Preschool, Kindergarteners
How to Play: Shuffle the deck. Turn over the top card and roll one dice. The number of the card is the starting number and the number of the dice is how far they should count on. If they get it right they keep the card! Kids can play in pairs or small groups.
Count On Exercise
What it practices: Counting On
Who it is for: Preschool, Kindergarteners
How to Play: Remove the wild cards from the deck. Flip a card. If it’s red or blue, add one and say the amount out loud. If it’s yellow or green, subtract one. If you get it right you get to to keep the card!
#1 Number Order Games (Kindergarten to 1st Grade)
Number Snake by Michael Minas
What it practices: Ordering numbers 0-10
Who it is for: Kindergarteners.
Summary: Take a number from a deck and put in order;
Pickle by MMMathMania Math games
What is practices: Ordering numbers that are 1, 2, 3 or 4 digits;
Who it is for: kindergarteners, 1st grade, 2nd grade
Summary: Take turns revealing 2 or 3 or 4 cards to create 2 or 3 or 4 digit numbers; fit the number into one of 10 slots ordered smallest to largest; first to fill all 10 spots wins!
What it practices: Counting up and down
Who it is for: Preschool, Kindergarteners
How to Play: Put all the 7s in the middle. Shuffle the deck and deal the cards evenly to each player. Players take turns placing a card one higher or one lower than the cards in the middle - matching the color. For example, first, players place 6s or 8s down, then 6s, 8s, 5s or 9s.
#2 Addition
Tens Go Fish by My World Their Way
What it practices: Summing to 10
Who it is for: Kindergarteners, 1st grade
Summary: Like ‘Go Fish’ but create pairs that sum to 10.
Addition War
What it practices: Adding numbers 0 - 10.
Who it is for: Kindergarteners and 1st graders
Summary: each player turns over 2 cards, adds them and the player with the highest sum wins all the cards.
Greedy Pig by Michael Minas
What is practices: single digit addition and basic probability
Who it is for: Kindergarten, 1st grade
Summary: Take turns rolling a dice. Add the numbers up as you go. If you roll a 2 you get 0 points and the round is over!
Count On Exercise
What it practices: Counting On
Who it is for: Preschool, Kindergarteners
How to Play: Remove the Wild cards. Turn over all the cards face down. The first player should turn over 2 cards. If the cards sum to 10 they take the cards. The next player takes their turn. When all the cards are gone the player with the most cards wins! This game can be played with 2 to 4 players.
Oh No 99 by MMMathMania Math games
What it practices: addition up to 100
Who it is for: 1st grade, 2nd grade
Summary: take turns playing cards; sum them up as you go; how long can you go before making the total go over 99? (collaborative) or whoever makes the total go over 99 loses (competitive)!
#3 Subtraction
Road to 35 by Michael Minas
What it practices: Single digit subtraction using numbers 0 - 100.
Who it’s for: 1st graders & 2nd graders
Summary: Draw cards and subtract from 100; closest to 35 wins.
Get Out of My House by Michael Minas
What it practices: Addition and Subtraction using numbers 0 to 10.
Who it is for: Kinder & 1st Grade
#4 Making Equations with numbers to reach a target number Gr1 - Gr6
Target Number
What it practices: using all operations in a flexible way;
Who it’s for: 1st - 5th graders
Summary: Select a target number (0-100); Turn over 5 cards and use any operation to make an equation equal to the target number.
The Tower of 40
What it practices: using any/all operations in a flexible way.
Who it’s for: 1st grade - 5th grade
Summary: write down around 20-30 numbers on a grid (10 through 40 for example); draw 2 cards, make an equation with the 2 drawn cards to equal a number in your grid - cross out the number;
#5 Fractions!
Make me whole by Michael Minas
What it practices: equivalent fractions, adding fractions
Who it’s for: 3rd grade - 5th grade
Summary: Make 2 fractions that sum to 1 whole;
Fraction War is a Fraction card game by Math Magic. It’s easy to learn and fun to play. Shuffle the deck, halve the cards. Each player turns over a card; Player with the highest cards wins.
#6 Decimals
Decimal Pickle by MMMath Mania
What it practices: ordering decimal numbers
Who it’s for: 3rd grade - 5th grade
Summary: played with cards 0 - 9; take turns revealing cards to create decimal numbers; order them smallest to largest.
Place value battle - Decimals by MMMath Mania
What is practices: reading decimals numbers, understanding place value
Who it’s for: 3rd - 5th grade
Summary: Both players draw 2/3/4 cards and make a decimal number with them; The biggest number wins
#7 Divison
Divide and Conquer by Cuppa Cocoa
What it practices: Simple division facts
Who it’s for: 3rd grade - 5th grade
Summary: Draw 5 cards and use 2 to make a division fact. First to discard call cards wins.
All That Remains by Michael Minas
What it practices: single digit division and remainders
Who it’s for: 3rd - 5th grade
Summary: Take turns drawing cards and make a division equation with the highest remainder you can. Sum your remainders - person with the highest wins.
#8 Average
Find the Average
What it practices: Simple division facts
Who it’s for: 5th grade - 8th grade
Summary: Draw seven cards. Work out the mean, medium and mode.
#9 Chance & Probability
Shuffle 11 cards 0 through 10; Get