Twenty-Five: A Math Card Game

Subjects

• Mathematics

Grades

• 3-5
• 6-8

Brief Description

While playing this card game, students practice mental math skills through fun and play.

Objectives

The objective of this game is to practice addition and subtraction using mental math.

Keywords

addition, subtraction, mental math, math, game

Materials Needed

Playing cards numbered 1-9. You can make your own or use a commercially made set.

Lesson Plan

Before the students play this game, go over the number pairs that add to 10. Then have them look for ways to use this knowledge to help them add and subtract faster. Introduce the game: This is a game for two or more players. I prefer two players because each student gets more practice.

Game Rules

• Deal out all the cards, an equal number to each player. The cards are left facedown in a pile in front of each player.
• The person to the dealer's left goes first, and play continues clockwise.
• The first person turns over a card and places it faceup in the center of the play area.
• The next person turns over a card, adds it to the card already played, says the sum out loud, and places the card on top of the previously played card.
• The next person turns over a card and adds the card to the sum of the first two cards.
• Play continues in this way until someone has a card that when added will give a sum greater than 25. When that happens, the player must subtract rather than add.
• Play continues until someone gets a sum of exactly 25.
• The player who gets a sum of exactly 25 wins that round and goes first in the next round.

Assessment

The best assessment is observation. If students are participating and having fun they are learning.

Submitted By

Annette Perez, Dora Erickson Elementary, Idaho Falls, Idaho