| Go Fish! is arguably the absolute most common | | | | Teacher supply stores have blank spinners and |
| card game children play. Take this game, with | | | | blank dice where you write whatever you want |
| rules well ingrained and turn it into some fun math | | | | on them. Write the different operations and a wild |
| card games, and your child may never even | | | | for "choose your own operation." For this math |
| know you are making them do extra math work | | | | card game a free turn does not work, so the last |
| at home! | | | | one could be roll or spin again. |
| Review the rules: Use a standard deck of cards. | | | | Variation 2: Review multiplication facts by |
| Deal out five cards, spread the rest on the table. | | | | designating a game as "3 tables day" or "6 tables |
| Take turns asking, "Do you have an _____?" If | | | | day" and so forth. Every time someone asks for |
| they have it, you get an extra turn, if not, you | | | | a number they must multiply that number by the |
| pick from the cards on the table. If you pick up | | | | designated game number. On six table day, when |
| what you asked for, show it and get another | | | | they put a book down they will also say, "I have |
| turn. A book all four cards the same number. | | | | a book of sixes; and six times six is thirty-six." |
| Anytime you make a book, place it on the table | | | | Variation 3: This variation is just with scoring. Play |
| and get another turn. Scoring is five points for | | | | the game as usual. When finished, add up the |
| each number card, ten points for each face card | | | | points as usual. Then have them spread all their |
| and fifteen for an ace. | | | | cards on the table and see how many math |
| For these Go Fish! fun math games, an ace is | | | | family groupings they can create, give 5 bonus |
| counted as a one. Decide about the face cards | | | | points for each grouping. For this the Jack is 11, |
| depending on the age of the child. When they are | | | | Queen 12 and King is 13. So, 2,3,5 is a group 9.3,Q |
| ready for multiplying by 11, 12 and 13 that is fine. | | | | is a group. They state the group and all the facts |
| Otherwise they can used as bonus cards where | | | | that can be made with them, 2+3=5; 3+2=5; |
| they do not have to do any math. Make | | | | 5-2=3; 5-3=2 There might even be some |
| adjustments the best way you can to make | | | | advanced grouping based on factors, 2,3,4,6,8 Q |
| math more fun while playing. | | | | group are all factors of 24. |
| Variation 1: When they put the book down they | | | | Taking a common card game and adapting it to |
| have to do something with the numbers. At first | | | | give extra math practice and making math more |
| it will be counting them, then as they get older | | | | fun for your child is easy to do! Children in one |
| add them together. Then it can be a mixture of | | | | family at different levels can play the same fun |
| adding and subtracting. Finally once they are older | | | | math card game with different expectations |
| it can be a combination of the four operations. | | | | based on ability. |