Memory Challenge
Math Concepts
Counting and quantities from 1 to 10
Materials
1 or 2 decks of playing cards
Players
2
Set up
Select one or two sets of playing cards and remove numbers above your students’ comfort level. Place the cards face down in a 3 by 3 grid, with the remaining cards put in a draw pile.
Play
Take turns flipping two cards face-up. If the cards match, the player gets to keep the cards, replaces the two cards from the draw pile, and continues their turn. If the cards don’t match, the player flips the cards back over and ends their turn.
Goal
The game ends when the last pair of cards is taken. The player with the most cards wins.
Discussion and Tips
Discuss whether some board positions are easier to remember. For example, picking cards from the corners might be more memorable.
Variations
One variation allows at most one match per turn.
Use a 4 by 4 grid of cards for older students.
Use a target sum which is larger than the largest card used. Using this, two cards match when their sum is the target.
Alternatively, use a target difference. Two cards will match if their difference is the target.