Cards To A Target
The setup
Start by laying out all the playing cards from 1 to 5 in a 4 by 5 grid. Start the running total at 0 and choose a target number, say 25.
How to play
Players take turns turning over one number and adding it to the running total. The last player to pick a number that does not run over the target number wins.
Variations
Replace 1 to 5 with any five numbers you want practice adding. To practice subtraction, start at the target number, subtract the selected numbers, and don’t allow going below 0.
Helping your child
First and foremost, playing math games should be fun, like any other game your family plays together!
Please let your child make poor plays (mistakes) without correction, and resist the urge to tell them the best ways to play. Bit by bit, your child will get better at the game, and they will learn so much more if you let them figure things out. There is no hurry.
If you see your child make a mistake, ask them to describe why they decided to do what they did. If your child is stuck and doesn’t know which play to make, ask them to describe the pros and cons of their choices, or ask them about how they solved a similar situation in the past. If your child doesn’t remember how to do a calculation, discuss with them the methods they know for figuring it out. These conversations are important for helping your child to develop mathematically.
Through math game play and math conversations, you are helping your child learn to enjoy math and develop important problem solving skills!