Hot Potato With Sums
The setup
Use a regular deck of playing cards, have a target number of 5, and remove all cards above the target, except for one card – the ‘hot potato,’ which can be anything else, such as a Joker or face card. Deal the entire remaining deck to all players – it’s okay if some players get one more card than others.
How to play
All players start by placing on the table from their hands 5’s and any pairs that add up to 5. On your turn, you can pick a random card from any other player’s hand (a simpler rule is that it is always the player on your right). If this new card gives you a pair of cards that add up to the target sum, place the pair on the table; otherwise, keep the card in your hand. Play then moves to the next player on your right.
How to win
When play ends, the player holding the hot potato loses. Alternatively, you can play that the first player to run out of cards wins.
Variations
As your child’s adding skills improve, use larger target numbers up to 10.
Varying the target number will provide practice with the various number bonds.
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!