Poison Numbers
The setup
Remove the picture cards from a deck (you can use the Queens as 0’s if you like). Before starting, agree on a set of “poison” numbers for the round. The poison numbers can be any set of numbers you want your child to practice with or become more familiar with.
Some examples are:
- even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12)
- odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
- square numbers (1, 4, 9, 16, 25)
- prime numbers (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19)
- multiples of a number, such as multiples of 3
How to play
Deal each player three cards. The first player discards a number that is not a poison number and replaces it from the draw pile. The next player discards a number so the sum of the first two numbers is not a poison number and replaces the discard from the draw pile. The next player plays so the sum of the three cards is not a poison number, and so on.
How to win
The first player unable to discard a legal card loses and drops out.
Variations
This game works equally well with more than two players.
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!