Triplet
The setup
Make a tic-tac-toe grid big enough to hold a Shape Card in each square. Place around the board 8 of the Shape Cards that have two of each property. For example, pick the 8 cards that are either a triangle or square, have one or two figures, and are red or blue.
How to play
Players take turns picking an unused card for their opponent to place on the board. The cards on the board may be used by either play to get three in a row.
How to win
The player wins who places a card that completes 3 cards in a row with at least one property in common! If all the cards are played without a winner, it’s a tie game.
Variations
Simplify the game and add an element of luck by placing the cards face down in a draw pile and having each player play the top card.
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!