Addition War: Deal the entire deck to all players. Each player turns over 2 cards to find the sum (emphasize this language!). The player with the higher sum wins and takes all 4 cards; repeat this until all the cards are gone. The player with the most cards at the end wins.

Variations:

1. The player with the lowest sum wins the round and takes all the cards.

2. Choose a target number, such as 12; the player with the sum closest to the target number wins the round.

3. Turn over 3 cards and find the sum (this is appropriate for 1st grade and higher).

Subtraction War: Deal the entire deck to all players. Each player turns over 2 cards to find the difference between the numbers. For students in grades K-5, have them use the larger digit first. For example, if they turn over a 4 and 6, make sure they subtract 6-4=2. For grades 6 and higher, this is a great game to play for understanding operations of positive and negative numbers. My middle school students love it!

Write math facts on one set of index cards and the answers on another set.  Place the cards face down.  Players take turns turning over 2 cards to make a match.  If the cards match, the player collects them.  If not, the player turns the cards back upside down.  The player with the most matches wins.

• Turn regular board games into math practice - each player must answer a math fact correctly before making a move - (checkers, chutes and ladders, sorry, etc - all work great for this.)

Materials Needed: Flashcards or a deck of cards, a set of 20 popsicle sticks (number can vary), and a cup.   

• Label 5 of the 20 sticks with the word snap on one end.  Leave the others blank.  Mix the sticks up and put them in the cup with the word side down.

• Each player takes turns answering a math fact.  If it is correct, the player draws a stick from the cup.  

• If the stick is blank, the player keeps it.

• If the stick says "SNAP" the player puts all of their sticks back into the cup.

• You can either play a set number of rounds, or set a timer.  When the timer goes off, finish the round.

• The player with the most number of sticks in the end wins.

Materials Needed: Timer, set of flashcards or a deck of cards (1-9), and index cards numbered 2-18.

Variation 1 (One player):  

• Set out the index cards face up in a row.

• Set the flashcards (or deck of cards) in a pile face down.  

• Set the time for 3 minutes (this can be adjusted more or less).

• When the timer begins, the player turns over math facts and takes the card with the correct answer.  The player races to get all of the cards as quickly as possible.  If a card has already been taken, the math fact is considered "dead" and another fact is turned over.

• The goal is to collect all of the answer cards before the timer goes off.

Variation 2 (Two players):

• This is played similar to variation 1, except each player takes their separate turn with the timer.  Instead of timing down, start a stopwatch/timer to count up.  The player with the fastest time wins.

Variation 3 (Two players)

• This is played similar to the first variation, except the two players will play at the same time and sit across from each other with the answer cards in the middle.  No timer is needed for this variation.

• Each player has a half a deck of cards (1-9) in front of them.  

• One player counts down with 3-2-1-go.  On "go" both players turn over ONE card.  The players add the cards together and the first person to take the correct card keeps it.  If the answer has already been collected when cards are turned over, it is considered a "dead" fact and players turn over another card.  

• The player with the most cards wins.  

Variation 4 (Active Race)

• This is played just like any of the above variations, but instead of putting the answer cards in a row in front of the player(s), they are scattered around about the room/house,/outside.  The math facts are set at "home base."  The player(s) will turn over the math fact, race to pick up the answer, bring it back to "home base" and turn over the next fact.

In this game the student tries to answer a math fact faster than their opponent can enter it on the calculator.  Turn over a flashcard (or two playing cards).  The student can either write the answer or verbally say it.  If the student answers faster than the opponent, the student gets a point.  If the opponent is faster on the calculator, the opponent gets a point.