Grab a deck of playing cards, and let’s go! Challenge your child to find the largest sums possible. Whoever can find the biggest answers gets the points!
- One deck of cards (Print a deck.)
- Pencil and paper (for each player)
- Timer (optional)
- The object of the game is to win points by forming the largest sum.
- Remove tens and face cards from the deck. If you have jokers, add them into the deck. Jokers will equal zero.
- Shuffle the cards. Give each player six cards.
- Players have exactly one minute to make a 3-digit plus 3-digit addition problem using the numbers on their six cards. Players should experiment and double check their work to ensure they have the largest sum possible.
- The player with the greatest sum wins the round and one point. The first player to earn 10 points wins the game.
- For younger players, deal two or four cards and form 1 or 2 digit sums.
- Adjust or remove the time limit.
- Change the scoring so players earn the number of points in their sum. Change the name of the game to Think Big!
- Change the name of the game to Small is Beautiful. Create subtraction problems instead.
- Use more cards. Try adding four digit numbers or five digit numbers.
- Work on place value. Have players try to create the largest possible 6-digit number with their 6 cards.
By William L. Gaslin, Charles Lund, & Martin M. Gaslin
from:
http://www.education.com/activity/article/im-the-greatest/