Math Games  
for  
Adult  
and Child  

FOR 2, 3, OR 4

      This rummy game for first or second graders should be played only after considerable work with different number families and with addition or subtraction has been completed. The book Math Games for Adult and Child can help you provide this work.

      • Use a deck of forty cards: four suits of ace through 10.

      • The goal is to make families of three cards earning a point for each family. A family is three cards whose numbers are related by addition or subtraction.

      For example:

      5, 5, and 10 are a family because

      10 - 5 = 5 or 5 + 5 = 10;

 

      7, 2, and 9 are a family because

      7 + 2 = 9, 9 - 2 = 7, 9 - 7= 2, or 2 + 7 = 9.

      Examine the families in the cards displayed below.

      • Shuffle the deck, deal 5 cards to each player and place the remaining cards face down in a draw pile. The player to the dealer's left draws a card from the draw pile so that six cards are now in the player's hand. If using these six cards, the player can form two families, she lays them on the table, earns two points, and the round ends. If the player can form only 1 family, she places it on the table, earns one point and discards one card. If she is not able to form a family, she just discards one card. Play passes to the player on her left who attempts to form families and use all cards.

      • When a player is able to use all her cards to form families, and has no cards left in her hand, she goes out ending the round. This player becomes the dealer for the next round. Games with three or four players end when a player has earned a total of five or more points. The high scorer wins.

      Math Games for Adult and Child

This language-based collections of math games [counting, travel, card, geometry, and other] is suggested for children ages 2 through 7 and their adults. It's the ideal book for adults who want to enjoyably spend time with a child while teaching mathematics.
      Author: A. azzolino
      ISBN: 0-9623593-4-3, 90 pg., © 1993: $ 20.00