Deal Out a 20: Card Game for Making 20
I love using simple card games to make number practice meaningful. They’re quick to set up, easy to differentiate, and—best of all—repeatable! Because the numbers are randomized, students get fresh practice every time they play, unlike a worksheet that’s one and done. One of my favorites is a card game for making 20 that gives students endless opportunities to build fluency and number sense.
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If your students enjoyed Deal Out a 10 and 10 Take-Away, they’re going to love this next one! Deal Out a 20 is a hands-on activity that helps students extend their understanding of combinations for ten to a larger benchmark. Using an ordinary deck of playing cards and a simple recording sheet, students find pairs of numbers that make 20.
This activity also extends students’ understanding of making tens. When students know that 7 + 3 makes 10, we want them to recognize the pattern—that 17 + 3 makes the next ten (20) and 37 + 3 makes the next ten (40). Seeing this structure helps them connect their basic fact fluency to place value understanding.
This activity builds fluency while reinforcing part–whole relationships and mental math strategies. It’s quick to prep, easy to differentiate, and perfect for small groups, partner work, or math centers. When playing, remember that face cards are worth 10 and the ace is worth 1.
Grab your free recording sheet to get started with Deal Out 20 today!
Love both of these. Thank you so much.
Tammy
Primary Paradise
My pleasure, Tammy!
Thank you! Great activity!
My readers have the best ideas, right?!
Thank you!!
You’re welcome, Beth. 🙂
Many thanks! This is a great way to build skill with addition and have fun at the same time.
That’s the best, right Cindy? 🙂
thank you for sharing this. it will be great to put out for the early finishers to practice their facts and keep them sharp.
laura
You’re welcome, Laura! Glad it will come in handy for you! 🙂
Thank you! This looks like lots of fun!
Love your idea. It has me thinking:
For my 4/5 students they could make it a game for two or more players, to build to instant calculations.
1. They could deal one or two cards, depending on their ability.
2. (Add them up and) determine how many more they need to reach 20, using ten frames.
3. Once they have some speed, they could work it out mentally and check the number needed on a ‘difference grid’ (just made up that name). e.g 2>18, 3>17, 4>16 etc.
4. The difference (number needed to make 20) is their score. Start another round.
5. Add up scores with a calculator after, for example, 5 minutes.
I LOVE your blog! This is such a great challenge for my higher groups!
Love this activity!! Is there are way to edit the worksheet? I don’t necessarily want my students to add first and then subtract like you have in the directions?
I’m sorry, Karin, but because of the copyright restrictions on the graphics I use, I can’t provide editable versions of my files.
Thank you. This can used used many times over.
Thank you…love that I am finding so many things here 🙂