Math Games with a Deck of Cards

All you need is a deck of cards to play these engaging math games!

Written by Donna Boucher

Donna has been a teacher, math instructional coach, interventionist, and curriculum coordinator. A frequent speaker at state and national conferences, she shares her love for math with a worldwide audience through her website, Math Coach’s Corner. Donna is also the co-author of Guided Math Workshop.

Parents and teachers are looking for ways that students can practice important math skills at home, and the solution needs to be both engaging and easy to prepare. What could be simpler than playing math games with ordinary playing cards?

This post contains affiliate links, which simply means that when you use my link and purchase a product, I receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you, and I only link to books and products that I personally use and recommend.

In scouring the Internet for ideas, I came across the website of an organization called the Positive Engagement Project (PEP). It’s a nonprofit organization whose mission is “To get students positively engaged in active learning while getting ourselves and others positively engaged with schools and communities.”

On their website, they have a downloadable booklet called Acing Math. It is 69 pages of games, for grades K through 6, that can be played with a standard deck of cards. It’s an amazing resource.

I wanted to choose games that would be appropriate for 3rd through 5th graders, so I reformatted a selection of games from their e-book and made them into a booklet format. Of course, I included a credit and link to their website. You can download my booklet format here.  You’ll need to copy it double-sided and then fold and staple it.  Be sure to visit PEP’s website for other great resources and spread the word!

Like this? Check out this post for a booklet on math games with a pair of dice!

28 Comments

  1. Sabra

    Oh my gosh, you’re the best! I was just making a booklet for my kids for the summer bags but yours are MUCH nicer! Thank you for sharing and saving me hours :o)

    Sabra
    Teaching with a Touch of Twang

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      That’s seriously my favorite type of comment, Sabra! So glad to be able to share something that will save other teachers time and help all of our kiddos enjoy math more!

      Reply
  2. Tara Coleman

    This is wonderful!! I have truly enjoyed your blog and have gotten some great ideas/lessons from you! I appreciate you making and sharing this resource (and all others:). I can’t wait to share it with my team!

    Tara
    https://www.facebook.com/180DaysAndCounting

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Totally my pleasure, Tara!!

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      Yes, Donna, many thanks!

      Reply
  3. Michelle Hall

    Thank you, Donna. As always, this is a great resource!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      I need a t-shirt that says, “Will create resources for sweet comments!” Ha ha. Thanks so much, Michelle.

      Reply
  4. BaysideMathTeacher

    This is so awesome thank you Donna! It’s so great to see addition and multiplication activities and various ways I can incorporate this into my year 8 to 12 classes! I LOVE it! 🙂

    Liz – BaysideMathTeacher

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Liz! I think it’s a fun assortment of games. My kiddos played the I Spy games today, and they were a big hit.

      Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Wow, thanks Alyssha! That is OFFICIALLY my favorite comment! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Anonymous

    Awesome, thank you so much Donna for these wonderful activities!

    Reply
  6. Hazel Lochhaas

    What a great resource to share with students and families. I plan to give these to each of my students and have them play at home as well as at school. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Donna

    I look so forward to receiving your newsletter!! There are so many awesome math ideas and activities. Thank you for generously sharing!!!

    Reply
  8. Best Baby Gift Baskets click here

    It can be as simple as having students add the two cards together, to as complex as using the cards to make fractions and decide which is bigger!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Absolutely! Simple is best. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Anonymous

    For some reason I am unable to open the card and dice game booklets. Is there another way I can get a copy? Thanks

    Eileen

    Reply
  10. Tanya Smith

    Thanks for sharing! I love playing math games with tools or objects that the children may also have at home so they are more apt to play.

    Reply
  11. asha hooda

    I love your booklet!
    Is there a limit to the number of copies I can print? I would like to send a copy of the booklet along with a deck of cards to all students in grades K-4 for summer. Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Sheri

    Wonderful! Any chance of one for first-second grade? Pretty please? 🙂

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Sheri, the booklet contains games for a range of grade levels. Some are definitely appropriate for 2nd grade!

      Reply
  13. M.E.

    Thank you so much for sharing your hard work. This is just what I was searching for.Blessings to you!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You are very welcome!

      Reply
  14. Staci Johnson

    Thank you so much for this resource! Our school is having a Math Night with students and their families. I’m giving out decks of cards and having stations with card games students can play with their families at home. This will be great to send home with them!

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      This is perfect for a family math night!

      Reply
  15. Ginger Elaine Bryan

    I love this resource! I have the exact resource, but in a teacher format. It’s nice to have the booklet so that I can use that for students to take home. Fabulous!!

    Reply
  16. Nancy B Coleman

    One of my favorites! Something for every level.

    Reply
  17. Lauren

    Thank you. I’d love math games with a deck of cards.

    Reply

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