As we learned last month kids can experience something known as “summer learning loss” and with our current pandemic, the dreaded and increased ‘COVID slide’. The brain is just like a muscle and, like any muscle, needs to be worked out and stretched, or else it weakens.
Keeping children involved in learning during the summer months can help students start off on the right foot in the fall, and there are lots of fun ways to keep school skills honed. This month we will be sharing those ways with you, starting today.
Math is not just about numbers and formulas, and games is one way your child can experience the beauty of math all around us. There are many fun card games that integrate deeper mathematical thinking into the gameplay. Here’s a list of go-to card games for engaging students in math through games, who knows maybe your child has tried a few of them out with their instructors and can teach you a thing or two.
Ninety-Nine or Bust Game
Get everyone together for a quick game that is a fun, strategic game for all. Everyone can play and it never gets old. Played in two short rounds involving simple addition. Think fast, because if your score goes higher than 99, you bust! Any player who cannot keep the count at, or below 99 loses the round. This game is fast action and teaches quick addition skills. Simple and easy to understand, play again and again.
24 Game
Build strong mental-mathematics and problem solving skills. The object of the game is to “make” 24. You can add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Players must use all four numbers on a card, but can only use each number once. There is at least one solution to every card. Get students to work on their mental math skills, achieve fluency, and recognize multiple ways to solve problems - all from one game!
Set
A card game where each card contains four attributes, each attribute takes on one of three possible values. The four attributes are: number, color, shape, and shading. The goal of the game is to find sets (hence the game’s name) of three cards. This game will strengthen your child’s ability to identify patterns and think critically.
