Make My Number

Two or more people take turns subtracting. The person who gets the lower total collects the cards. Keep going until one person loses all their cards.

PURPOSE

This activity ensures the learners are able to do basic operations mentally.

• Step 1

  Using a deck of cards, shuffle the cards and then lay 5 cards out on the table and all other cards face down in a pile on the side.

• Step 2

  Next, the first player picks one card from the deck of the cards and lays it face up beside the pile.

• Step 3

  Then, the players attempt to create an equation using any of the 5 cards to make the number they have turned over.

  For example: if they have placed 5 cards - 3, 6, 2, 5 and 10 on the table, and 7 is the number they chose, then they can make the equations 5 + 2, or 10 – 3, or 5x2 - 3 and so on that all equal 7.

• Step 4

  The first player to think of an equation says “Made My Number” and says the equation. If they are correct, they keep those number cards and the number card chosen, all of which are then replaced in the next round.

• Step 5

  If the players are unable to make the number, just place the chosen card at the bottom of the pile and pick a new one. Keep going until the cards are all done. The person with the most cards wins.

• Additional Exercise

  This game can be played by using a timer and challenging players to come up with as many equations within the time limit as possible!

• Simplified Exercise

  Ask the learner to make their own number cards. About 30-40, with any number they wish to have.

• For a longer project where the learner can create their own math games, please refer to Math Cards here: Link