Activities

Card Games

These 10 card games are organized from basic to more advanced early math skills. Game 1 is the simplest and Game 10 is the most difficult. To choose the game that’s right for children to play first, identify the child’s level of math skill. Using a deck of regular playing cards, take out cards numbered 2-9 and use the cards to ask children the question in the Level 1 box below. If the child answers the question easily, go to the next level math question. As you continue to ask questions, moving from one level to the next, anytime children seem unsure about the answer, play the game associated with that level. Download the instructions for choosing and playing the games.

The games are based on characters from an imaginary place called the Land of Numbers. In addition, every game includes a mini story based around a character.

Game Directory

Level 1

Compare Numbers

Play on this level if the child is learning to answer questions like:

"What number is larger: 4 or 7?"

Level 2

Put Numbers in Order

Play on this level if the child is learning to answer questions like:

"Can you put these numbers (5, 7, 4, 6, 3) in order from smallest to largest? "

Level 3

Add Numbers

Play on this level if the child is learning to answer questions like:

"How much is 3+6?"

Level 4

Advanced Adding & Subtracting

Play on this level if the child is learning to answer questions like:

"What do you need to add to 8 to get to 10?"

The Card Games were developed by researchers Beth Casey and Eric Dearing and their team at Boston College composed of Martha Bronson, Lindsey Caola, Dianne Escalante, Elizabeth Pezaris, Alana Foley, Alden Burnham, Amanda Stroiman, and Megan Kern. Kaitlin Young from Tandem, Partners in Early Learning also contributed to the creation of these games. The authors are grateful to their collaborating schools and families in Boston and Wellesley, MA.