First to 50: Fun Math Fact Practice Game

Math facts… Kids NEED to learn them. But that doesn’t mean it’s a fun task for them. Around here we’ve come up with a game that’s made practicing math facts a little more fun.

First to 50 (Two Variations)

Card Style :: This two-player card game helps kids practice both addition and subtraction facts in each round. You only need a standard deck of playing cards and a sheet of paper for keeping score.

Here’s how to play:

1. Deal all the cards evenly to both players. (Remove the jokers before dealing.) Leave all the cards face-down in each player’s pile.
2. Both players flip up the top 2 cards on each of their decks.
3. Both players add the value of the cards they flipped. Face cards are worth 10. Aces are worth 1.
4. The player with the highest combined card value wins that round.
5. To determine how many points that player earns, figure out the difference between both players’ card totals.
6. Play continues until one player reaches 50 points (or the point value you set).

Here’s a sample round:

• Player 1 flips over a 3 and an 8. Her total is 11.
• Player 2 flips over a king and a 7. Her total is 17.
• Player 2 is the winner of this round, earning 6 points. (17 – 11 = 6)

Dice Style :: This two-player game requires 4 dice and a sheet of paper for keeping score.

Here’s how to play:

1. Both players roll their dice.
2. Both players add the numbers on their own dice.
3. The player with the highest combined dice value wins that round.
4. To determine how many points that player earns, figure out the difference between both players’ dice totals.
5. Play continues until one player reaches 50 points (or the point value you set).

Both of these games can be adjusted depending on the math level of the child and which facts need to be practiced. If your student needs practice adding more than two numbers, you can have each player roll 3, 4, or more dice / flip 3, 4, or more cards and add all of them for each round.

If your student needs practice with multiplication facts, have both players multiply their dice/card values rather than adding.