Make Ten is an easy to play and fun math card game which teaches kids ways to make 10 with basic addition and subtraction skills. For this no-prep math game all you need is a standard deck of cards, which I bet you already have!
Card games are a great, low stress way to practice math skills with your kids. You get a little quality family time as well as helping your kids learn their math facts.
After you play Make Ten, use your deck of cards to play Turn Over 1, which is a version of the classic Memory!
How to play Make Ten:
Materials: standard deck of playing cards, face cards removed.
- Place the deck, face down on the table.
- Each player chooses 5 cards and places the cards in front of them.
- The first player uses the 5 cards to create as many equations as they can in which the sum equals ten. For example, If I have 9, 9, 3, 2, 4, I could make the following equations: 9+4-3=10 and
9+3-2=10. - After making as many equations as possible, player sets aside the used cards and play passes to the next player.
- Play continues with players refilling their hands to 5 cards at the start of each turn.
- Whoever uses the most cards by the end of the deck wins.
MORE: see more of our favorite math games
Once I was able to use all five cards at once: 8+5+3-5-1=10. My son thought that was terrific. You don't necessarily have to write the equations down but he enjoyed doing that as part of the exercise.
Keep a deck of cards stashed in your purse because this is a great travel/waiting/restaurant game!
I was able to entice my superhero-crazed younger son to play this game with a deck of Thor playing cards. He made me laugh with his superhero sound effects every time he made 10!
More advanced kids can use their deck of cards to play this card game that teaches fractions. Younger kids will want to play a round of the perennial favorite, Go Fish or Tens Go Fish to keep practicing addition skills!
Variations
It is easy to create fun variations of Make Ten. Here are two that we tried, but I bet your kids can come up with more possibilities.
- Place 12 cards out on the table and players take turns making as many equations for the sum of 10 as possible!
- Place 3 rows of of 5 cards face up on the table. With pen and pencil, each player writes down as many equations as they can.
Raising a Happy Child says
I can certainly see this post being in top 10 next year based on its title 🙂 This is a great idea!
MaryAnne says
Love Kiddo's intellectual passions. Looks like he's doing great with math!
Julie says
super fun game!! would you want to be a guest author (use this post) on our homeschool co-op blog?
Julie says
oh, and BTW, we got "double shutter" per your recommendation at Christmas. loved by all in our house..including the toddler.
Jessica says
Oooooh, me likey. Will hafta give this one a whirl!
jeannine: waddlee-ah-chaa says
I love how kiddo is leading the way with this math game! Kids being excited about learning makes me smile.
We will definitely play this game. Thanks for the recommendation.
Deceptively Educational says
My son would LOVE this! Thanks for sharing!
Jenny says
Love how engaged your child is in his learning! Hope my little boy is that excited about learning when he is that age.
Brittney says
I've heard a lot of good things about that book, and I think it's fantastic that your Kiddo is so excited about learning! Especially math!
Brittney
http://www.moms-heart.blogspot.com
Little Wonders' Days says
This looks like a fun math game!! I'll have to show it to Little J.
MaryAnne says
Thanks for linking up to Afterschool!
Julie says
I think my kids would love this book. I just requested it from the library. Thanks for the recommendation!
Sherri says
Love this book...and all her books!
Emma says
Some card games are so great for math. We haven't tried this one yet but I'm going to!
Amber says
I play a game I call Hang Ten with my first grader. Standard deck with face cards removed (Aces stay as 1). It is played like go fish. Each player starts out with 5 cards and, instead of asking the other player for a match, asks the other player for the number that would sum to 10 with the card she has. Example: I have a 3, I would ask her, "Do you have a 7?' If the other player has it, they give it to the asker and s/he gets to ask again. If the other player does not have it, they say, "Hang Ten" and the asker picks from the top of the deck and checks to see if the new card sums to 10 with any cards in his/her hand.
Erica says
Thanks for sharing that game!