My oldest son loves any game that involves mathematics, and when he was younger her loved playing math card games like Tens Go Fish and Make Ten. When he started learning fractions we started playing a fraction-reduction card game. This math card game teaches kids about fractions by helping them learn and recognize which fractions can be reduced. Since fraction reduction involves division, it also helps them practice simple division skills. Win-win.
A card game is a great way to approach learning about fractions. By taking the pencil and paper away and focusing on having fun, children who might have anxiety over math can relax a bit. And can I admit, it’s a great way for a parent to refresh her math skills as well? Ahem.
Are you ready to play?
What You Need:
A deck of cards with face cards (i.e. Jack, Queen, Kings, Jokers) removed.
How To Play:
1. Shuffle cards and deal out the entire deck between 2 players, face down.
2. Each player turns over his or her top card and places it in the center of the table. The numbers create a fraction, with the smaller card as the numerator and the higher number as the denominator. (Aces count as 1) For example, if the cards are 4 and 8 the fraction is 4/8, no matter who has the 4 and who has the 8.
3. As soon as the cards are revealed, players attempt to quickly determine if the fraction can be reduced. For example 4/8 can be reduced to 1/2.
4. As soon as a player determines if the fraction can be reduced, he slaps the cards. The first player to slap the cards gets first dibs at solving the fraction reduction. If he correctly reduces the fraction gets to keep the cards, adding them to the bottom of his pile to be played again later. If the player is incorrect, the other player gets to keep the cards.
5. If the fraction can not be reduced, players continue to add new cards until a they form a new fraction that can be reduced. The player who wins that hand gets to keep the top cards as well as the piles that have accumulated.
6. When one player has collected all the cards, the game is over.
Tips for Playing:
Determine ahead of time if a player can slap the cards either when he recognizes a fraction can be reduced or not until he figures out the reduced fraction.
Since the purpose of playing the game was to practice reducing fractions, it made sense for me to let my son take his time to figure out the reduced fraction after he slapped the cards, I let him take as much time as he needed to figure out that 4/8 = 1/2 after slapping the cards. He got a big smile on his face every time he recognized a reduce-able fraction before I did. That gave him confidence and the perseverance to keep going.
Like this game? See more math card games:
Fiverton, aka “Five or Ten”
Another fraction game with printable
or learn about fractions by making fraction cookies!
Or get 100+ math card games here:
teachingyoungchildren says
Great to be coming back together 🙂 Love this game, will definitely try it at home.
Jeanette Nyberg says
Clever, clever, clever. I love math games for kids- I feel like more kids would like math if half the class was spent on math games. Hmmmmmm
Pragmaticmom says
What a great game. I love games that you can use regular decks of cards for. My son would love this game. I’m sending him over to learn how to play. He’s not doing fractions just yet, but I still think he would love to learn to play this game.
Erica MomandKiddo says
It’s a good way to practice simple multiplication and division, too.
Kelly @ IdealistMom.com says
We’re just starting to talk about fractions with our 5yo daughter, so this is perfect timing! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Erica MomandKiddo says
I hope the game comes in handy for you!
maryanne @ mama smiles says
This sounds like a game my kids will eventually enjoy, but subtraction is still a struggle in my house. I need to invest in some math games!
Stanley & Katrina (@StanleyNKatrina) says
This is a great game idea. Loving this link group! Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend.
~Cool Mom/Christine M.
Tech Support for Stanley & Katrina
Anna@The Measured Mom says
I just love all your games posts. This is a great one for pulling out when my daughter’s ready for it. Thanks so much for sharing!
AndrewL says
Clever! I will definitely try this in the classroom. I’ve had students play War to practice multiplication facts, but hadn’t ever thought to do fractions like this.