Games

This card game is a variation of another game called Twenty-Five, which involves addition and subtraction of whole numbers and can be played by students of any age. This game requires students to add and subtract positive and negative integers.

Materials:

Standard deck of playing cards, Ace = 1, Jack = 11, Queen=12, King=13, black cards represent a positive number, red cards represent a negative number (e.g., black seven is worth +7 (seven), a red three is worth -3 (negative 3).
This game is played with 2 or more players

Directions

  • The dealer deals out as many cards as possible from a deck of cards, so that each player has an equal number of cards. Put aside any extra cards.
  • Each player places their cards in a stack, face down.
  • The player to the right of the dealer turns up one card and says the number on the card. (e.g., if the player turns up a black eight, they say 8)
  • Play continues in a clockwise direction. The second player turns up a card, adds it to the first card, and says the sum of the two cards aloud. (e.g., the card is a red 9, which has a value of -9, the player says 8 + (-9) = (-1))
  • The next player takes the top card from their pile, adds it to the first two cards, and says the sum. (e.g., the card is a black 2, which has a value of +2, the player says (-1) + 2 = 1)
  • The game continues until someone shows a card that, when added to the stack, results in a sum of exactly 25.

Variations

  • Use subtraction instead of addition (e.g., if player #1 plays a red 5 (-5) and player #2 plays a black 8 (+8), the difference is -13: (-5) – (+8) = -13. If the next player plays a red 4, the difference is -9: (-13) – (-4) = -9)

Source: Educationworld.com
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