52 Card Multplication (grades 4-7)
Author: Pat Driscoll, California
Subject: Math (simple multiplication)
Objective: Review/Learn basic multiplication.
Materials and Preparation: A deck of playing cards for each group.
Student Grouping: You can play this with pairs, triplets, quads ... whatever. There are all kinds of variations
The Play:
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Teacher shows the card at the bottom of the deck. Students multiply the number value of the card shown by 10 - or whatever number you have designated for this round. I start with 10 since it's the easiest and the students can have success early.
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All face cards are valued as 10 and Aces are valued as 1.
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Get the student(s) all the way through the deck once.
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Then: "Hey, not bad. How many do you think you can get in 30 seconds?" - and your off!
Comments or Variations:
I had lunch duty one day and kept 20 seventh graders huddled around me for most of lunch playing this game.
Try these variations:
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Give the face cards a higher value than 10 to challenge students (ex: Jacks=11, Queens= 12, Kings=20)
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Have 2 teams or individuals play against each other. The first person to say the answer gets a point.
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With small groups, rotate "dealer" and "time keeper" responsibilities. See who in the group can get the fastest time for each multipleir, 1-12.