Welcome back to our series on fun elementary math games, where we’re turning family game nights into learning adventures! Today, we’re diving into one of my all-time favorites: Go Fish.

If you’re like me, you probably have fond memories of playing Go Fish as a kid. It’s a classic card game that’s easy to learn and always entertaining. When I found out there’s a math-infused version of this game, it quickly became a household favorite—both for me and my kids!

So, how do you play Go Fish with a math twist? Let me break it down for you:

Set Up: Remove the face cards and count Aces as 1. Deal each player 5 cards.

Objective: The goal is to make as many groups of 10 as you can. Since everything in our number system revolves around 10—like how ten ones make a 10—mastering this concept helps kids build strong number sense for the future.

Gameplay: Player one looks for two cards that add up to 10 or asks for a specific card to make 10. For example, if you have a 7, you can ask another player for a 3 to make a group of 10. If they have the card, you get to make the group and keep playing. If not, you draw from the pile. Keep playing until all the cards are used up.

Variations: Mix things up with different versions based on your kids’ needs:

• Go Fish for 5s: Remove all cards greater than 5.
• Go Fish for 9s: Take out the 10s. This variation is great for helping kids understand that adding 9 is just 1 less than adding 10.

These variations let you adjust the game to different skill levels while reinforcing important math concepts in a fun and engaging way. It’s a great way to sneak in some math practice without the kids even realizing it!

So, grab your deck of cards and get ready to dive into a game of Go Fish that’s not only fun but also packed with valuable math lessons. Stay tuned for more fun elementary math games coming your way soon. Let the math adventures begin!