Math War is a fun and educational variation of the classic card game War that helps players practice arithmetic skills in an engaging manner! Perfect for children of all ages, Math War is an excellent tool to improve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division skills while enjoying quality family time. Read on to learn the rules, benefits, and variations of this exciting game that turns math practice into an adventure. Great for math stations.
Overview
- 2 players
- Ages 7+
- 10-15 min game play
Game Set Up
If using a standard deck of cards, remove the jokers and decide whether to include face cards. Face cards can be assigned values (e.g., Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13, Ace = 1 or 14, depending on the age of students and desired level of difficulty)
Shuffle the deck and deal an equal number of cards to each player. Players should keep their cards face down in a stack.
Gameplay
Start a Round: Each player simultaneously flips over the top two cards from their stack and places it face up in the center in front of them.
Solve the Problem:
- For Addition War: Players add the values of the two cards.
- For Subtraction War: Players subtract the smaller value from the larger value.
- For Multiplication War: Players multiply the values of the two cards.
- For Division War (if applicable): Players divide the larger value by the smaller value (only use this if all values are suitable for division).
Declare the Winner: The player with the highest score wins the round and collects all four cards, setting them aside face down in a pile away from the other cards.
Ties: In the event of a tie, a “war” is declared. Each player places two more cards face down and then three and four cards face up. The winner of the next math problem wins all the cards from that round.
Winning the Game
The options to end the game are:
Option A: Until one player has all the cards
Option B: Set a time limit and the player with the most cards at the end wins
Tips for Playing with Children:
- Adjust the rules to suit the child’s math level. For example, stick to addition for younger children and introduce subtraction, multiplication, or division as they advance.
- Use positive reinforcement to encourage learning and make the game enjoyable.
Math War is a versatile game that can be tailored to different ages and skill levels, making it a great tool for reinforcing arithmetic skills in a fun and competitive way.
