Absolute Zero Math Card Game
Playing games is the best way to make learning and practicing math fun! Unfortunately, many times I cannot find a game to fit the topic or standard we were practicing so I have to improvise. I enjoy being creative and even enlisted my kids in creating new games to help us with math.
Originally, I played Absolute Zero and Integer War with a regular deck of cards. The problem was that students had to remember that black cards represented positive numbers and red represented negative numbers. They also had to keep in mind that aces equaled one while jacks = 11, queens = 12, and kings = 13.
I quickly found that remembering what was what in the deck inhibited what I wanted students to focus on and remember - operations with integers!
My search for a deck of cards that contained both positive and negative numbers turned up nothing. So, with the encouragement of my family, I created my own deck of cards and game - Absolute Zero!
It really was a family affair. My daughter was my graphic designer, my son helped clarify gameplay and rules, while my husband offered unwavering support and encouragement.
The objective of Absolute Zero is to have the sum of all the cards in your hand equal zero.
Players draw and discard until this is accomplished. The first one with nothing wins the round!
A round can consist of a hand of 3, 4, or 5 cards. The number of cards in your hand really changes the strategy needed and the amount of mental math required!
We like to play dealers’ choice and allow the dealer to determine the number of cards in your hand for the current round.
One game of Absolute Zero typically consists of 5 rounds. Your score for each round is the Absolute Value of your hand. The player with the lowest score after 5 rounds wins the game.
Having students (or your own children) share a winning strategy is a valuable part of the learning process. One way to do this is to create a game situation, like the one pictured here, and ask “if this was your hand, what would you do and why?” “Would you take the face-up card or the unknown; and what is the reasoning behind your decision? Based on the card drawn, what would you discard and why?” It’s amazing the way some kids think! I always learn something new.
Other math-based games can be played with the Absolute Zero deck of cards:
Traditional war
Addition integer war
Multiplication integer war
What’s the difference - leading to the creation of Hunch.
Get the latest blog post and subscriber only discounts delivered right to your in box.
