Make a Ten Card Game

MAFS.K.OA.1.4, states that, “For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation.”

A fun game to reinforce this standard is the “Make a Ten” card game.

To play this game, you will need a deck of playing cards. From the deck, you will use the Ace-9 cards from each suit.

Use 9 cards to create a three by three array as shown in the picture below:

This game can be played individually or with multiple players.

In this example, the game is played with 2 players.

To begin play, Player 1 will select one card. In the image below, the first card selected by Player 1 was a 6.

Then, Player 1 will select a second card that would, when combined with the first card, make a value of ten. In this case, the card that would make the value of ten is a 4.

Player 1 will use the two cards to record the answer with a drawing or an equation.

The two cards that were selected by Player 1 are replaced with two new cards and play switches to Player 2.

Player 2 will then begin his/her turn by selecting their first card, in this example, Player 1 selected a 9. Then, Player 2 will select a card that when combined with 9 will have a value of ten. The Ace, which represents the value of one, is selected to make a ten.

Player 2 will use the two cards to record the answer with a drawing or an equation.

Play continues until all combinations of 10 are made.

This is a quick and easy game that can be used to reinforce combinations to 10!