I came across the MashUp Math activity below for reviewing finding mean, median, mode, and range while using a deck of cards, including an accompanying worksheet.
After watching the video, I thought that this might be interesting as a Game of War card game. It you don’t know how to play standard war, then you can read the instructions here.
Here is how I envision this activity can be modified into a game.
- Use two decks of cards and the additional card set that I created
- Playing cards get distributed similar to the original War card game
- Players draw a card from the new card set, cards may be action or reaction cards:
- An Action Card may say to use 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 cards and then find the mean, median, mode, or range. For these cards, all players put out the designated amount of cards from their individual pile and determine the respective value. The player with the highest value wins all cards. With two players, if players have the same value then the action is repeated and the new highest value wins all cards. With three players, if the highest value is the same for two of the players then those two players repeat the action and the player with the highest value wins all cards for that action round. With three players, if the highest value is the same for all three of the players then all players repeat the action and the player with the highest value wins all cards for that action round. The action card is then placed in the discard pile.
- An Action Card may say to give 1, 2, or 3 cards to all other players or to receive 1, 2, or 3 cards from all other players. For these cards, the player who drew the card either gives cards to other players or receives cards from other players. The action card is then placed in the discard pile.
- A Reaction Card may say “No Thank You”. The player may hold on to this card and use it to counter action cards from step 2 at any point in the game. Once used, this card should go in the discard pile.
- A Reaction Card may say “Double Up”. The player may hold on to this card and use it to double the required number of cards in step 2 to be given to or received from other players at any point in the game. Once used, this card should go in the discard pile.
- If at any point a player disagrees with the calculation of another player then a Challenge Card may be used. All players should check the disputed calculation. If the challenger is correct then the challenger wins all cards from that action round. If the challenger is incorrect then the player challenged wins all cards from that action round.
- Play continues until one player has all of the cards or for a set amount of time
If you have suggestions that would make this better, please send them along. Access the instructions and card set here.
