War of the Differences

War of the Differences

This card game helps children realize that we always subtract the smaller number from the larger number (at least until they learn about negative numbers). It also helps children practice subtraction facts and adding to 10.

Supplies:

1 deck of cards for every 2 children

How to Play

1. Remove any jokers from the deck.
2. All face cards count as 10's.
3. Deal all cards face down into one pile for each child.
4. Players simultaneously turn over first card in their pile and place it on the table. (It is important for the teacher to model how to flip the card away from you. There is a definite advantage to looking at your own card while hiding it from your partner.)
5. If a player has a ten showing (either a 10 or a face card), he must turn over another card. If the next card is another ten, bury that one in your deck and turn until you get a single digit card. Add that card to the ten to find the player's number.
6. Both players must mentally choose the greater number, and make a subtraction sentence to go with it. Examples:
   1. 
      This combination is 8 – 1 = ____.
   2. This combination is 13 – 6 = ____.
   3. This combination is 19 – 12 = ____.

7. The first player to call out the correct difference wins the cards on the table, and creates a “winnings pile” with those cards.
8. Play continues with players adding to their “winnings piles” until one player uses all of her original pile of cards. The “winnings pile” then becomes her new hand.
9. Play continues until one player has all of the cards and wins the game.