Prep time: 1min; Activity duration: 20-30mins for kids aged 6-12
Required
Standard pack of 52 playing cards
Optional
Pen/Pencil & paper for workings out
Remove all royal cards (jacks, queens, kings) and any jokers from the deck.
Clarify to those playing that aces have the value of one.
Shuffle the remainder and deal out 4 cards in a line placing them face up in the centre of the table for all to see.
Players must now attempt to reach the target number of 24 by using all four numbers through any combination of the basic maths operations – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Each number can only be used once.
If for any reason 24 can’t be reached, add another card to the line-up and use any 4 numbers.
Make it easier
Remove the requirement to use ALL four cards. This can be useful if you are playing with kids with differing mathematical abilities. Older kids must still use all four cards whilst younger kids will welcome only using 2 or 3 cards.
Make the challenge whomever can get closest using all 4 numbers.
Make it harder
Change the target number: just make sure it’s one that has lots of factorials – 36, 48 etc.
Add a fifth card from the outset and require that all 5 cards need to be used.
Variation
Deal out 4 cards to each player to work on instead of a single central set.
Moderate
1+
<30 mins
Easy
Why buy?
Super safe scaled down alternative for fireworks night or to headline any birthday celebrations in the comfort of your own home and without the hassle of getting cold or standing around for hours. Younger kids will go mad for it. Wonderfully different.
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