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Top-It Card GamesObjective To introduce a game that reinforces number

recognition and number comparisons.

Key Concepts and Skills• Read numbers. [Number and Numeration Goal 3]

• Compare numbers. [Number and Numeration Goal 6]

Terms to Use more, less, higher, lower

Materials Home Link Master (Math Masters, p. 32); card decks made from two sets of Small Number Cards 0–20 (Math Masters, pp. 105–107) or the cardstock number cards in the My First Math Books.

Core Activities A► Playing Top-It (Math Masters, pp. 105–107)

Show children the card decks and explain that each deck has two of each of the numbers 0–20. Pick two cards from a deck. Have children say the numbers and tell you which number is more and which is less. Ask children to share how they knew which number was higher. (If children don’t share them, model strategies such as checking the number line or counting out loud.) Repeat this warm-up activity a few times before teaching how to play Top It. (You may remember the game as War.)

Give each pair of children a shuffled card deck. Direct them to divide the deck so that each child has the same number of cards. Have them place their stacks facedown on the table or desk, turn over the top card, and read the numbers. The player with the larger number takes both cards. If players have the same number, they turn over and compare the next card on their stacks until someone wins the round and takes all the cards.

Planning Tip Use two

copies of Math Masters, pages

105–107, cut and laminated or

mounted on cardstock to prepare

each card deck. (Alternately,

combine sets of the cardstock

number cards in the My First

Math Books.) You may want to

combine some of the decks you

made for Activity 3-9. Each pair of

children will need a deck of cards,

so you may want to teach the

game in small groups.

Whole Group

Small Group

Partners

Center

Adjusting the Activity

Provide counters or cards with

dots and numerals for children

who may still need concrete or

visual supports to compare

numbers. Some children may also

benefit from using only numbers

0–10 at first.

AUDITORY � KINESTHETIC � TACTILE � VISUAL

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The winner is the player with the most cards when play stops. Below are variations of Top-It that you can introduce as children are ready.

� Opposite Top-It (or Bottom-It) The smaller number takes the cards.

� Top-It with a Spinner Prepare a spinner with sections labeled “Larger” and “Smaller.” Players spin before each round to decide which number takes the cards.

� Top-It Using Higher Numbers Use decks with numbers above 20.

Children can play a computer version of Top-It using Everyday Mathematics EM Games.

Home Link 4�2 (Math Masters, p. 32)

Children teach a family member how to play Top-It.

► Skip Counting by 10s (Revisit Activities 1�12 and 3�15, pp. 68 and 170)Play Give the Next Number, but have children count by 10s rather than 1s. (Be sure all of the “10s” are highlighted on your Growing Number Line for reference, as needed.)

Teaching Options BENRICHMENT

► Playing Addition Top-It (Center Activity Cards, 16)

Children add the numbers on two overturned cards; the higher sum wins. (Begin with 0–5 cards and gradually increase numbers.) Dots on the cards can help with addition.

See Project 3, Fun with Games, for other addition and subtraction games.

EXTRA PRACTICE

► Playing Number Card GamesIn addition to the Top-It variations, provide card games such as Go Fish. Also encourage children to play the card games from Activity 3-9, page 158.

Top-It reinforces number recognition and helps children learn to compare two numbers todecide which one is greater or less. (You may remember this game as War.)

Materials Number cards from school or a deck of cards

Players 2

Skill Compare numbers

Object of the Game Collect the higher number of cards

Directions

1. Shuffle a deck of cards and then divide it between two players, turning the cardsfacedown on the table.

2. Players turn over their top cards and read the numbers aloud.

3. The player with the greater number keeps both cards.

If both players get the same number, they turn over the next card on their stacks until oneplayer wins and takes all the cards for that round.

FamilyNote

HOME LINK

4�2

Name Date

Top-It

32

Copyright ©

Wright G

roup/McG

raw-H

ill

Play Top-It with someone in your family.

Math Masters, p. 32

191 Activity 4�2 Top-It Card Games

Ongoing Assessment:

Recognizing Student

Achievement

Use Top-It to assess children’s

ability to identify the smaller and

larger number in a pair. Children

are making adequate progress if

they can do this for the numbers

0–20. Some children may be

able to compare larger numbers.

[Number and Numeration Goal 6]

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