6 holiday party game ideas for the classroom or at home

December 13, 2023

It’s quite common at this time of year to find yourself around a table playing a game with friends and family. Other than joy and entertainment, we know there are many educational benefits to playing games. They involve strategic thinking and planning, which requires players to use probability and numerical reasoning to optimize gameplay. One of the best part of games, they’re accessible. If games are chosen correctly, they can be engaging for all ages and abilities!

Heading into the holidays, we have identified six activities from our library of lessons that will work for any holiday party – whether it’s in your classroom or with friends and family at home. These games take little effort to learn and will capture everyone’s attention. The best part: they target number sense and data management in a playful manner. All you need are dice or a deck of playing cards to get everyone started.

3 Dice Games

These dice games get children thinking strategically as they make choices based on chance and probability.

Dice War

Players aim to collect all the dice in the game. They roll to get a score, and the highest roll wins all the dice.
Five dice on a table with a title that reads, "Dice War".

Shut the Box

In this simple game with cards and dice, student practice constructing and deconstructing numbers one to 12.
Ten cards in two rows, with some being face up and face down, and a pair of dice at the bottom. A title reads, "Shut the Box".

Skunk

Using probability, students must choose between locking in their points or gambling for a higher score.
The word skunk split into five columns with different numbers. A title reads, "Skunk".

3 Card Games

These card games get children practicing mental math skills as they assess card values, calculate scores, and strategize their next move.

Go Fish

Using the four basic operations, players take turns asking opponents for cards that will create a target number.
A child sitting and playing Go Fish. A title reads, "Go Fish".

War

Students practice with number magnitude in a simple card game.
Cards playing the game war, with a title that reads, "War".

Golf

Students attempt to minimize the value of their hand in this competitive card game.
An icon of a person golfing with playing cards. A title reads, "Golf".

Related Resources

If you’re interested in learning more about the developmental benefits of playing games, here are some of our previously published resources.

Math in a Deck of Cards

December 12, 2020

Dr. Julie Comay shares how playing cards can be used to explore mathematical concepts with children. She also recommends a series of child-friendly card games.

Scattered playing cards with a title that reads, "Math in a Deck of Cards".

Place Value

Interview-style. Observe how students comprehend the value of ones, tens, hundreds. Uses manipulatives.
An instructor helping a student, with a title that reads, "Number Assessment, Place Value".
Tags:
Lessons, Inquiry, Number Sense, Math
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