If you have ever played the game “Spoons” before, this is the same game, except with math concepts! I use these math spoons games every month during math centers in my classroom and it’s definitely become a student favorite,
I like to use this in my classroom before giving a test, quiz, or assessment. It really helps me see as a teacher which students need more practice or remediation and which students are ready to move onto a new concept. It’s also great for mental math practice!
The goal of the game is to get 4 cards in your hand that all equal the same number (4 of a kind).
Shuffle all the cards and deal four cards to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in a pile next to the first player. Put one fewer spoon in the center than the number of players (for example, if five students are playing, use four spoons).
The first player draws a card from the pile and looks at it. They decide whether to keep it if it helps their hand or pass it to the next player if it doesn’t.
Players may only have four cards in their hand at a time. Students must pass one card to the next player before drawing a new card.
While the next player is looking at the card you passed to them, you’re already choosing your next card. Don’t wait for them—this is meant to be a fast-moving game.
If the second player isn’t ready for another card yet, you start a pile next to them just like the pile you are drawing from.
When a player gets four of a kind, they don’t say anything. They quietly grab a spoon from the middle. Once other players notice, they grab a spoon too. You’ll be surprised how long it takes some students to catch on—they’re usually so focused on the cards that they don’t realize there’s already a winner.
The last person to notice is out for that round. You can play again without that student and with one fewer spoon, or keep everyone in by using a simple point system. Each round, everyone earns a point except the student who gets out. Then you play again, and the student who gets out each round just doesn’t earn a point. That way, no one is sitting around waiting and everyone stays involved.
I print the Math Spoons answer key pages and keep them in the same bag as the playing cards. After each round, students check the answer key to confirm they really do have four of a kind. It makes it easy for them to see exactly which cards should be in their hand. If a student doesn’t have four of a kind, they’re out of that round instead of the last person to grab a spoon.
Check out all of my Math Spoons Games on TPT here.
Or, browse all Math Spoons on the website shop here.
You can also use these math spoons game cards to play Go Fish, Memory Match, and Four of a Kind. You’re really getting four games in one! You can use Math Spoons to:
Here are some helpful tips you can perform as you play this math game.
Do you enjoy hands-on games? Try 5 free games out in your classroom here:
Let’s Keep Learning Hands-On!
New to hands-on classroom games or looking for easy ways to boost engagement? You’re in the right place! On the blog, you’ll find practical tips for using hands-on games in a variety of ways.
Find information on what you need:
Browse Hands-On Game Collections on TPT
Join in on social media! Follow along to see more games on Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Group, or Tiktok.
