Sometimes, the best tools are the most simple. I would bet that I could walk into any Boys & Girls Club anywhere in the country and find a deck of cards. Probably a bunch of decks all mixed up in a bin if we are being honest! But that right there? From building teamwork and communication skills to fostering creativity and problem-solving abilities, the possibilities are endless. Today I’m rounding up a list of fun activities, games included, you can run that use a deck of cards.
Of course, card games are obvious. To make the skill-building deeper than just learning instructions to a game, integrate discussion around social-emotional skills like good sportsmanship, turn-taking, rule-following, decision-making, emotional regulation, and critical thinking. Here’s a list of a bunch of games with clear, easy rules.
Math games are another obvious go-to, especially with standard playing cards. These would be great for a Power Hour session if youth don’t have a lot of homework to complete, or to make fast go-tos if an activity ends earlier than expected. I like this list because she has them grouped by math skill, which will help you pick a grade-appropriate option. I especially love Spiral, which she’s got under multiplication but could be used for addition and subtraction as well.
The way this teacher makes so many variations on the classic game War is incredible!
You do have to leave your email to access this download, but I really like the format of this guide. It would be great for centers during Power Hour, and I love the bingo aspect to encourage youth to keep playing!
Have you ever thought about using playing cards for a writing activity? Me neither! This post gives two ways, one to give prompts for creative writing, and other to make a code for secret messages.
If you don’t mind cutting the cards up (dollar store/bulk ordering decks for the win), this bridge-building activity is a fun twist on traditional card towers.
Want to reuse those cut cards? Or do you have some on their last legs? These art projects are perfect!
And now for a fun twist- UNO CARDS! These are a bit more expensive, but I’d bet you’ve got several decks of these kicking around.
I famously try to avoid linking to activities that cost money, but I do make exceptions where I think the value might be worth it. This is one of those, where she lists out lots of great ready-made math activities, but then links to her site to download bundles. They seem reasonably priced and are for a wide variety of ages, so take a look. You may even be able to reproduce some of them on your own in Canva. (Love the Aussie use of “maths” instead of the singular “math” 😀 )
Have fun!
How do you incorporate on the spot fun into your programming? What other activities do your members love? We want to know so we can share! Comment below, on the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org.
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