2019 Summer Game #9: Percentages Memory

Like all memory games, Percentages Memory, game F46 in the Math Card Games book, is short and to the point. And very satisfying. The goal is to match common fractions with their corresponding percentages. Since percentages surround us every day, it is very handy to have this information available for recall.

In addition to specific percentage and fraction cards, you will also want a fraction chart available: we have plastic charts, laminated charts, and the new wooden puzzle fractions! You can have your children make their own chart or provide a copy of the chart found on p148 of the Math Card Games book.

This game is for two players or two teams. The players should be sitting side by side. Use the following 24 cards from the fraction deck:
1, 1/2, 1/4, 3/4, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5, 1/10, 3/10, 7/10, 9/10, and
10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 100%.
Add in 1/3, 2/3, 33-1/3% and 66-2/3% when the players are comfortable with the first group of pairs.

Place the shuffled fraction cards face down in three rows of four cards and similarly the percent cards nearby.

My friend’s children were visiting this past weekend. Here Gianna and Kolbe have already started playing. Gianna turned over the 1/5 card and said “1/5 equals 20%.” She then turned over a percent card hoping for 20% but got 25% instead.

Now it is Kolbe’s turn. Kolbe found a match. 7/10 does equal 70%.

Since he made this match, he tries again but 1/4 does not equal 90%.

Now it is Gianna’s turn again. She found 1/4 and 25%. Yes!

She gets to go again and was lucky enough to find 1/10 and 10%. Even though she made a second match her turn is over. (This keeps one players from getting a lucky streak and gathering all the pairs in one turn.)

The game continued until all matches were made. Normally, the winner is the one with the most cards but in this case, there was a tie and both kids eagerly wanted to play again. They decided to go for the best of five games! By the time those games were over, they had these fractions and percentages down pat!

Now go play this game with your kids. Or the neighbor’s kids! Have fun learning!