Make 31

Make 31

Goal: Be the first player to reach a total of exactly 31 without going over!

What You Need:

• A standard deck of cards with only the Aces, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, and 6s included (remove all 7s through Kings).

• Note: Aces count as 1.

• A recording sheet to keep a running total.

How to Play:

1. Lay all cards out flat face up and keep them in a row of the same suit.  

2. Take Your Turn: On your turn, draw two cards from the layout

3. Add it Up: Add the values of your two cards together, then add that sum to your previous total.

   • Example: If your total is 15 and you draw a 4 and a 5, your new total is 15+ 5 + 4=24.

4. Record Your Score: Write your new running total down so you don't forget!

5. Passing the Deck: Place your used cards in a discard pile and let the next player go.

How to Win:

• The Winner: The first person to hit exactly 31 wins the game!

• The "Bust" Rule: If your two cards push your total over 31, you are out of the game (or you must reset to zero, depending on the "House Rules" you choose!).

Teacher Tips for the Classroom:

• The Strategy Element: As students get closer to 31, ask them: "What is the highest sum you could possibly pull?"(12) and "What is the lowest?" (2). This helps them calculate the risk before they draw.

• Visual Aid: For younger students, have them use a Hundreds Chart or a Number Line to move a counter along as they add. This provides a great visual for how close they are to the target.

• The "Optional Draw" Variation: If a student is at 28, drawing two cards is very risky! You can add a rule that once a player passes 25, they can choose to draw one card or two cards to try and land exactly on 31.