Patterns + Math = Fun
;)
Patterns! © 2009 Cameron Blazer
It's well known that I'm a pattern fiend and a craft-a-holic. And my love for Spoonflower, which makes it possible for me to turn my pattern designs into fabric, is similarly well-documented. But much as I would love to upholster my world in technicolor, the family budget doesn't really accommodate that impulse. Still, it seems a shame to let all these designs I've spent so much time working on languish.
My friend Courtney suggested I use them to make a memory match game. Brilliant! I got to thinking: while I am very contentedly the mother of just one little kiddo, lots of my friends have two or more kids under the age of six. I wondered if I could make the game more interesting for the older kids without making it impossible for the younger kids. What I came up with will probably not surprise anyone who knows me well enough to have listened to me prattle on about my quest for an arithmetic formula to reduce all non-zero real numbers to 1*--a mix of memory and arithmetic that I think will work with kids from 2-6.
;)
Numbers game © 2009 Cameron Blazer;)
Matching pairs © 2009 Cameron BlazerOn one side, the cards are printed with pairs of matching patterns, just like in the typical match game. On the other side, each card is printed with one half of a simple arithmetic equation, either 1+n(0-9) or its result (i.e. "1+1" or "2")--that is, the basic arithmetic table for the "ones." For little kids, the math equations will be like Greek, so you can just play the match game with the number sides up as you ordinarily would. With older kids, though, you could set the pattern sides up and use them to teach or test their new math skills. Honestly, the time when I will drill my son on arithmetic tables seems so distant as to be unimaginable, but if and when I do have to do that, I'd like to think that we could make it a little more fun by using this game.
I'm thinking of listing this project as a printable PDF in my Etsy store, but I'm at a loss as to how to price it. I'd love to know your thoughts--commenters will be entered in a drawing to win a printable, reusable PDF of the game; I'll draw 3 names next Monday and send a free PDF to the winners, so be sure to leave your email address when you comment (it is not published with the comment--only I can see it).
* Yes, I know that you can divide any number by itself and get 1. That isn't what I mean. You don't want to know what I mean. Trust me. You could die of boredom if you get me started.
Cameron Blazer
Cameron Blazer
Reader Comments (8)
Looks great! Needless to say, I want a game to share with my Teacher Cadets working in K-3, so put me in the pot to win a free game. Alas, I am a public school teacher of few resources.
Oh, it's beautiful! I want to find a way to hang the pattern-side cards on my wall! But I could also find a way to use them with or give them to some kiddos I know. :)
As far as pricing....hmmmm...could you sell it as a PDF and as a set that you print and send? For two different prices? In that case, I would think to myself, Self, what would I charge if I printed it and sent it? The buyer only has one set, but they didn't have to do any print or cut anything. I'm not sure the cost would be too different. There are perks to buying it in each of these two forms. Seems you would be appealing to the DIYers and the we-appreciate-DIY-but-don't-so-much-get-into-it-for-ourselves types.
Hey--I love it. I would also arrange the pattern side in a frame. I would love to give you a number, but would have to look at Etsy "comps" to get one.
In the meantime, I tagged you, girl! http://bennyandheidi.blogspot.com/2009/03/ive-been-tagged.html
These are gorgeous! I would love to win a set.
I wish I had some wonderful insight into the world of pricing, but the best I can do is a Google search. Here is a site I found that sells a very large range of playing cards, price points seem to be 4.99, 6.99, 9.99, and then special editions costing 19.99 and 34.99. URL: http://thehouseofcards.com/card_buy.html
Hope that helps!
I think this is a great idea... especially after teaching/fighting with my son this morning over using his fingers to add and subtract still. He's in second grade and his teacher wants him to move off this crutch. The flashcards are not engaging him and this sounds like something we could "play" together. Would love to win a set or know how much they are in your shop!
That's a great idea, the cards are so neat! My thought is for a downloadable PDF file I'd pay around $5 or $6.
These are awesome...I would agree with Michelle about the pricing..
Hello...stumbled upon this morning and would LOVE to get a copy. Any chance of offering it again on etsy?