Linear Graphs Algebra Card Game

The Linear Graphs Algebra Card Game is an interactive way to teach key algebra concepts to your students in grades 8+. This card game has 12 sets of matching cards, each set includes 6 cards showing multiple representations of the same equation. This is a great tool to use in a small group or whole class.

There are many great ways to use this game in a small group setting. One way is to give students the deck of cards where they could play a game whether it be a matching game, Rummy, concentration or even Go Fish! Since each card is a different representation of the same line, one card will have the line, and the other 5 remaining cards will have that same line in standard form, slope, coordinate pairs, y-intercept, and the actual equation. Have your students play different games with each other and see how they practice pairing the cards together.

Playing Rummy:

1. Shuffle the cards. Deal each player 6 cards. Place the remaining cards facedown in a pile. Turn over the top card to be the first card in the discard pile. Each player takes a turn drawing a card from either the top of the facedown deck or the top of the discard pile and then discarding a card. During a turn, a player may also play 3-card matches by placing on the table any 3 cards that describe the same line. The player may add to this set as play continues until all 6 matching cards describing the same line are collected and then the full set is turned facedown. The game ends when a player can play all cards in hand and discard one card.

2. During the game, any player may add a card to another player’s matching set on their play area and move that set to their own playing area. A player may reclaim a set by providing another match to the set. If the drawing pile empties before the game ends, shuffle the discard pile and continue the game.

How to Score: Each card in a complete 6-card set counts as one point. Any cards in a less-than-6-card set count as one-half point. The player who is the first to play all cards and discard one card gets a bonus of 5 points.

You can find other ways to play matching games and Go Fish! in the Sample Activities sheet here.

Teachers can also use this resource with their whole class, handing out the cards to their students as a formative assessment. They can walk around listen to students’ explanations of their thinking on why the cards are a match. Another great way to use this resource in a whole group setting is through displaying one card to the class and asking students to raise the cards that they believe are a match. This will challenge students to communicate their explanation to the class and teachers can understand their students’ thought process or interpretation of the line.