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Child's Play


Twenty One


This is the old game of Blackjack, minus the gambling. I generally use this game on an individual basis. Each student gets a free card at the beginning of the game. Then you go around the class and interact with the students on a one to one basis until they either pass or "bust". To get the next card the student must successfully do whatever it is that the particular lesson is about. The winner of each hand receives a point.

When I first introduce the game I generally write something like this on the board, it helps the students to understand the explanation.


1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 = number



17 (one tick)
18 (two ticks)
19 (three ticks)
20 (four ticks)
21 (ten ticks)
22 (a BIG cross)



10 - J - Q - K = 10


A = 1 or 11



This game is better used in smaller classes because of the time taken to go around to each student. In a bigger class the students will become bored, lose their focus and start talking and playing amongst themselves.