Equivicards was born from the collaborative work of Saga Education’s Spark Math project, developed closely with students in 2022 and 2023. Built on a concept students know and love—UNO—the game brings a unique twist: mastering equivalent expressions. During early design sessions, students and researchers shaped Equivicards to make learning equations feel like a game, not a chore. Teachers across professional development (PD) sessions instantly saw its potential as an engaging, accessible way to reinforce math skills in any classroom.
At its core, Equivicards is a fast-paced game of matching cards, but it’s more than just a simple color or number match-up. Players must not only match cards by color (red, blue, yellow, green) or number (1-8), but they also have the unique option of matching cards using variable expressions like “x+1” or “2x.” With this added layer of complexity, players must think strategically about how to use the variables and expressions to run out of their cards before the other players. The first person to do so wins!
Equivicards mirrors UNO’s color and number-matching simplicity, adding expressions and variables to make the game approachable and instructive. “The students shared how UNO was something they knew,” says Denise Parham-Gantt, Senior Product Manager. “So we decided to create a variation that helps build fluency with equivalent expressions but is also familiar and fun.'”
Players of all skill levels can jump in, even if they’re new to math concepts like equivalency. The game mechanics naturally encourage players to discuss math while playing, helping build skills organically. Designed to be flexible, Equivicards can be played with or without explicit math instruction, offering teachers and students a way to play, discuss, and learn—whether in a tutoring session, a classroom, or even at home.
Equivicards is more than just a game; it’s a tool to create engaging, experience-based learning. By blending competitive fun with math, the game allows students to practice concepts like equivalent expressions in a low-stakes environment, giving them confidence and enthusiasm for math. Its design also leaves room for expansions—think fractions, exponents, or advanced algebra—making it adaptable to various math levels and a powerful addition to any math or tutoring program.
Equivicards is much more than a standard matching game. It combines the familiar elements of card games with the challenge of strategic thinking and math. Here’s why this game stands out:
Whether your students are math enthusiasts or love a good card game, Equivicards offers something for all students. It’s a game that is challenging while providing endless classroom fun.
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