SET!

SET! is an easily found and low cost card game that can accommodate many ages and numbers of players with adjustments.  Retailing around $10, multiple decks are useful for math warmups and middle school choice time.  This game can also be quieter than most other games, which makes for a nice break! I usually had 2-3 decks in my Time Filler section, and the decks fit nicely into door-hanger shoe racks for student access and storage.

Components: 81 cards with different combinations of shapes (rectangle, oval, wave), numbers (1,2,3), colors (red, green, purple), and fills (empty, solid, speckled).

Version 1

For ages 10 and up, the standard play begins by shuffling the deck and dealing 12 cards into a 3×4 grid in the middle of the circle of players. The remaining cards are placed in a draw pile. The players stare at the 12 cards and try to identify a SET! of 3 cards, which must have each of the 4 attributes (color, shape, number, or fill) be all the same OR different across the cards. For example a pictured SET! in the bottom right corner of the picture is 1 purple speckled wave, 2 purple solid rectangles, and three purple empty ovals. The color purple is the same across the cards, but the number, fill, and shape are different on each card. The first player to identify a SET! accurately gets to keep the three cards, which are replaced with cards dealt from the deck.  If there is a tie or crossover, I would split the cards between the players. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.

Version 2

To make this game more cooperative, groups of 2-4 students are formed with 2-4 groups around the playing area, or seated in the front of the classroom with the cards in a pocket chart.  In this version 20-30 cards are dealt in a grid, and the teams quietly record ALL the sets they see on a clipboard. After a set amount of time, the groups take turns identifying a SET! for the group. Each new accurate SET! is awarded a point for that team. The team with the most points would get a small reward, either first dismissal or the opportunity to lead this game the next time if this were used as a math or small group social game.

Version 3a,b,c- for EC and Elementary

a) For younger students, this game can be played as in version 1 or 2, but with a subset of the cards. The designer recommends controlling for shape or color to reduce the number of attributes the students must search for, but I have controlled for 2 or 3 attributes if using this game with preschoolers. This included using only purple cards, or only rectangles, or all the cards with 3 solid shapes.

b) It can also be simplified for elementary students to only find 2 cards rather than 3 with same or different attributes chosen by the teacher at each deal of 5-7 cards. This was a popular small group game and warmup (3-4 deals) when we were working on the concept of same and different.

Other Uses for SET!

This is a great game for students to practice discussing and explaining their thinking, as well as practicing social skills and communication in a mathematical context. Students can learn to share their ideas, as well as consider others’ and check for logical thought as well as accept correction constructively.

1) As described above, these cards can be used as a math warmup for table groups or individual students. I have made enlarged photocopies of 5-6 card sets seeded with 1 or more SET!s to show middle and high school students as a warmup for math. I would show the cards then have the student show a green card or a thumbs up when they had found a SET!. When most students were ready, I would have them share their SET! and discuss why it was a SET!. This was also a good filler when we were waiting for special activities or transitioning.

2) With younger students, I introduced this game to small groups before leaving it out for choice time. Using a subset of cards, or preselected cards, we would talk about the attributes and same/different concepts comparing 2 cards at a time. When 1-2 of the attributes were controlled, they picked this game up quickly!

3) If you are working with a group on specific shapes or colors, or have a theme in mind, you could make your own set of cards with 2-4 variables to use. I was inspired to make a smaller deck of cards with common shapes in different colors and numbers to use in preschool small groups to review/assess student knowledge of these concepts. For example, I would show them 2-3 cards and ask them which card had 3 circles, or to point to a square on the cards, or to name the color of the circles. Again, it was a great way to discuss and practice same/different understanding in a game like format.