A Pirate Card Game Makes Learning the Ultimate Adventure!

A Pirate Card Game Makes Learning the Ultimate Adventure!

Are you looking for a pirate card game for your pirate-loving kids? Who doesn't love learning coupled with pretend play? Especially when it involves pirates, tropical islands, and treasures! Now that we have your attention, what if you could channel your child's love for pirate adventures to strengthen their cognitive function, soft skills, and academic abilities? Aye aye, it's true! Your child can sail the high seas to bridge the gap between their educational needs and playtime with the ease of a pirate card game.

Plus, SimplyFun doesn't just have one pirate card game; we have three! Help your littlest mateys or your upper elementary captains learn through fun odysseys that put pirate adventures at their fingertips while they ignite their imagination. Aaarrr you ready to explore our list of popular pirate card games? Anchors away!

Plundering Times

A Pirate Card Game That Strengthens Multiplication Skills.

Plundering Times by SimplyFun—a fun, educational board game focusing on multiplication and addition skills.

Plundering Times is an adventure in multiplication and was created by world-renowned game designer Reiner Knizia. With its easy-to-grasp rules and interactive gameplay, this pirate card game will satisfy parents' and educators' quest for a fun 2-step problem-solving math game that strengthens student's multiplication skills.

 

How To Play Plundering Times. 

Child playing pirate card game meets multiplication game, Plundering Times

Captains try to get the closest answer to the island numbers by placing two dragon pirates on each island and multiplying their number values (and possibly adding to the result depending on which side you place your dragon pirates). The closer your answer is to the number on the island (without going over), the earlier you get to pick a treasure chest on that island and the opportunity to plunder your opponent's most valuable gems! Get an exact answer and earn a bonus gem. The captain who has plundered the most gems wins! Play with 2-4 players, ages 8 & up, in as little as 15 minutes.

 

Why This Pirate Card Game Makes Multiplication Fun.

Pirate card games inspire exploration and imaginative play, and in Plundering Times, children are captains of their ship and choose which pirate dragons to call forth to solve math equations. Not to mention, the game mechanics ignite children's love for pretend play. To make this game even more exciting, encourage your children to 'talk like a pirate' as they island hop and multiply to reach island numbers and plunder their opponent's precious treasures!

Tropical islands, pirates, dragons, and the colorful artwork in this multiplication game create a unique fantasy experience that inspires children to be the captain of their own ships to strengthen their multiplication skills!

 

Tailor Plundering Times to Children's Unique Multiplication Needs.

This pirate game is really unique because it gives players the option to choose from two sets of math card decks. The standard Island Number Cards are ideal for students ages 8+, while the advanced Island Number Cards enable players to multiply more complex double-digit numbers for those who want a bit more of a challenge. This makes Plundering Times a flexible multiplication game that lets players choose their learning journey!

 

Is Your Child Falling Behind in Multiplication? You Need This Pirate Card Game!

Players can flip over their captain's board to use the times table, and we encourage students to use it when needed. By using the times table to multiply as they go, children use their memory skills to remember the number patterns associated with times tables. Once children have played a few rounds and become more comfortable, gradually ask them to challenge themselves to multiply without looking at the multiplication table while allowing them to use it when necessary. This empowers your child to put play and decision-making at the forefront of their learning. Once they have made the connection that math can be fun and they are fully capable of being a pirate-plundering rockstar at multiplication, they may feel more confident and comfortable with challenging themselves. Creating a fun and safe space for learning is key to helping your child become a more confident mathlete, so keep gameplay light and enjoy the journey together!

 

Multiplying in Reverse is A Sneaky Way to Strengthen Multiplication Skills.

In Plundering Times, players start with the total (island numbers) and work in reverse to find the best combo of dragon pirate numbers to multiply to get as close to the island number without going over. This sneaky reverse math method helps to solidify multiplication skills while keeping kids interested and engaged in gameplay!

 

Aargh!

A Pirate Card Game for Early Childhood Learning.

Child playing Aargh! Preschool Pirate Card Game for ages 4 and up.

Aargh! is our go-to preschool pirate card game that helps little learners set sail and dig up matching treasures as it supports early memory, social skills, concentration, and brain development.

 

How to Play Aargh!

Chart all of the islands as you search for treasure. Dig up matching treasures to gold coins, but watch out for Squawk! That bird will make off with your gold! The player with the most points wins.

2-4 players • 20 min • 3 & up

 

Why Memory Games for Early Childhood Development?

A child's brain develops rapidly during the first five years of life. Therefore, memory games can help them strengthen their concentration, attention, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, it enables them to practice following instructions and processing information.

Aargh! is also a fun way to help young children build executive function skills. With Aargh, children use 'working memory' to flip over tiles and memorize where the matches are located. Next, they use cognitive flexibility to form strategies to avoid Squawk, the gold-thief parrot!

Essentially, this pirate card game provides the foundation for critical thinking and decision-making, which will help young learners embark on more difficult problem-solving tasks later in their academic journey.

 

Phantom Seas

An Eerie-sistable Pirate Card Game that Teaches Directional Awareness.

Children playing pirate card came, Phantom Seas. A navigation game focusing on directional awareness and learning to use a compass.

Sail through the rough and misty seas in this slightly spooky navigation game that teaches children ages 8+ directional awareness and navigation. In this Dr. Reiner Knizia game, pirates use navigation cards and a compass to steer their ship toward buried treasure while they watch for turbulent waters that might throw them off course!

 

How to Play Phantom Seas.

On their turn, players select a navigation card with compass instructions to direct their ships in cardinal and intercardinal directions toward hidden treasure sites that are scattered across the map. When a treasure tile is landed on, players flip the tile to reveal an event causing either Turbulent Waters that rotate the gameboard or summoning the Phantom Ship which will pursue you and take back your loot if it reaches you. The player with the highest total treasure value at the end of the game is the winner.

2-4 players • 30 min • 8 & up

 

Why Teach Kids Directional Awareness with Pirate Game, Phantom Seas?

No wifi? No problem! This pirate card game helps children understand directional awareness and is a fun way to practice decision-making. We love the practical life skills that help kids develop, like planning and risk vs. reward analysis, while they learn to navigate their surroundings without relying on a smartphone or app.

Children playing pirate card game, Phantom Seas. A navigation game focusing on directional awareness and learning to use a compass.

Aarrrr You Ready to Play?

A pirate card game can pique your child's interest in learning and inspire them to navigate education from the captain's seat. And that is what we are seeking as parents and educators: innovative solutions that encourage children to see education as an enjoyable journey. So, let's help children pull themselves up by their pirate bootstraps and make learning fun with a pirate card game or two!


Go Behind-the-Scenes with Pirate Card Game, Plundering Times

 

Meet World-Renowned Game Designer Reiner Knizia

 

Shop ALL Educational Games By Reiner Knizia

 

Check Out The Best Strategy Card Games

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