Screen-free
Screen-free and social
Most activities take 20-40 minutes and rely on conversation, observation, drawing, counting, and guided play - no screens needed.
For grown-ups
Turn the card games your kids love into real math and social skills, at your kitchen table
Grown-up-friendly guides, short engaging sessions, and built-in reflection tools make it easy to practice math and social skills through card games learners already enjoy.
Clear, step-by-step instructions
20-40 minute sessions
Positive social language built in
Designed for busy home groups
Step-by-step
Clear, step-by-step instructions for every session.
Short sessions
Most activities run a quick 20-40 minutes.
Kind play
Positive social language is built right in.
Home groups
Designed for busy families and home groups.
What home-kit groups will love
No experience
No teaching experience needed
Our grown-up guides, print centers, and Start Here pages walk you through every session step by step. Just open the kit and follow along.
Next steps
Clear next steps
Each kit includes the CardSTEM Gameplay Next Steps guide plus official next-step links, so groups can go deeper into the real game when they are ready.
Home kit resources
Use the kit access code from your kit to unlock the home-kit support pages. Start with the guide that matches what you purchased, then open the packet and print only what you need.
Didn't buy a kit? Your school did
Your child's school uses CardSTEM
Everything above is for families running a home kit. This part is for a different reader: families whose school or program adopted CardSTEM. If that's you, here is what it means in plain language - and the short version is: you do not need to buy anything or set anything up.
The program
What it is
CardSTEM is a hands-on enrichment program that uses card play to teach math and social skills. The school runs it during five short class sessions of about 45-60 minutes each.
The learning
What your child learns
Counting, sorting, comparing, predicting, and working with numbers - plus turn-taking, listening, and kind play. Every session has a learning goal and ends with a short reflection.
Your part
What you need to do
Nothing to purchase, install, or prepare. The kit arrives at school with everything printed. Your child takes part during class; you can simply ask them what they built or figured out that day.
Common questions from school families
Is my child just playing card games instead of learning?
No. Card play is how kids practice counting, comparing, probability, and taking turns kindly. Each session has a clear learning goal and a reflection at the end, so play is the way the learning happens - not a break from it.
Do we have to buy or learn a specific card game?
No. Families never need to buy or learn any particular commercial card game. The school provides the cards and materials it uses, and the learning works the same way regardless of which cards a class plays with.
Are there screens involved?
No screens are needed. Sessions rely on conversation, counting, drawing, observation, and guided play at the table.
How can I support at home?
Just ask about it. “What did your group figure out today?” or “Who did you play with?” keeps the math talk and the kind-play habits going - no worksheets or special supplies required.
Open the right support page for your kit
Explorer and Strategy each have their own packet, printables, and the Gameplay Next Steps guide. Start with the page that matches your box.