I love when you can find multiple ways to play (and learn from) games you already own.  Card games in general are great for this, and Uno is one of our favorite games to find new ways to play.  We’ve created lots of homemade games, below are our favorite educational games to play with Uno!

[Stephanie’s note: If the voice sounds different it’s because this post was written by Tyler, my husband, and originally published on Kidsloveboardgames.com which is now defunct!]

If you like this post, you might like these too!

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Pin this round-up of uno game ideas with this photo or link!

When you’re shopping for games, consider looking on Facebook marketplace for secondhand, buying from your local, small board game shop/toy shop, searching on Ebay, or checking Kidizen for used games. These are linked to Amazon for convenience but we’d much prefer you shop secondhand and/or small when you’re able!

We have a special Disney Uno from a trip there; here are some other fun versions: Mario / Harry Potter / Minecraft / Frozen 2.

Best Educational Games to Play with Uno Cards

So…why Uno?  Uno is perfect for creating new educational games with because:

• The cards cover numbers 0-9 making them a great tool for creating counting and math games
• The special cards (reverse, skip, wilds) fit into, and add excitement the educational games you create.
• Uno is one of our favorite travel board games!
• Uno can be found for very reasonable prices (usually around $5).  Check out Uno on Amazon.

Here are our favorite educational games to play with Uno!  I’ve also included a FREE printable so you can keep these instructions with your Uno cards, check it out at the bottom of the post!

 

Uno Number Recognition Game

This is a great way for your preschoolers to work on their number recognition, counting, and focus.  This game is also really flexible, regarding how many different numbers you include, and how many cards you play with.  This will allow you to fit the game to the preschool attention span, and keep this variant challenging as they begin to master their numbers.  Game length will vary by number of players but usually takes from five to fifteen minutes.

The Goal 

Collect the most cards to win, by identifying the number and claiming the card.

Set Up

• We like to play this with around ten cards in the draw pile, per player.  A mix of 10-20% of the deck using special cards (skips, draw 2, wilds, etc.) works well.  You can adjust the game length by using more or less cards per player.
• Shuffle the numbers you want to work on, plus some special cards into a draw pile.  We find that including four to six different numbers is a good mix.  The more numbers you include, the more challenging the game.

How to Play

• Play begins clockwise, with the youngest player going first.  They draw the top card from the deck.  If it is a number, the player must say the number to claim the card.  If they can’t remember the number, work with them to help them remember.  For specials, the drawer places the card in their pile and follows the action on the card:
  • • Skip: skips the next player
    • Reverse: reverses the direction of play
    • Wild: play continues normally, this is just a free card for the drawer
    • Draw 2: the person who drew the card gets to draw two additional cards and add them to their pile
    • Wild Draw 4: the person who drew the card gets to draw four additional cards and add them to their pile
• Play continues until the draw pile is empty.
• Once the draw pile is empty, count the cards in each players pile, the player with the most cards wins!

 

Order It – Uno Number Ordering Game

This game variant is perfect for gamers working on understanding number ordering, number values, and greater than/less than.  This game  lasts around ten to fifteen minutes.

The Goal 

Be the first player to find cards 0 through 9 and place them in the right order in front of you.

Set Up

Shuffle the Uno deck and place it in the middle as a draw pile.

How to Play

• Play begins clockwise, with the youngest player going first.  They draw the top card from the deck.  If it is a number, the player places it in front of them (in numerical order relative to any other cards they have).  If the card is a special card, follow the action of the card:
  • • Skip: skips the next player, discard the skip card.
    • Reverse: reverses the direction of play, discard the reverse card.
    • Wild: Wild cards can be played as any number and can be adjusted in future turns.
    • Draw 2: the person who drew the card gets to draw two extra cards and place them in front of them in order.  The draw 2 card is discarded.
    • Wild Draw 4: the person who drew the card gets to draw four extra cards and place them in front of them order.  The wild draw 4 card is discarded.
• If a player already has the number they drew it is placed on the discard pile.
• The first player to successfully draw and order numbers 0 through 9 (including wild cards) wins!

 

Make 9 – Uno Addition Game

This game focuses on kids addition skills and is a great way for kids who have have a grasp of addition to develop their speed and mental math skills.  This game takes around fifteen to twenty minutes to complete.

The Goal 

Be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Set Up

Shuffle the Uno deck, deal five cards to each player.  Draw five more cards and place them face up in a row.  If any special cards were placed face up, discard them and replace with a new card from the draw deck.  You should have five number cards face up in a row.

How to Play

• Play begins clockwise, with the youngest player going first.  On a turn, players play a card from their hand onto one of the five piles so that the total adds to nine.  In example, if one pile has a three face up, a six could be played on that pile.
• Alternatively players can play a special card:
  • • Skip: played onto the discard pile, skips the next player.
    • Reverse: reverses the direction of play, discard the reverse card.
    • Wild: Played onto one of the number piles, the player names the the new value of the card.
    • Draw 2: Played onto the discard pile, the following player draws two cards.
    • Wild Draw 4: Played onto one of the number piles, the player names the the new value of the card.  The following player draws four cards.
• The first player to successfully play all their cards wins!

Free Uno Game Printable Instructions!

We’d love to hear from you, what are your favorite games to play with Uno cards?  Sign up below to get access to a one page printable with the instructions for each of the above game variants!  This is perfect to fold up and keep in your Uno box.

Download your copy after subscribing to my newsletter – sign up and get the link & password once you’ve confirmed!