Sunya Publishing TOS Review

Math facts are a bit of a struggle here.  They haven't been memorized and sometimes I think they never will be.  I'm always and forever looking for ways to make arithmetic a little more enjoyable.  Sunya Publishing has a brand new game, Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Adding & Subtracting.  It will be available soon.  The Crew was able to get a sneak peek.  It is great for fact practice.

We've been playing more card games lately and this one is perfect for us.  It's a competitive game in that there is a winner.  It's also a cooperative game, in that the other players can help play your hand.  I just love that about Sunya.  This card game is for ages 7 to adult and only requires one player, though it's recommended for 1-5 players.

What does Sunya Adding and subtracting include?

We received an instruction book, two distinct decks of cards, and a number line.

The first deck consists of 60 number cards.

• 3 zeros
• 4 ones
• 6 each of numerals 2-9
• 2 Wild cards
• 3 operations cards (+, -, =)

The second deck is made up of thirty fact and riddle cards.

The number line runs from -3 to 21.  It is 8.5" x 3" and includes examples as instructions for use.  This is a handy game tool and a nice way to introduce younger children to the number line and negative integers.

The 25 page softcover Parent/Teacher Guidebook is comb bound.  It includes instructions for play of several game variations, a copy of the fact and riddle cards, a few math facts and tricks, and a brief history of the Hindu-Arabic numerals system in use today, and from where the word Sunya derives.

In the word Sunya, the u is pronounced /ü/ as the "oo" in book.  Sunya is a Sanskrit word meaning empty.  When a player uses his last card(s) to win, he says "sunya."

The most basic of instructions for Sunya are for players to take turns making number sentences with their cards and to try to be the first to run out of cards.  Players decide if they will add or subtract for this round.  The dealer sets up a single digit number sentence using the appropriate operation cards and the 2-9 cards.  The dealer then deals four cards to each player.  The rest of the numbered cards become the draw pile.  The player to the left will draw a card signifying the beginning of their turn.  Next, looking at the number sentence in play and the cards in their hand, a new number sentence is to be formulated using any combination of cards in play and cards in the hand.  In the addition version, an entirely new sentence can be made using all cards from the dealt hand or two new addends that equal the sum in play or a new addend and a new sum can be used.  The first person to play all of their cards says, "Sunya."  The winning player then draws a card from the fact and riddle pile and reads it out loud to the other players.

There are more rules pertaining to wild cards, blocked wins, and exchanging cards, but that's the basic game.  Several variations of the game are also in the guidebook, including how to play with double digits, what to do with the zeros and ones.  As a mom with a younger guy, I can also appreciate the included activities for young children.  Merrick loves doing "school" and at his age, it's still all about fun.

Ordering, Matching, and Counting.

Sunya Publishing is also releasing Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Multiplying & Dividing.  I'm looking forward to playing that as well.  We enjoyed playing and helping each other and I think you will too.  Click the green banner below to read more about both games.