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Absolute Zero is available on Amazon here.
{I purchased this game and, as always, all opinions are my own!}
Read on for a detailed REVIEW.
I spied this little game while walking the aisles at a homeschool convention and, of course, had to stop to check it out. I was instantly impressed by the high quality and low price so decided to make the purchase. And, once I got it home and my son and I played a round, we were both immediately hooked on the simplicity of the rules, the speed of play, and the clever way to practice an important math concept.
In addition to reviewing the
FUN FACTOR
and the EDUCATIONAL VALUE,
I will also include info on the
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT,
SKILLS USED,
CLARITY LEVEL
and an OVERALL SCORE.
Game Review: ABSOLUTE ZERO
NAME: Absolute Zero
PUBLISHER: Absolute Zero
TIME COMMITMENT: Minimal {15 minutes}
PLAYERS: 2-5
AGES: 8+
CATEGORY: Math
SUB CATEGORY: Positive and Negative Integers
SKILLS FOCUSED ON:
- positive and negative integers
- addition/subtraction
SKILLS PRACTICED:
- strategy
HOW TO WIN: Win a hand by being the first player to create a value of zero. Win the game by having the least number of points at the end of the game.
HOW TO PLAY IN ONE SENTENCE: Take and discard cards until you end up with a value of zero in your hand.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT: ♥♥♥♥♥ Absolute Zero comes in a small plastic carrying case that conveniently snaps together. I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of the game when I bought it and shared my appreciation of the quality of the case {y’all know how I LOVE quality game packaging!} It is perfect for stacking on a shelf for classroom use, throwing into a backpack for travel, or storing in the car for spontaneous play. Plus, the cards are sturdy and smooth and the directions are presented in the form of one of the cards so everything comes perfectly packaged! ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT SCORE: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥
FUN FACTOR: ♥♥♥♥__ Absolute Zero is quick and simple to play so, in my book, that instantly qualifies it as fun! There are no complicated rules to follow, no menagerie of pieces to maneuver and no hours and hours required to play. Will it wow the neighborhood kids on Game Night? Probably not. But, in terms of an educational math game, it definitely rates as fun enough to keep it in our rotation of fun ways to spend a few minutes! FUN FACTOR SCORE: 4/5 ♥♥♥♥__
EDUCATIONAL VALUE: ♥♥♥♥♥ Whether your kids are young and just learning to use a number line to add/subtract or older and working with Algebraic concepts, you’re sure to find a lot of educational value in this little package. In addition to the game discussed here, there are also directions for two other integer-related games which triples the educational {and monetary} value of this little gem! EDUCATIONAL VALUE SCORE: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥
CLARITY LEVEL: ♥♥♥♥♥ The directions are clear and concise. All three versions are very easy to understand and play. Not once did we need to consult the directions during play. CLARITY LEVEL SCORE: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥
OVERALL SCORE: ♥♥♥♥__ My teenage son and I both agree that this is a fun and clever way to work on the rather important concept of positive and negative numbers and highly recommend it for kids of all ages! OVERALL SCORE: 95% ♥♥♥♥_
Game Review: ABSOLUTE ZERO
