Sum Swamp Addition and Subtraction Game

by Learning Resources

• Math becomes an adventure
• Takes kids on a journey through the Sum Swamp
• Endless loop of adding and subtracting
• Make your way over the crocodile shortcut
• For 2-4 players

Product Description

Amazon.com

Kids will have a terrific time learning math skills as they avoid the hilarious pitfalls of the Sum Swamp. Designed for two to four players, this game is sure to develop and sharpen beginning math skills, because the only way to escape the mire is to roll the dice and add and subtract your way around the board. If you're lucky, you'll be able to take the Crocodile Short Cut, although sooner or later everyone gets caught in the Endless Loop. Landing on special squares, such as Even or Odds or a number space, makes things even more interesting; you could get stuck for quite a while. The best part is that this is a game kids can grow with--children 5 to 6 will find it a learning challenge, and older kids can play for fun. The game is an Oppenheim Best Toy award winner. --Marianne Painter

Product Description

Math becomes an adventure with this addition and subtraction game that takes kids on a journey through Sum Swamp. They'll make their way over the crocodile shortcut and through the endless loop by adding and subtracting the numbers on the dice. Includes 12" x 17" game board, four swamp critter markers, two number dice and operation die. For 2-4 players.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 77 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sum Swamp Review January 9, 2007

By Marti Calder

I have been a kindergarten/first grade teacher for 12 years. I have this game and school and wanted to order another one for my own grandchildren. It is a great game that practices addition and subtraction while having fun. I highly recommend it.

62 of 62 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Game for Little Guys August 23, 2007

By Carolyn Diana

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

We bought this for my boys and they really enjoyed it right from the start. There is addition and subtraction practice and the concept of odd and even numbers, but the kids don't care because it's fun. The target ages are about 4 to 7, but it's fun enough that Mommy doesn't mind playing it again and again.

99 of 105 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegantly simple fun that isn't boring to play August 9, 2010

By hwmd

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Sum Swamp isn't *so* much fun that, say, they'd ever want to make a movie about it. I don't think you're going to see Liam Neeson and Jennifer Lopez starring in a summer blockbuster thriller about a magical swamp where you have to roll dice and get through it, and need to find the magic combination to get out of the "endless" loop.

On the other hand, playing games with your kids and teaching them basic math can be pretty mundane, if not boring, if you don't have some sort of story. So, as far as an activity goes to make this easy and fun, Sum Swamp fits the bill. The are charming aspects to the board, for instance, that make it play a bit like Candyland (possible "short cuts").

The game is remarkably simple. A board, two numbered dice, a plus/minus die, and four character pieces for the players. Theoretically, you could build this game on your own if you were so inclined, say, with a bunch of toy cars or ponies and call it Sum Race. The plus/minus dice would be hard to procure, though.

The best part, though, kidding aside, is that my kid actually asks to play this game preferentially over, say, other lame-u-tational games like Sequence, SuperWhy ABC Letter Game, etc.

Part of the charm, also, is that the game takes maybe a grand total of 5-10 minutes to get through a game, if you're efficient about it. So it's not going to stretch on and on without some sort of redemption, like a bad movie might. More reason why they probably shouldn't turn Sum Swamp into a movie. Unless, maybe, if they had Samuel L. Jackson in it.

Here are the directions straight outta' the box:
- Each player chooses a game piece and places it on start. Players roll a number die and the player with the highest number goes first....
- The first players rolls all 3 dice and creates a number sentence by placing the highest number die first, the operation die second, and the smallest number die last.
- The player then adds or subtracts the numbers, and moves ahead the sum or difference. For example, if a player rolls 3+2, he/she moves ahead 5 spaces. If a player rolls a combination that equals 0 (5-5=0), heshe does not move. Then it is the next player's turn.
- The first player to reach the finish space is the winner!

Special spaces on the board
"Evens" or "Odds": if a player lands on one of these spaces, heshe rolls one die. If a player rolls an "even" or "odd" number as indicated on the game board, he/she moves ahead that number of spaces. If an evenodd number is not rolled, the player must wait until his/her next turn and try again!

Number Space: If a player lands on a number space, he/she rolls the operation die. If the player rolls a +, he/she moves ahead the number indicated on the space. If the player rolls a -, heshe moves back that number.

"Short Cut": If a player lands on one of these spaces, he/she follows the arrows as indicated on the board.

"Endless Loop": All players enter the loop as the arrow on the board indicates. Players continue moving counterclockwise around the loop. If a player lands on the space marked "exit", he/she can exit the loop on his/her next turn. Read more ›

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! November 12, 2007

By Chippery

Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I have 3 small children and we love playing this game as a family! Grantedm my 2 year old just likes to roll the dice but it is great at reinforcing the math concepts that I am teaching the kids in homeschool. My 4 year old is starting to be able to add and subtract and my almost 6 year old is gaining confidence in her ability to add and subtract. Not only does it reinforce math concepts but also helps to teach them to be good sportsmen, taking turns, and gives parents the opportunity to help them deal with disappointment if they don't win. The best part is that this this game is a lot of fun and they have no idea that they're learning all of these great things!

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great learning game October 15, 2011

By FreeSpirit TOP 100 REVIEWER

Amazon Verified Purchase

The game is great for a variety of reasons - it teaches kids addition and subtraction in a fun way, rolling the dice is fun for smaller kids who aren't there yet to count, and it also teaches kids to deal with winning and not winning (we don't use losing as a term at home - just our little positive reinforcement thing). The game makes is fun and children learn without feeling that they are sitting down to learn something. Quality of the game in terms of hte board, dice, and pieces is great too.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Popular with the kids, not so with me September 7, 2012

By Snapples

Amazon Verified Purchase

The game is attractive, my kids like it and request it. Sum Swamp does stimulate the kids' thinking. My 7 y.o. strategizes and knows exactly what rolls of the dice he needs at critical points on the game board...limited and not the objective, but still problem solving. Our four y.o. is reinforcing the concept of counting when reading the dice and moving the game piece; he is also grasping addition from this game and has not been introduced to it elsewhere. I think it is high priced for what it is and there is not enough repetition in the time it takes to play for it to get the learning done. The little variation in the game board landing spaces and their rules are neat. The down side, if you don't guide the children they can count moving the game piece by individual number on each dice and not learn addition or subtraction. Not one of my favorite teaching/educational repetition tools, but is certainly acceptable. Best for introducing basic math concepts, i.e., number identification, counting, addition and subtracting, and simple rules to preschoolers and kindergarten students. Shipping and timing were satisfactory! Thank you!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Terrific Game January 15, 2008

By Annabelle

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

My grandson found this game so exciting one just has to say "Sum Swamp," his eyes light up and he is clamoring to play. He has played it so much with other kids and adults, our family will have to start looking for a more expanded version that will move our grandson to add or subtract higher numbers than what is currently involved in this game. This is truly a great learning game for pre-school and kindergarten children. Watching those little fingers raised for additions and "take-aways," then looking at kids' faces stomped when they run out of fingers---it is difficult for adults to hide their giggles and laughter. The game board and the box are made of surprisingly durable material. The animal character pieces used to move over the board are made of good rubber material which help avoid sliding, slipping, and getting easily misplaced.