Melon Rind Clumsy Thief Money Game

The Clumsy Thief Money Math Game by Melon Rind is an absolute hit in our household! As a homeschooling mom, I’m always on the lookout for educational games that are fun, and this game checks all the boxes. The gameplay is fast-paced and exciting, making it appealing to kids and adults alike. It cleverly incorporates math skills, specifically addition to 100, in a way that feels more like play than learning. My kids (ages 8 and up) have had a blast strategizing, stealing from one another, and laughing the whole time. I also love that the game helps build confidence in mental math. It’s perfect for family game night and works wonderfully in a homeschool setting or even as a classroom activity. The cards are high-quality, and the rules are simple enough that we could dive right in without confusion. If you’re looking for a game that combines fun, family bonding, and math practice, I can’t recommend Clumsy Thief enough! It’s a fantastic addition to any game collection.

This is one of the favorite games in the math intervention room. It's fast-paced and helps with making 100. It's a popular Fun Friday choice, and it has increased fluency and number sense. So fun!

I purchased Clumsy Thief after meeting the creator at a math conference and learning about her game. I teach first grade and my students can't get enough of it! They BEG me to play this game after math and they get to school early so they can get a "spot" in the game first. Some of them have even talked their parents into buying it for them. It was a little advanced for some of my students at first so we created an anchor chart together of all the ways to make 100 that hangs in the classroom for them to reference during the game. Most of my students have already learned all the ways to make 100 and they don't refer to it anymore. The creator is designing a new game coming out this summer and I am already planning on purchasing it. PROS: -Challenges my students to use mental math. They have to be quick, so they've already learned that it's faster to do the math in their heads instead of looking at the anchor chart and searching out the pair. -Everyone is playing (and therefore THINKING) the entire time. In other words, players do not have to wait for their turn. They can steal cards at any time so they're always watching, always thinking, always MATHing. -This is a great QUICK activity for my students to play at the end of a math lesson because it's comprised of a simple deck of cards - no pieces to pass out, no board to set up. Fast, easy set up, fast, easy clean up! CONS: -I only have one and I need MORE!

Cute math game! My song LOVED this! I wish if wasn't color/fruit coded so you had to know the numbers better, but still a good way to learn how to add up to ten.

My son has been having problems in 2nd grade with math this year so I saw the reviews on this game and thought we would give it a try, as we are willing to try ANYTHING to help him catch up to his classmates. Bonus if he actually enjoys it! Game is simple...just has cards in a small box, maybe 6x8 inches or so. Cards consist of several thief cards, a few jail cards, and the money cards, which include $10, $15, $20, $25, $30, $40, $45, $50, $60, $75, $80, $85, and $90 cards. You shuffle the cards then deal 7 to each player. You then put down any sets of 2 cards that add up to $100 in front of you and say GO and the game begins. You are looking to either add one of your cards on top of the other player's to equal $100 and steal their stack (e.g. they have a stack with a $60 on bottom and a $40 on top, you would lay down a $60 on their $40 and steal that stack) or place a robber on their stack and steal it for you. Another robber can be played on top of an existing robber to steal it back or you can place a jail on the robber and that stack becomes permanently yours and nobody can steal it. It is better to use your robbers and jails towards the end when their are lots of cards in the stack, as the object is to get the most money. You continue that round until nobody else can play then everyone draws a new card, lays down any 2 cards that equal $100 into a new stack, then GO and the play repeats. It is pretty slow at first, until you start to get more cards in your hand. Adding doubles was also a little challenging for my son at first but started to catch on better as the game went on and he started to memorize the 2 numbers that equaled $100. I did have to keep helping him throughout. I think it would definitely be more fun with more players, so I am looking forward to trying it with Daddy as well. I also think it will be more exciting as he learns the sums better and I do not have to stop so much and help him. Overall I think this is a great supplement to helping my son with his math and will be useful as my girls get older as well! Worth the price!

This is a great Jr. version of the original Clumsy Thief. It really helps solidify the number pairs that make 10 in a fun and easy way. The fruits in the correct pairs are the same further giving a hint for those that are new to the concept.

Great educational game and my kids enjoyed it very much. You definitely need at least 3 people to play this game with one person being the dealer. The dealer needs to check to make sure everyone is making the right moves and doing the counting correctly during this fast paced game. It took a few tries and rereading the instructions several times to play it correctly in the beginning, otherwise it's a great game and we played it over and over.

This great and quick game is still a family favorite for the boys and me. We are well beyond age 8 and still we pick this one out when we have a short amount of time for a fun game. The skill required is great for any second grader and above. The logic and quickness keeps my 16 year old playing along with his brothers. I highly recommend this game.

The grand kids (6 to 8 years) can't stop playing and are learning the simple addition to 100 in pairing 20 and 80, 45 and 55, etc. They seem to get a big kick out of taking other player's cards. :)