Source
r/pkmntcg•
ohnotom

Buying Old / Cheap Cards for Elementary School?

I work for an elementary after-school program and all the kids are abuzz with Pokemon amid the summer's Pokemon GO fervor, and I am thinking it might be fun to pick up some shared classroom Pokemon cards that they can play during downtime, the idea being that they can practice their reading and basic math skills while also just being stoked that there are Pokemon. I'll probably bring in my old cards, but it would be nice to have more than just two decks for variety's sake, and having some newer Pokemon would be fun, too.

I'd just pick some starter decks at the store, but they're $12 a piece and I suspect I can buy older/retired theme decks for cheaper, but don't know where. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Or tell me if I am going about this in the wrong way? Any information is helpful. Thanks in advance!

Posted Sep 22, 2016, 5:19 AM UTC

15
Slver2•

Old retired theme decks usually cost more due to collectors value.

3
ohnotomOP•

Collectors! Of course. Thanks anyway.

1
TheCrusader4•

From my experience it would take a lot of effort to get the kids to play the game properly. If you don't know how to play the game very well you don't have much of a chance. They would likely rather bring in their own cards, show them off, and trade them.

If you do want to pursue this, I would buy a few theme decks and stretch them out with your own cards. Sleeves are also a MUST as the cards will get damaged very quickly. Teach everyone who wants to how to play and make sure all the rules are clear, or there will be arguments, and make sure you know enough that you can try to solve any ruling problem.

2
ohnotomOP•

I played the game a LOT as a kid, I know the ins and outs. I know there have been minor rule changes but I've kept my pulse on the game enough to know them well enough that I wouldn't have a problem catching up personally. Similarly, for that reason, I'm aware that sleeves would be 100% essential.

And yeah, I was planning this as a small group activity that I can guide a little more closely and also select kids who are patient/have earned it. No way am I getting a deck for each kid, but it would be nice to have more than the 2 or so that I had as a kid, so that once they get the hang of the rules they can spice it up a bit.

1
TheCrusader4•

Sounds awesome, I wish you the best of luck!

2