Working with numbers up to 5

Playing board games which involve counting and dice are a great way to hone numeracy skills. They also teach/reinforce social skills such as communication, taking turns, supporting others, being a good sport, and learning to lose and win graciously. Some suggestions for commercial board games are Snakes and Ladders, Frustration, Trouble, Sorry (replace the cards with dice but follow the same instructions for the numbers).

The games described below are games which we have played in the classroom. Your child should be familiar with the 'rules'. For those games which we have not played in the classroom or for concepts we have not yet explored i have written (not yet) beside the title.

Dice Games

Subtizing

Roll one die. Without counting tell how many spots you see. If your child needs to count them that's fine. Eventually they will be able to subitize with continued practice.

Counting On

Roll two dice. Ask your child how many spots they see. Without counting tell how many spots on one of the dice. Then count on, pointing to each of the spots on the other die to see how many spots on the two dice.

Variation: Roll one die. Quickly say how many (subitize) then say the next three numbers. eg. Roll a 5. Say 5, 6, 7, 8.

You can also play this to practice counting backwards. eg. Roll a 5. Say 5, 4, 3, 2

More/Fewer/Same (not yet)

Roll 2 dice. Quickly, without counting, tell which die has more spots. Tell the story of the 2 dice. eg. 4 is more than 2. Play a few times stating which die has more. Then switch to telling which die has fewer. Tell the story each time. eg. 2 is fewer than 4. If the dice are the same tell that story. eg. 4 is the same as 4.

For variety: Mix up more/fewer. Just before your child rolls the dice say "more" or "fewer" .

When they become very comfortable with this they can try it with 2 pair of dice. This combines Counting On and More/Fewer/Same. Playing it this way requires that they can hold the total of one pair of dice in their head while figuring out the total of the other pair, then being able to tell which pair has more/fewer/same.

Ordering Numbers

Roll up to 4 dice. Put them in order counting forwards.

Variation: put them in order counting backwards.

Magnetic Numbers

If you don't have magnetic numbers write the numbers 1 - 9 on cardboard. Cereal boxes or other such cardboard boxes work just fine. If you're using cards with numbers written on them you may want to place them upside down, in a jumble so your child can pick one.

Counting On

Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Say the number and then the next 3 numbers in the counting sequence. eg. Pull out a 7. Put it right way up in front of themselves. Say 7, 8, 9, 10.

Variation: Count backwards.

Relating Number to Quantity

Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Have your child do that many jumping jacks, hops, jumps, stomps, squawks, squeaks, claps...They pull the number, you say the action.

Variation: Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Write the number on a piece of paper and draw that many items.

Variation: Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Have your child hold up that many fingers.

Representing Numbers in Two Parts (not yet)

Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Ask your child to show you that many using 2 hands. Have them tell the story of the parts. If they pull a 7 and put up 4 fingers on one hand and 3 on the other they would say "7 is the same as 4 and 3".

Variation: Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Draw 2 groups of objects, telling the story of their picture.

Variation: Gather a collection of small items (macaroni noodles, toy cars, socks...) Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number placing it in front of themselves right way up. Count out the number of items indicated by the number pulled. Divide the items into two parts and tell the story of the parts. Ask them to do it again, dividing the group differently. Tell the story of the 2 groups.

Ordering Numbers

Put the magnetic numbers in a sock or small bag. Have your child pull out a number. Place the number in front of themselves right way up. Pull out another number and place it on the table, thinking about where it goes in counting order, leaving space for the other numbers not yet pulled out.

eg Child pulls a 6.

6

Child pulls a 7 and places it next to the 6.

6 7

Child pulls a 2 and places it to the left leaving space for the missing numbers.

2 6 7 until all the numbers have been pulled and placed.