Number Sense Activities for Grades K - 2
These activities will help your child develop number sense, an important "strand" or math theme tested in the WASL math activities.
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Number Sense Activities - Use the following links to see the activity. |
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| Count Objects | Estimate | Skip Count |
| Encourage Guessing | Guess My Number | Pairs of 10 |
| Subtract From 100 | Join Sets of Objects | "Take Away" Items |
| Sorting | Card Games | |
(Activities taken from Mathematics a Guide for Parents to Everyday Mathematics and Helping Your Child at Home Grades K-6, published by Central Kitsap School District Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 2000.)
Count Objects
- Encourage your child to count pieces of fruit, cans of vegetables, stair steps, or kitchen utensils.
- Provide counters, such as paper clips or dried beans, and ask your child to count out specific amounts
- First and second grade students can make groups of ones and tens to match place value names. For example, three sets of ten items and five single items are called "3 tens, 5 ones," and represent 35.
Encourage Guessing
- Have your child guess amounts after looking quickly at a set of objects. For example, put a handful of jelly beans into a cup and ask your child to guess the number, then count them out.
Subtract from 100
- To play this game, you need one die, paper and pencil for each player. Write 100 at the top of your paper. Throw the die and subtract the amount from 100. In turn, throw the die and continue subtracting. The first person to get to zero wins the game. For young children, start with 50. For addition practice, reverse the process. The first person to reach 100 wins the game.
Sorting
- Have your child work with fractions by sorting canned goods into related sets, such as soups, vegetables, tuna, sauces, etc. Next have your child give fractional names for each set. For example, if 3 of 15 cans are sauces, then 3/15 of the cans are sauces.
Estimate
- Ask your child questions such as, "How many potatoes are in the bag?" or "How many grapes are in the bunch?" Challenge each other to guess how many pretzels in a bag or how many raisins in a box. After shopping for groceries, have your child guess how many objects are in the bag.
Guess My Number
- Write or think of a number your child must guess. Have your child guess a number, say between 0 and 20. If the guess is not correct, say "higher" or "lower" until the guess is correct. Then switch roles with your child.
Join Sets of Numbers
- To reinforce the concept of addition, create opportunities for your child to put together groups of objects to make a whole amount. For example, say, "We had two bottles of soda and we just bought six more. How many bottles do we have now?
Card Games
- Card games such as "War" and "Go Fish" help children learn place value. You can show younger children how to figure out the value of the cards by counting the objects on the card.
Skip Count
- Count with your child by 2's, 5's, and 10's. Challenge your child to count by tens in patterns, such as 4, 14, 24, 34, etc.
Pairs of 10
- This game is for those learning to add. Cut out 20 small squares of paper and ask your child to write the digits 0 through 9 (two sets) on the squares. Turn the squares face down, mix them up, and put the scattered pile between you. In turn, pick up one square at a time, turn it over and keep it. Each time two numbers have a sum of 10, remove the pair from your pile and score a point. The game is over when all squares have been picked. The person with the most pairs wins the round. After a couple of rounds, your child will notice that nothing can be paired with 0.
"Take Away" Items
- To reinforce the concept of subtraction, encourage your child to notice how many items are left or how many were taken away. If you have seven jars, give your child two to put away and ask, "How many more are left to be put away?"