Do you have a tub of craft sticks (popsicle sticks) ready for math games and activities? They're a versatile and practical resource that you can use for a range of activities, especially counting. Bundle some in groups of ten and loop them with an elastic band to help teach the concept of base ten and place value.
Here are 5 no-prep warm up games to play when you have a small group with you at the table.
Bundle and Ones
- ask students to call the number you make
- encourage them to try to say the number without counting
- remind them that the bundle is a ten, and we count-on the ones to make a teen number
- present a range of numbers to your students by quickly placing them down and having them call to you
- e.g. place a bundle and 5 sticks down, they call 15
- keep it fast paced and fun
Show Me
- give student access to sticks
- call a number
- they make the number with sticks
- extension: keep the current number and then change it to make the next, working on early addition and subtraction
Cover and Tell
- play to rules of Bundle and Ones, but conceal the number quickly with a screen (piece of paper or card) so students are encouraged to create a quick mental picture of the number
Tell a Story
- give students access to the sticks
- tell an addition or subtraction story
- students model the story by taking sticks and putting them down or removing them
- e.g. I went into the garden and picked 2 flowers. I picked another 3 in the afternoon. How many flowers did I pick?
Number Track
- use a number track or large teacher-ruler
- the track that is placed down on the table, show students how to match a stick to each number
- ask students to tell you 2 less than and 2 more than questions
- they use the number track to locate the number, build it by matching sticks adjacent to each number and then take 2 away or add 2
- e.g. if you ask them to show you 2 more than 5, they will put 5 sticks down, one next to each number on the ruler and then add another 2, giving you the answer 7
I hope your students love these fun and hands-on math warm ups that build essential early number skills. Over in my TPT store I also have a game for you - Pig Pen Ten that is free today!
Students will build sets of 10 and then trade them for a bundle to make 100 to win.
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