Here are some fast and fun minimal-prep math warm up ideas for working on fluency within 5 (or 6) using equipment you'll have in your classroom.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYAWtDbrnvV3R7-Gtz1HEUM2I2EaIjssIPUn2HTxmaTDera1V7-Ny2QuH8KYELp3aQNrY0_-K8ihNU4vB2-iUfFcSBra01V2t-mYP2EV_BnanFkoyugh0cddoV4dntdmAwr-Ix7M77nRCrSW7ULJJlqbFth3FbSF5mJaNXWPvJssh81bo0i0ptBV7/s16000/fun%20with%20number%20robot.jpg)
Roll and Build the Biggest
- students (or one player from the group) rolls 2 dice
- students build the biggest number with counters or sticks
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFyHahuiBPBBX7HMl5XL3wOfcVuzWyxqeex16_5wo7QJBaOfho_h9PzLgG8Kr1rwh5cw_AXqHaNgKkfwPeZ0r9TSFLlQDqGhLgCpAoioph8Y9F1ATwd9lvsm3YBKP7MQljgx7nUoniDjr-Yb7OHfMvMZ9vHXvGIdjTC8FHMILl2g_ZTvFvHNu8qRt/s16000/fun%20with%20robot%20numbers%2002.jpg)
Roll, Build and Add to 5 (or 6)
- roll a dice
- build the number
- add more in a different color to make a total of 5 or 6
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejX7o4OAATlpGFYqrjsL5AOcZiY0csYSb4_LD0ImGx4ir12JWeaQF4gfx9seADDBoEu3qxviqzgmXAsyA1bbuPqShy5e1BaxtTv5tqOs_UpeSBOOecyglrr0mVF4LNqymKndrwADZc95nXSF6Jxj64kEaO7VuKa-pRPZCxhxfOIoQyvHkQ8apks8o/s16000/fun%20with%20number%20robot%2003.jpg)
Roll and Make a Design
- roll the dice
- take a matching number of pattern blocks
- make a design/shape with them
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0R71sQXM02Bga9NF2gJrWUD-4pK2v1kZkjEVsRqqn77xR2TF1GpwbUktEd0niHDkWxj1kmBKwQGLDKqXxsVyBBMbrjjmJ9LeZyhfj41s7K68gMVNIBwka4OEUQor9sWbr50h_VIV4Mtn9PhsvsZDHJdiXNQ8ZjPerQzn83aS29isAlE-EJx0rfWAe/s16000/fun%20with%20number%20robot%2004.jpg)
- encourage your students to add more of their design and then describe it to you (repeated addition, beginnings of algebra)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtO43MgZFq0x9Qlswjolnwy369FcYYtmOYxgJGUx1U3VAwoUvVayYKRYZ3pGlAzHU5x7zRjkvMNFr3AAPKr36RJQPKafZWj6SNxLx7d-rsdlGYw105OBDT7_lrETKlQLMPpiSuggc-oAKqsJDEyRsLMuo-JUE3FqSF9RSBhTlH7XAZRm8wRqfjOINu/s16000/fun%20with%20number%20robot%2006.jpg)
Roll & Add to Group
- provide a container of counters or tokens
- roll
- take a matching number of counters
- keep rolling and taking
- the first to 5, 6 or 10 wins
I hope your learners get warmed up quickly for their math lesson or workshop with these fast-prep games.
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