Using Marlo’s Magic Math Mats from the Math Kit Bundle 2, you can introduce number decomposition (breaking numbers into pairs) in a playful, engaging way—all in just 5-10 minutes each morning as a math warm-up!
This daily math play routine helps students become familiar with different ways to make numbers within 10, without the pressure of writing formal equations. Instead, they use manipulatives, discussion, and interactive play mats to build a strong number sense foundation.
This daily math play routine helps students become familiar with different ways to make numbers within 10, without the pressure of writing formal equations. Instead, they use manipulatives, discussion, and interactive play mats to build a strong number sense foundation.
What’s the Focus?
- Hands-on math play with counters, cubes, and number mats.
- Exploring different ways to make a number (decomposing numbers).
- No formal equations or addition symbols required—just number sense discovery (but you can always include it if you have time to lengthen your learning experience into a main lesson)
- Teachers can expand the warm-up into a full lesson if desired.
Let’s take a look at five magical math warm-ups you can use this week!
Monday: Magic Bean Jars (Number 8)
- Play Mats: 3 Magic Bean Jars
- Materials: 8 counters (or jelly beans!)
Whiskers the Bunny waves his magic wand, and the 8 jelly beans magically split into two jars!
How to Play:
- Start with 8 counters in one jar (covering printed jelly beans if using the play mat).
- Students move the beans between the two empty jars to find different ways to make 8.Example: 4 and 4, 5 and 3, 7 and 1.
- Discuss and repeat with different combinations.
- If working in a small group, the teacher can use one mat while students draw dots on whiteboards or in math journals to match the combinations.
Teaching Tip:
- This activity is great for subitizing—encouraging students to recognize number relationships visually!
Tuesday: Magic Wands (Number 6)
- Play Mats: 2 Magic Wands
- Materials: 6 counters
How to Play:
- Place 6 counters on the two wands in different ways.Example: 3 on one wand, 3 on the other.
- Move the counters and find new combinations! Example: 4 and 2, 5 and 1.
- Discuss how the total stays the same, even when counters move between wands.
- Encourage students to predict the next combination before they move the counters!
Wednesday: Whiskers’ Ten Track (Number 10)
- Play Mat: Whiskers the Bunny Ten Track
- Materials: 10 cubes & a standard dice
How to Play:
- Place 10 cubes on the track (one in each space).
- Roll a die and slide that number of cubes off the track.
- Ask: How many cubes are left? What two numbers made 10?
- Repeat with different rolls.
- This activity introduces subtraction in a visual way, without needing equations!
Thursday: Magic Potion Cauldron (Number 5)
- Play Mat: Magic Potion Cauldron
- Materials: 5 counters & dry-erase markers (optional)
How to Play:
- Place 5 counters inside the cauldron.
- Slide some up to the bubbles above and see how many remain in the potion.Example: 2 bubbles up, 3 stay in the cauldron → 2 and 3 make 5!
- Try new combinations (e.g., 4 and 1, 5 and 0).
- If using dry-erase markers, students can write the number pairs on the cauldron.
Friday: Marlo & Whiskers at the Desk (Number 9)
- Play Mat: Marlo & Whiskers at the Math Table
- Materials: 9 counters
How to Play:
- Place 9 counters on the desk.
- Move some to Marlo’s side and some to Whiskers’ side.Example: 6 on Marlo’s side, 3 on Whiskers’ side.
- Find a new combination! (e.g., 5 and 4, 7 and 2.)
- Discuss different ways to split 9 and encourage students to talk about what they notice.
Teaching Tip: This game reinforces part-part-whole relationships in a natural and interactive way!
Make Math Play a Daily Habit!
By spending just 5-10 minutes each morning exploring different ways to make numbers through hands-on play, students develop number sense, flexible thinking, and confidence in working with numbers!Try these quick warm-ups this week and watch your students’ number confidence grow!
Want more math play ideas? Grab Marlo’s Magic Math Mats in the Math Kit Bundle 2!
The Story Behind the Magic Math Mats
Marlo was a little learner with a big dream—to become a Math Magician!
Every day, she put on her mystical cape, placed her magic hat on her head, and opened her golden math book. Inside were exciting puzzles, number spells, and math tricks just waiting to be discovered.
But magic didn’t just happen on its own—Marlo had to concentrate, listen, count, and practice over and over again to bring her math magic to life!
Then, one day, something wonderful happened…
POOF! Out of Marlo’s hat popped Whiskers the Bunny!
“Let’s get started, Marlo! Math magic takes practice, but I’ll be here to help.”
From that day on, Marlo and Whiskers met at the Magic Math Table to discover numbers, solve puzzles, and uncover math mysteries together!
The Math Magician’s Routine:
- Say the magic rhyme to begin their learning (find a printed one in the Math Rhymes bonus file of Bundle 2).
- Listen and gather their math tools.
- Play, count, and try again.
- Celebrate when magic happens!
The Magical Math Tools:
- Marlo & Whiskers at the Math Table
- Magic Swirl Dust
- Magic Dust Cloud
- Magic Star with 15 colorful spots
- Magic Top Hat with 5 Stars
- Rabbit on a Ten Track
- Crystal Ball (Math Ball!)
- Magic Beans Jar (10 Beans)
- Empty Magic Beans Jar
- Magic Potion Cauldron with 10 Bubbles
- Magic Wand with 5-Track
- Magic Wand with Vertical Number Track (1-5)
Are you ready to become a Math Magician today too?
