Looking for a quick, low-prep way to build number sense this spring? Carrot Crunch is a simple addition game that can turn into a powerful mini lesson on flexible thinking with numbers.
You can grab the resource here!
Prep (super easy!)
Print the card mats - but don’t cut them apart. Leave two mats on one page so students can see both carrot patches at once.
How to Play
Students roll two dice and find the total. For example, if they roll a 5 and a 3, the total is 8. Now here’s the twist:
Instead of covering 5 and 3, students must find a different pair of numbers that also make 8—covering one number from each carrot patch.
Partner Option (great for discussion!)
Student A rolls and covers one number (e.g., 6)Student B “counts on” to make the total (e.g., 2 to make 8) and covers that number if possible
This way, students practice multiple combinations:
5 + 3 = 8 and 6 + 2 = 8
They start to see that numbers can be broken apart and recombined in different ways—an essential early math skill.