This is a great mini-lesson that allows students to have fun while learning in maths. The idea is simple… Teach them a card game and let them practise. With more and more practise, your students will have an intricate knowledge of number and will easily calculate a variety of problems. The game can easily be adapted to make 21, make -5, etc… Have fun with it this week in your class.

• Explore the connection between addition and subtraction (ACMNA029)
• Solve simple addition and subtraction problems using a range of efficient mental and written strategies (ACMNA030)
• Solve problems by using number sentences for addition or subtraction (ACMNA036)

1. Start children off on the floor in a circle and show how to play the following…

Make 10 – Rules:

• Remove all the picture cards and 10s from a deck of cards and shuffle.
• Once shuffled, layout 10 cards (facing upwards so you can see the numbers)
• Explain to the children that the idea of this game is to ‘Make 10’ any way they like using any mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Make a point that the ‘Greedier you are in this game, the better it is for you’
• However, when you take some cards from the lineup, you have to ‘verbalise’ what you’re doing in your head (THIS IS GREAT FOR AUTOMATICITY!)
• The idea is to get as many cards as you can.
• The winner is the person with the most cards at the end of the game.
• You can play the game in pairs, but threes works as well.

Game example:

After your 10 cards have been laid out, model how to take a turn by adding 2 cards together and verbalising what you did. E.g. “I know that double 5 is 10” or “I know that double 5 is 10, so if I add 6 and 5 that will be 12 and I take one more away to make 10”.

1. Allow children to break up into pairs/threes and begin playing the game.
2. Reiterate the need to verbalise what it is that they are doing as you rove around.

Conclusion:

1. Conclude by asking students to discuss some of the ways that they made 10 and list these down on your board somewhere.
2. You could make a ‘MAKE 10’ wall if you want for other students to refer to.

 

Assessment:

• Encourage the use of anecdotal notes here and record ways to make 10.
• Initial responses for the ‘Make 10’ wall to show which students are using different strategies.

Resources:

• 1 Pack of cards per pair of students
• Maths books and pencils