Boxi Math

Back to Stage 0 / Unit0B · Break apart and put together

Game card for parents · 0B-1 · Ages 4–6 · 5 min

How Many Are Hiding?

Your child learns that five is made of two parts, and that if you see one part you can work out the other.

S-1 Numbers are amountsS-6 Mistakes are fine — try it

You need

  • 5 dried beans or large buttons
  • a small bowl

How to play

  1. Count the 5 beans together and put them on the table.
  2. Your child closes their eyes while you hide some in your hand.
  3. Your child looks at the beans left on the table.
  4. They say how many are hiding, then you open your hand.
  5. Swap: your child hides, you guess.

Guess first

Look at what's left on the table. How many do you think are in my hand? Now I'll open it.

Three things to ask

  1. How did you work it out?
  2. What if none were left on the table?
  3. Can 5 be split another way?

Easier

Start with 3 beans.

Harder

Use 7 or 10 beans, or hide some in both hands.

Watch for

At first your child may count up on their fingers to find the missing part. That's a great strategy. Over time some pairs, like 4 and 1, will just be known.

Safety

Beans and buttons are a choking hazard for children under 3. An adult should stay with the child the whole time and count them back into the bowl at the end.

boxi-math.github.io · CC BY 4.0 · Boxi Yu