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Resource #4309

Do It with Dominoes: Counting to Find Sums

Resource Type:
Lessons and Activities
Typical Ages:
4-5
Topics:
Mathematics — Numbers and Operations, Counting, Adding
Keywords:
addition, counting, dominoes

Teachers can introduce this useful lesson by reading a number recognition or counting story to the class. Children should be given time to get acquainted with dominoes and practice counting the dots on each half. Children may need help when writing the numerals for the number of dots.

This lesson will be best accomplished and addressed in a one-on-one or small group setting. Some 5 year-old children will need significantly more time with the lesson's activities. For children who are mathematically ready, the lesson can continue with children finding the sum of the dots on both domino halves and writing the addition sentence to represent the sum. The lesson includes a list of children's counting stories, recording sheets, discussion questions, suggestions for assessment, links to Internet resources, and questions for teacher reflection.
A list of accommodations for children with special needs is available on the making connections website.(sw/jrs)

This activity would be best accomplished and addressed in a one-on-one or small group interaction. This is not made explicit in the activity thus leading to some apprehension of the recommendation. This could not be accomplished effectively in a large group interaction. Many 5 year old children would need significantly more time with the activity than others. Overall, the activity is excellent and the resources are available and appropriate, if done in small groups.

For children who are younger or who are not ready to address sums, you could use colored dominos to help with color recognition.

A list of accommodations for children with special needs is available on the Making Connections website. You may also find ideas on the Planning Options pages of the REC.

Number, Number Sense and Operations for Early Childhood
Number and Number Sense
1.
Count to 10 in the context of daily activities and play (e.g., number songs).
2.
Touch objects and say the number names when counting in the context of daily activities and play (e.g., cookies on a plate, steps on a set of stairs).
9.
Write numerical representations (e.g., scribbles, reversals) or numerals in meaningful context (e.g., play situations).
Publisher
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Record Created
12/1/2004 by swagner@ohiorc.org
Last Updated
12/10/2010 by nbrannon
 
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