The past week during guided math we have been diligently working on “making 5.” To do this, we have played many games.
The first thing that we did was extremely concrete. I wanted my students to truly understand what exactly “make 5” meant. At our guided math table, I gave each student a cup full of Montessori counting beads.
Each cup had the quantities: 1,2,3,4, and 5. I then asked each student to take out their 5. Since we use these often, they knew quickly to pull out the light blue bead bar. I then asked them to use their remaining beads to create bars that were the same length as the 5 bar. I told them they could only use two colors to make the length of the 5 bar. I then asked them what equations they had created to make 5. We wrote them on our table using dry erase markers. This was a great hands-on way for my students to SEE how we make 5. (You can also use unifix cubes, cuisenaire rods, etc.)
After my students all had this hands on lesson, we played a whole group game on the board. I drew (something like) this on the board:
0 0 0 0 0 0+___=5
• 0 0 0 0 1+ ___=5
• • 0 0 0 2+ ___=5
• • • 0 0 3+ ___=5
• • • • 0 4+___=5
• • • • • 5+___=5
We then worked together to figure out the missing numbers.
I then taught them that when we make 5, certain numbers are buddies. They always go together! We wrote down that 1 and 4 are buddies because they always make 5. We did the same for 2 and 3 and 5 and 0.
Then my students played a quick game of “Showdown.” I would say a number and they had to write that number’s buddy on their dry erase boards. My students would turn and show their partner the number they wrote to see if they were both correct.
After these quick lessons, and with a good foundation and understanding of the buddy numbers, my students played a board game with their partner.
To play, each player took turns spinning the spinner and then had to move to the next number on the board game that made 5 with the number that they spun. They LOVED this game!
The next day during guided math, we continued to practice this skill. At their independent table, they worked on an interactive notebook page that reviewed this skill.
With me, we played one of our FAVORITE games: Go Fish!
This was such a fun and easy way to practice our “buddy facts.” After the game, my students recorded their equations.
My students did such a great job with this skill!
All of the lessons (and more!!) are found in Weeks 16 and 17 of my guided math lessons for kindergarteners! You can find them HERE.