Fingers Up, Fingers Down – Elementary Math

Purpose

To build fluency with combinations of numbers within 10

Overview

Hold up one hand, palm facing away from the class and all fingers up. Ask, “How many fingers are up?” (5) “How many fingers are down?” (0) Then close your hand and ask, “Fingers up?” (0) “Fingers down?” (5) Continue showing different numbers of fingers and asking both questions to practice sums to 5. You may also want to encourage children to write number sentences to describe different sets of fingers.

three fingers up and two fingers down

About the sequence

Part 1 has children identify combinations to 5 using one hand. Part 2 moves to having children write number sentences to describe sets finger combinations to 5. The extension repeats the activity with two hands to find combinations to 10.

Part 1

I’m going to hold up some fingers using one hand. How many fingers are up? How many fingers are down?

While children are enjoying their building of mastery, feel free to repeat. When children are eager for more, try Part 2.

Part 2

I’m going to hold us some fingers using one hand. How many fingers are up? How many fingers are down? Now write a number sentence to match what you see.

(You may want to choose a child to write a matching number sentence on the board or have all children write number sentences on white boards. Keep it fast paced and fun!)

As always, when children seem excited for a new challenge, move on.

Extension

Now we’ll use two hands. How many fingers are up? How many fingers are down?

(You may also choose to have children write a matching number sentence on white boards).