How Many Out of Six? – Elementary Math

Purpose

To find various combinations of 6.

Materials

a 6-dot strip, such as one pictured to be made ahead of time by the teacher

Overview

Show children a 6-dot strip and ask them to count the dots.

strip with 6 dots

Fold the strip at different places and ask children how many dots they can see and the number of dots that are hidden. Show the class the back of the strip after each answer so they can verify their answers.

two strips of dots

About the sequence

Part 1 asks children how many dots they can see and the number of dots that are hidden. Part 2 moves to saying combinations of 6 using numbers only.

Part 1

How many dots do you see? How many are hidden?

Show the 6-dot strip with some dots visible and some hidden.

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 say a number. You tell me the number pair that equals 6.

Examples:

1 (5)
2 (4)
4 (2)
3 (3)
6 (0)
5 (1)
0 (6)