Subitizing: Seeing Spots and Polka Dots!

We have completed our math unit exploring numbers to 20! A major concept we have practiced is subitizing. Subitizing is being able to look at a group and know how many there are, without having to count each individual item. In short, subitizing is "instantly seeing how many". 

We subitize when we roll a die. You didn't have to count the dots to know you rolled a five, right?

What better way to practice this new skill of subitizing then to play games?

Here is our class playing an "I have ... Who has..." subitizing game together:

We also have many small group and partner subitizing games, too!

This group took on the challenge of playing a subitizing BINGO game:

These students play Snakes and Ladders, but rather than roll a die, they use subitizing cards:

Our memories are tested with this subitizing memory game:

Find It is a game we also enjoy!

Ready to subitize? Below is a link to a subitizing YouTube clip. Numbers appear on a 10-frame, a handy way we sometimes count in class. We know that a full frame is 10, and just one full row is 5. Sometimes seeing the empty spaces is more helpful than looking at the full spaces, too. Careful, it's really fast!




The skill of subitizing is key in developing our number sense, and will be integral in our exploration of addition and subtraction. 

Dressed in dots!

Can you subitize?

We've moved on in Math from patterning and are now examining numbers to 20! Here was our learning goal last week:

Subitizing is looking at a group and knowing instantly how many there are, without counting each individual item! As adults, we do this when we roll a dice. You don't need to count the six dots, you just know that two rows of three dots is six. Subitizing is a very important skill that develops number sense and helps us understand how numbers are related. 

We are enjoying several games to develop our ability to subitize! This challenging skill is much more fun when it is disguised as a game. 

Here is a group playing a game on the SMARTboard together:

Another group took on the challenge of playing a BINGO game:

These students are playing Snakes and Ladders, but rather than roll a dice, they are using subitizing cards:

Our memories were tested with this subitizing memory game:

Ready to subitize? Below is a link to a subitizing YouTube clip. Numbers appear on a 10-frame, a handy way we sometimes count in class. We know that a full frame is 10, and just one full row is 5. Sometimes seeing the empty spaces is more helpful than looking at the full spaces, too. Careful, it's fast!

We're seeing spots!

We have begun our new math unit exploring numbers to 20! A major concept we have just started practicing is subitizing. Subitizing is being able to look at a group and know how many there are, without having to count each individual item. In short, subitizing is "instantly seeing how many". 

We subitize when we roll a die. You didn't have to count the dots to know you rolled a five, right?

What better way to practice this new skill of subitizing then to play games!

Subitizing BINGO
 

Snakes & Ladders, but instead of rolling a dice,
the students flip over a subitizing card

Memory with subitizing cards

KaBOOM,
(a version of the game traditionally called "war")

A subitizing game on the SMARTboard

 
Subitizing helps us see patterns, identify relationships between numbers, and understand place value. We were introduced to a tool called a 10-frame, that can also be used for subitizing. 10-frames are two rows of five boxes, and they help us see how numbers relate to five or ten. Here is a 10-frame:

  We made a GIANT 10-frame and filled it with the cutest counters you have ever seen! Can you see how we made the numbers one through ten?

10-frames will be used in an upcoming unit when we tackle addition and subtraction to 10. We can even put two 10-frames together to work with numbers to 20!

Do you like a challenge? We sure do! Play the subitizing game below. Quickly say how many dots are on the 10-frame. Here is a hint we discovered: sometimes the empty boxes in the frame help us know how many frames are actually full. It's fast! 

Are the Grade 1's scuba diving?

No, we're not scuba diving, we're subitizing!

We have recently begun a new math unit exploring numbers to 20. One of the major concepts we have tackled is subitizing. Subitizing is being able to look at a group and know how many are there, without having to count each individual item. In short, subitizing is "instantly seeing how many". We subitize when we roll a dice. You didn't have to count the dots to know you rolled a six, right?

We have really enjoyed the challenge of playing different games to practice our subitizing.

Subitizing BINGO



Enormous Snakes and Ladders using a set of
 subitizing cards rather than dice



 Memory



Interactive games on the SMARTboard



Kaboom!
 (based upon the traditional card game "war")


Subitizing helps us see patterns, identify relationships between numbers, and understand place value. We have subitized using a tool called a ten-frame. Ten-frames are two rows of five boxes, and can help us see how numbers relate to five and ten. Here is a ten-frame:

We made a giant ten-frame and filled it with crazy kids to show the numbers 1 through 10:

Ten-frames will also support us as we explore addition and subtraction in the coming weeks, and we can even put two ten-frames together to work with numbers to 20.

Are you up for a challenge? Play the subitizing game below. Can you quickly say how many dots there are on the ten-frame? Here is a hint: sometimes the empty frames can help us know how many frames are actually full. Careful, it's fast!