Kindergarten-Grade 2
Games give children a chance to use math skills and math language in a non-threatening situation.
What to Do
• Let your child think of a number between a range of numbers. Try to guess the number by asking him questions. Here's a sample:
(for kindergarten children)
Child: I am thinking of a number between 1 and 10.
Parent: Is it more than 6?
Child: No.
Parent: Is it less than 3?
Child: No.
(The child could be thinking of 4 or 5.)(for first and second graders)
Child: I am thinking of a number between 1 and 100.
Parent: Is it more than 50?
Child: No.
Parent: Is it an even number?
Child: No.
Parent: Is it more than 20 but less than 40?
Child: Yes.
Parent: Can you reach it by starting at 20 and counting by 5s?
Child: Yes.
(The child could be thinking of 25, 30, or 35.)
• After you've guessed your child's number, let him guess a number that you're thinking of by asking similar questions.
It is important to help children develop an understanding of the characteristics of numbers—such as odd and even—and meanings of terms such as "more than" and "less than."
