Background:
Subitising is the term maths educators use to describe the process of children being able to identify the number of dots on a card or dice. All children should be able to subitise collections up to 5 without having to count the collection. For collections larger than 5 (particularly collections in an unfamiliar arrangement) children are encouraged to identify the different parts of the collection and combine these to find the total
For example, if shown this collection a student might say “two and three is five”
Objective: To identify the number of dots shown on the card
Materials: Paper plates (or card) and dot stickers
WALT: Use our knowledge of quantities identity numbers
WILF: Match the quantity on the card to the correct number and explain thinking
Summary:
- Create a set of subitising cards (plates)
- Use familiar patterns (e.g. dice, dominoes or tens frames) and less familiar dot patterns
- Initially use only one colour on each card
- Record the number of dots on the back of each card
- Show students the dot pattern and ask them to identify the number and explain their thinking, e.g. I see 3 dots and 2 more dots which is 5 dots
- Encourage the students to use their knowledge of quantities to help them identify the total, i.e. we do not want students to be counting all
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