Mathematics: Learning about 5!

During our daily morning math, we've been learning about something called a 5 frame! A 5 frame looks like this:

We first learn about a 5 frame, and then a 10 frame. There is so much learning that can be done! Feel free to print one out at home (or draw), use some of your child's favourite small toys, and play a 5 minute game with them! Here are some questions you can ask:

- What numbers can I show in a 5 frame?
- What numbers can't I show in a 5 frame? Why?
- What's the smallest number you can show? (0)
- What's the biggest number you can show?
- How many do you see? (place them in the frame)
- How many ways can we show 1? 2? 3? 4? 5?
- How many spaces do you see that are empty?
- What number matches how many you see? (have numerals written on post-its)

When you put 5 in a 5 frame, they shouldn't have to count. They should know because it's full, that there's 5! Children should be able to subitize how many they can see. This means they can recognize "how many" without counting. Everyone has the ability to subitize quantities less than 5. Quantities bigger than 5 are more challenging, which is why we use number frames! We use them to organize the objects so it's easier and faster for us to count! Which one is easier and faster to recognize?

We will practise our "subitizing" more soon!