‘Number Family’--finding two numbers that make a given number.

by Vishakha Deshpande
(Thane--Maharashtra--India)

If we want to find the family of 4---
Teacher will have any small objects that have two sides for e.g: cold drink bottle tops, corks, pistachio shells, card board pieces with different colors on both sides, small toy bowls etc. children will sit in the circle. Teacher will write and circle number 4 on the writing board on the wall or in front of her. She will then count 4 counters and tell the children to count with her. Now she will tell that “we are going to find out the family of 4” she will place the set of counters in a horizontal line in front of the children and then flip turn one of it. Now she will ask, “how many are turned upside down?”Children will reply “one”. Now she will ask “how many are not turned upside down?”Children will reply “three”. So she will write (1, 3) near the circle of number 4. Now she will flip turn one more and ask “now how many are turned upside down?” Children will reply “two”.Now she will again ask “how many are not turned upside down?”Children will reply “two”. So now again she will write (2, 2) near the circle of number 4.Now she will again flip turn one more and ask “now how many are turned upside down?”. Children will reply “three”.Now she will again ask “how many are not turned upside down?”Children will reply “one”. And then she will tell them that the set of (1, 3) and (2, 2, (3,1)) is the family of number 4. Similarly she will do it for the other numbers.