Numbers on our fingers

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR CHILDREN

WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY

Just your fingers and hands!

HOW TO PLAY

The first player asks the second player to make a number from 1 to10, using the fingers of both hands.

The second player makes the number the first player has asked for, using the fingers of both hands, left and right, with their hands hidden behind their back so they can’t see their fingers.

For example, if the first player asks for 5, the second player could use 2 fingers on their left hand, and 3 fingers on their right. Or they could use 1 finger on their left hand and four fingers on the right.

After this player 2 shows their hands to player 1 so they can check and make comments together.

Or

If you’re playing in a group, each player can take it in turn to say a number from 1 to 10, and ask all the other players to make the number on their fingers, using both hands hidden behind their back.

Then players can show each other their fingers, noting and comparing the different ways they have made the same number.

The game can be made more complex, and more fun, by asking pairs of players to work together, and make the numbers using 3 or 4 hands between them.

This suggestion is part of Playing with numbers

AT HOME WITH THE REGGIO APPROACH