A game to share, a class to inspire

Put together, take apart

EnglishKindergartenMathFree

Choose objects, drawings and actions that show what happens in a number story.

What it is about

Represent joining/separating stories with objects or drawings.

Kindergarten · 5–6 years · 30 challenges

Before you begin

Informal counting, spoken quantity words and experience with objects.

What the class will do

Choose and explain · 30 challenges
Put together, take apart
Represent joining/separating stories with objects or drawings.

Using it in class

Read every prompt and option aloud. Dots are objects; separators divide groups. Demonstrate the stated drawing or counter action when asked. Children may direct a partner. All totals stay within ten. Discuss what each object represents before counting; do not time responses.

Give everyone time to think and discuss before one pupil acts at the board. The class explains and confirms together; hints and explanations stay until you move on.

Use an up-to-date browser on a computer connected to a whiteboard or shared display. Touch, mouse and keyboard; optional audio and reduced motion. No pupil accounts or personal devices.

Choose from 5 challenges up to the full activity. Discussion determines the duration: you set the pace.

A look inside the activities

Choose and explain

Teacher: read aloud. Two toy cars are parked. One more joins them. Which dot drawing shows the two starting groups?

● ● | ● ●
● ● ● | ●
● ● | ●

Explanation and discussion

Two dots show the parked cars and one dot shows the arriving car. The separator keeps the two parts visible.

Teacher: bring two counters and one counter together.

Choose and explain

Teacher: read aloud. Five counters are split into groups of 2 and 3. No counter leaves. What does this model show?

Adding 2 new counters and 3 new counters to the original five
Taking every counter away from the whole set
Taking one whole set apart into two parts

Explanation and discussion

Splitting the same five into two and three changes the grouping, not the total. No new counters were added.

Teacher: bring the two parts back together to show the whole five.

Choose and explain

Teacher: read aloud. Which check helps us decide whether a counter model matches a story?

Check only whether the counters have the same color.
Match the starting objects and each described change.
Check only whether the final group looks large.

Explanation and discussion

A useful model preserves the starting quantity and the joining or separating action. Color and apparent size alone cannot establish that match.

Invent a small story and ask a partner to check your model.

Put together, take apart

What it is about

Before you begin

What the class will do