Paint numbers 1 to 5 for each child to wear. Choose one child
to wear the plus or minus sign and another child to wear the
equals sign. Sums become fun when you add up children.

• What number are you wearing today?
• Who is wearing the equals sign today?
• Who is wearing the plus [or minus] sign today? Does this mean we are we going to add the numbers up
  or take them away?

Choose a child wearing a number to stand at the front.

• What number is [say the child’s name] wearing today?
• Can we count as [say the child’s name] does that number of jumps?

Ask the child wearing the plus or minus sign to stand next to them. Choose another child wearing a number to
stand next in the line

• What number is [say the child’s name] wearing today?
  Can we count as [say the child’s name] does that number of jumps?
  

Ask the child wearing the equals sign to come and stand next in the line.

• Can we read our sum?

The teacher stands behind each child in turn as the children read the sum aloud.

• How can we find out the answer? Who needs to stand next to the equals sign?
• How many jumps does [say the child’s name] need to do?
• Let’s read the sum again.

The teacher stands behind each child in turn as the children read the sum aloud. Put the numbers back in the box and
pull out new numbers each time.

Meeting curriculum requirements:

The children will be learning to count actions and recognise numerals. They will begin to use the vocabulary involved
in adding and subtracting as well as relate addition to combining two groups of objects and subtraction to ‘taking away’.

Note: The teacher needs to be sure that the children understand the concept of addition before moving on to
subtraction and then combining the two in a single activity. For very young children, recognising, naming and
sequencing the numerals will be enough.

Tips for Painting:

Paint the number large, using a bright colour on the front of the Top. Use a bright colour for each number i.e. 1 red,
2 blue, 3 green etc. Paint simple pictures or shapes on the back of the Top in the same colour to represent the
number on the front. Paint the plus, minus and equals signs, black. You could roll a large foam dice to choose a
number. The children could also use familiar objects to ‘count out’ and represent a chosen number, use a digital
camera to record the children’s work.

Useful Reference:

Illustrated books or wallcharts to do with naming numbers, counting, adding and subtracting.

What you will need:

Tops, brushes, paints, or water based markers, familiar objects to count and a digital camera where possible.

Activity 0019 Play trains