Paint numbers 1-24 for each child to wear. Choose children to wear
the plus, minus, or multiplication 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, minus or multiplication sign today? What function does this sign tell us we need to carry
  out with the numbers? Adding? Taking away? Or multiplying?

Choose two children to roll a large foam dice each.

• What is the total of the two dice? Who is wearing the first number of our sum?

Ask a child wearing the first total number to stand at the front. Then choose a child wearing the plus, minus or multiplication
sign to stand next in the line. Choose another two children to roll a large foam dice each.

• What is the total of the two dice? Who is wearing the next number of our sum?

Ask a child wearing the second total number to stand next in the line.

• Which number is more? Which number is less?
• If we are adding [taking away or multiplying, depending on teachers focus] two numbers, what needs to come next?

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

• Can we read our sum?

The teacher points to 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?
• Let’s read the sum again.
  

The teacher points to 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 read numbers, understand and use the vocabulary of comparing numbers and use the
equals sign to represent equality. They will be learning to compare two given numbers and say which is more or less.
The children need to have had previous experience of adding, subtracting and multiplying (if chosen). An awareness of
the related vocabulary would also be beneficial for the children get the most out of this activity.

Tips for Painting:

Paint a large number from 1-24, using a bright colour on the front of the Top
Paint simple pictures or shapes in the same colour on the back of the Top to represent the number on the front
Paint the plus, minus, multiplication and equals signs, in black
Use a digital camera to record the children standing in the ‘sum’ line at the front. The children could work out the
answer to the sum using a small whiteboard and marker

Useful Reference:

Illustrated books or wallcharts to do with adding, multiplying, subtracting and the meaning of the equals sign

What you will need:

Tops, brushes, paints or water based markers, large foam dice, small whiteboards and a digital camera where possible.

Activity 0059 Play trains