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Features

All the ways to make 5 and 6, one row for each way
All the ways to make 7 and 8 on cards to color and write
A worked example on every page and a legend for the filled and empty sides
Spills of 9 and 10 to count and write as number sentences like 9 = 5 + 4
Keys list every way in order, so children can find them in any order
Every page in color and in black and white
Answer keys included

Skills Covered

Break a number to 10 into two parts
Find every way to make 5, 6, 7 and 8
Count two parts in a scattered group

Record a way with a drawing and two numbers
Write a way as a number sentence: 9 = 5 + 4
See that the parts change while the whole stays the same

How to Use This Pack

Five pages of shake and spill. Give each child a cup of two-sided counters (or beans painted on one side): they shake the cup, spill the counters and count how many land filled side up and how many land empty side up. Pages 1 to 4 find all the ways to make 5, 6, 7 and 8. The first row or card is a worked example; for every spill, children color that many counters in the next row and write how many are filled and how many are empty. They can find the ways in any order: when the spills stop giving new ways, ask which ways are still missing. The answer key lists the ways in order, from 0 filled to all filled. A legend at the top of each page shows the filled and the empty side. Page 5 shows six spills of 9 and 10 already on the mat: children count the filled and the empty counters and write the number sentence, like 9 = 5 + 4.

In the Classroom

Model a shake and spill at the board first: say "5 filled and 2 empty make 7," then color a row to match. Partners can take turns shaking while the other records. When a class has found several ways, line them up in order on the board and look for the pattern: one more filled, one fewer empty. Ask what happens when every counter lands filled, and when none do.

At Home

Paint one side of some dried beans or use coins (heads and tails). Shake 6 in your hands, drop them and count each side together. Ask your child to say the way out loud, "4 heads and 2 tails make 6," and to look for a way you have not found yet.

Tips for Success

Count the filled counters first, then the empty ones
Every spill makes the same number: only the parts change
3 filled and 2 empty is a different way from 2 filled and 3 empty
Do not forget all filled and none filled: 5 and 0 is a way too
Put the ways in order to see if one is missing

Common Core Standards Alignment

This pack supports the following Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:

K.OA.A.2 Solve story problems and add or subtract with totals up to 10, modeling them with objects or drawings.
K.OA.A.3 Break a number up to 10 into two parts several ways, recording each as a picture or equation (7 = 3 + 4).

Ways to Make a Number: Shake and Spill

Kindergarten

Breaking the numbers 5 to 10 into two parts in every way, with two-sided counters that land filled side up or empty side up. Students color a spill for each way, write how many are filled and how many are empty, and turn spills of 9 and 10 into number sentences.

Download PDF

What’s Included

5 worksheets in color and in black and white, with answer keys (15 pages)
All the ways to make 5, 6, 7 and 8
Spills of 9 and 10 to write as number sentences
A worked example and a filled and empty legend on every page

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Free to print and share

This worksheet is free to download, print, copy, and hand out in your classroom or at home. You do not need to create an account, and there are no watermarks on the PDF.