Magic Numbers

Primary and all ages
Henk van Oort

FOCUS: Numbers

AGE: 9 - 12

DURATION: 15 minutes

MATERIALS: None

PREPARATION: You, as the teacher, must know the sequence of numbers mentioned below by heart.

RATIONALE: In this counting game the numbers from 1 - 100 are practised in a playful and interesting way.

PROCEDURE:
Tell your class that you are going to count from 1 till 100 together with one pupil. The person who says the word 100 is the winner. Invite a pupil to come to the front. Either you or the pupil may start. You say e.g. 5. The pupil may add any number but not more than ten at a time. Pupil: e.g. 9. You say: 12. Pupil says e.g. 20. You say 23. Etc. The one who can say: 'one hundred' is the winner. Play the game with two other pupils.

As long as you stick to the sequence: 12, 23, 34, 45, 56, 67, 78, 89, you will be the first to say 'one hundred'.

Don't give the solution in the same lesson. Let them think of the solution for at least a week. The magic will occupy their minds for a considerable period of time. Answer all questions in English.