Let’s Make 5 (Small Group)

3-A-S-1

Purpose: Develop finger patterns for combinations and partitions of 5

Description: Students use finger patterns to support learning the combinations of 5.

Materials

  • None
Let’s Make 5

What To Say and Do

  • 1

    Establish that students can make finger patterns up to five on one hand (e.g., “Show me two fingers, five fingers, etc.”). 

  • 2

    Transition into the activity by saying,

    1. Show five fingers.
    2. Put one finger down.
    3. How many fingers are still up?
    4. If four fingers are up, how many fingers are down? 
    5. Four fingers up and one finger down makes a total of five fingers. Four and one make five. 
  • 3

    Repeat the process by asking students to hold up five fingers and then put two fingers down, etc.

  • 4

    As students become more familiar with making finger patterns, have them place their hand on top of their head.   

  • 5

    As students become familiar with making finger patterns to identify the combinations of five, consider presenting the tasks in various ways. Prompts such as:

    • Missing Addend: Show me four. How many more to make five?
    • Verbal task: Behind my back I have four fingers up and I wish I had five. How many more fingers do I need?

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