Picture Your Numbers

In this activity, students will learn to match numerals with visual representations of the numbers by creating cards and playing a game with them.

Objectives:

• Reinforce correspondence of numerals with sets of objects.
• Develop memory and visual identification skills.

Curriculum:

• Mathematics — learning numbers and quantities.

Classroom Materials:

• Mr. Sketch® markers, Col-Erase® erasable colored pencils, and scissors. Optional: cardboard and glue.

National Art Standard:

• Make connections between visual arts and other disciplines.

Activity:

Art Achievement Standard:

• Identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum.

What To Do:

Students will create pairs of cards with numbers and pictures. Reproduce the worksheet linked below to distribute to students, so that each student has two copies of the sheet. Have students write the number 1 through 10 in each of the ten squares on the first sheet. On the second sheet, have them use Col-Erase® erasable colored pencils and Mr. Sketch® markers to draw pictures or shapes to represent each of the ten numbers, for example: one triangle, two cats, three bugs, etc. Encourage students to use a different color to represent each number/picture pair; this will help them with visual association in the “Concentration” game. When they’re done, students can cut out their squares to make cards. For extra durability, the cards can be laminated or glued to cardboard. Students may then play a game of “Concentration.”

Activity:

Students divide into pairs and pool their 20 cards, or choose one set to use. The cards are mixed up and spread out face down in a playing area. Students take turns flipping over two cards, hoping to make a “match” (e.g., the number 6 and a picture of six lollipops). If the two cards do match, the student keeps the pair, and turns over two more cards. If the cards do not match, the play passes to the next student. Play continues until all matches have been made. The student with the most pairs wins the round!

Alternative Activities:

Use the pictorial representations on the cards as “flash cards” for students to recognize and relate visual sets with numerals. Working in pairs, one student could quickly show a card to his partner, who in turn would identify the number of items represented on each card. More advanced students can perform arithmetic drills using the cards. For example, pairs of students could write out addition or subtraction exercises on the cards and draw representations of the answers.

Click here for the Picture the Numbers worksheet.