Groupings of 2 in numbers to 20

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Purpose:

To help your child learn the number of groups of 2 in numbers to 20.

What you need:

20 small objects like stones, pegs, buttons and shells.

What to do:

Spread out the set of 20 objects.

Ask your child to put the objects into pairs.

Ask your child: "How many twos there are?"

In this example: There are 4 twos

In a set of 8 there are 4 groups of two, in a set of 12 there are 6 groups of two.

As your child becomes more familiar with the idea of groupings of two try skip counting on their fingers.

For example: You can work out the number of twos in 12 by skip counting in two on your fingers (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) to count the six twos. 

What to expect your child to do:

  • Initially your child will probably need to count the twos in the number using objects.
  • They should progress to skip counting the twos, and then to instantly recalling the answer.

Variations:

This can be practiced with activities around the home.

  • There are 12 pegs in the bucket. How many pairs is that?
  • There are 20 socks in the basket. How many pairs of socks are there?
  • There are 9 mussels in the bowl. How many people can have 2 each?

He Kupu Māori:

skip count tatau māwhitiwhiti
skip count in two’s tatau mawhiti-rua
pair takirua

He Whakawhitinga Kōrero:

  • Anei tētahi huinga kohatu. (Here is a set of stones.)
  • Whakarōpūngia ngā kohatu, kia rua ki ia rōpū. (Put the stones into groups of 2.)
  • E hia ngā takirua kohatu? (How many pairs of stones are there?)
  • Tatau mawhiti-rua i ngā kohatu. (Count the stones in two’s.)
  • E hia katoa ngā kohatu? (How many stones in all?)
  • E hia ngā tatau mawhiti-rua? (How many counts in two was that?)
  • Tekau mā rua katoa ngā tōkena. E hia ngā takirua? (Twelve socks in all. How many pairs is that?)

Download a file of this activity:

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