numeracy

Description:

Numeracy focuses on the core skills of applying numerical concepts. It is the ability of understanding fundamental mathematical operations such as multiplication, division, addition and subtraction. These activities are created for all ages and all cognitive levels.

Activities should be adapted based on the learner's cognitive ability.

Purpose

Numeracy activities are important for learners to develop logical thinking and strategies in everyday life. Learners also need numeracy to make sense of numbers, solve problems, play sports, cook and understand instructions.

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Activity 9: Find it First!

Two or more learners compute their math equations quickly and look for the answer. The person who gets the answer first gets a point, and the person who has the most points at the end, wins.

Purpose

This activity ensures the learners are able to compute their basic math facts automatically.

  • Step 1

    Randomly write the answers to the equations the learner is going to practice on a piece of paper (e.g., to practice the 3 times table write - 3, 6, 9 etc.).

  • Step 2

    Next, give the players a math equation (e.g., 3 x 4).

  • Step 3

    Then, the players attempt to point to the correct answer on the piece of paper as quickly as possible.

  • Step 4

    The first player to point to the correct answer wins a point.

  • Step 5

    The first player to get 10 points wins.

  • Additional Exercise

    Choose different numbers or timetables, to make the game more challenging.

  • Simplified Exercise

    Play this with one learner, competing to answer more and more questions within a time limit (e.g., 1 minute).

dices
Activity 10: Roll and Round!

Two or more learners roll dice, create numbers and round them off to the place value chosen, such as tens, hundreds.

Purpose

This activity ensures the learners are able to round numbers mentally and automatically.

  • Step 1

    Each learner needs a set of dice and some paper and a pencil. The number of dice used should match whatever place value the learner is working on (e.g., if they are focusing on hundreds, then each learner needs 3 die).

  • Step 2

    For each round, every learner gets a turn to roll all their three dice at the same time and build a number with it. Then, each person rounds his/her number to the highest place value (e.g., hundred if they have 3 dice). For example, if the learner rolled 3, 5, and 2 the number they get is 352 and they can round it up to 400. Alternatively, if the dice rolled was 2, 3, 1 the number is 231 and they can round it down to 200. For learners that will only round to the 10’s, they can roll 5, 6 the number is 56 and this can be rounded to 60 etc.

  • Step 3

    Then, the players compare their rounded numbers and the highest correctly rounded number wins and gets a point.

  • Step 4

    The first player to get 10 points wins.

  • Additional Exercise

    Change the value chosen to round off to for each round (e.g., kids have 4 dice and round to the thousands in the first round and then the next round they have 3 dice and round to the hundreds).

    This can also be played with decimals, fractions etc.

  • Simplified Exercise

    Have the learner play the game with one dice or two dice only. So they only round to zero or tens.