The Elementary Math Maniac: Bug Themed 20 Frames

I love using 5, 10 and 20 frames in the classroom! These are a great way to build numeracy and additive reasoning with your students. If you are new to using these frames or want to learn a few new tricks, check out the ideas below or pick up a copy of It Makes Sense! Using Ten-frames to Build Number Sense.

I have posted about using 10 frames in the past but today I want to share with you some specific things I do with this great set of bug themed 20 frames and their corresponding numeral cards. I love materials where you can prep them once and use them over and over again and these cards certainly have many uses! I also like when each "deck" is easy to identify and you don't have to search for where a missing card belongs. That is why I like the 4 different bug cards here. It keeps my sets straight with little work on my part.

Here are some ways I use these

20 Frame Flash

This makes an excellent whole group, small group or partner activity. Simply flash the 20 frame at your students for 1-3 seconds and then ask them how many bugs they saw and how they know they are right. I like to give pairs a few minutes to talk about how they knew they were right and then share some strategies as a whole group.

20 Frame and Numeral Match Memory

As a whole group game this can be a lot of fun and a great way to work on numbers to 20! Pass out 20 frames and numerals and ask kids to find their match. You can then display them on a pocket chart and talk about what they see. Kids can also do this on their own or with a partner. Spread out all the numeral cards and make a pile of the 20 frame cards. Have the student(s) pick a card from the 20 frame pile and find it’s match in the numeral pile. You can also switch this around and spread out the 20 frame cards and have them pick a numeral card.

Ordering Sequential and Non Sequential Numbers

These activities can be done as a large group by giving each kid a number (until you run out!) and having them get in order from least to greatest. It also works great as an individual task or a partner activity. Make sure your students get a chance to put numbers in order that are not sequential as well.

20 Frame/Numeral Match

Mystery Card (A Missing Addend Game)

This is a fun game and a nice challenge when students are ready. This game must be played in groups of 3. Two players choose a 20 frame card and place them on their foreheads. The third player finds the sum of the two numbers on their foreheads and tells what it is. Then each of the players with cards on their heads looks at the other person’s card and tries to determine what card they have. This lets one student practice adding 2 numbers under 20 while the other two students practice solving missing addend or subtraction problems. The 20 frame visual really supports this learning.

Odd/Even Sort

These cards are a great way to practice odd and even numbers. Using the 20 frame cards is easier than just the numerals but when your students are ready go ahead and use them all!

Build it!

This is a simple and effective game! All you need is some blank 20 frames, 20 sided dice and bingo chips. Students can play alone or with a partner. Roll the die, and build that number on the ten frame. This goes much faster if kids do not remove the bingo chips each time but just add more or take some off as they roll.

If you want kids to practice specific teen numbers, use a blank die and write the numbers on you wish to have them practice.

Make 20

A fun way to practice combinations of 20! Students pick a 20 frame and use bingo chips or other small manipulatives to figure out what goes with their number to make 20. It is quick and easy to have students create a record sheet to go along with this!