Number Knowledge Part 2
Number Knowledge Part 2
Syllabus
MAO-WM-01 develops understanding and fluency in mathematics through exploring and connecting
mathematical concepts, choosing and applying mathematical techniques to solve problems, and
communicating their thinking and reasoning coherently and clearly
MAE-RWN-01 demonstrates an understanding of how whole numbers indicate quantity
MAE-RWN-02 reads numerals and represents whole numbers to at least 20
MAE-CSQ-01 reasons about number relations to model addition and subtraction by combining and
separating, and comparing collections
MAE-CSQ-02 represents the relations between the parts that form the whole, with numbers up to 10
MA1-RWN-01 applies an understanding of place value and the role of zero to read, write and order
two- and three-digit numbers
MA1-RWN-02 reasons about representations of whole numbers to 1000, partitioning numbers to use
and record quantity values
MA1-CSQ-01 uses number bonds and the relationship between addition and subtraction to solve
problems involving partitioning
NSW Mathematics K-2 Syllabus (2022)
Progression
Number and place value NPV1-NPV4
Counting processes CPr1-CPr5
Additive strategies AdS1-AdS3
Number patterns and algebraic thinking NPA1-NPA2
National Numeracy Learning Progression Version 3
education.nsw.gov.au
How to use the resource
Teachers can use assessment information to make decisions about when and how they use this
resource as they design teaching and learning sequences to meet the learning needs of their
students.
The tasks and information in the resource includes explicit teaching, high expectations, effective
feedback and assessment and can be embedded in the teaching and learning cycle.
Teaching point
When talking about part-part-whole that entails 2 critical relationships:
a. the parts a quantity can be decomposed into or composed of. For example, 8 can be partitioned into
5 and 2 and 1), and
b. that all numbers can be related to other wholes. For example, 8 is 2 less than 10, it is 3 more than 5
and it is 12 less than 20.
Materials
● Device to view video
Instructions
1. View video (Introducing Rekenreks) with students
2. After watching the video, have students think about this problem:
Mum gave us some baby carrots for a snack. There were 8 in total. Some carrots were on my
brother's plate and some carrots were on my plate.
6 is...
Key generalisations / what’s (some of) the mathematics?
● Numbers can be broken up into smaller parts (part-part-whole)
● Smaller numbers can be found hiding inside of bigger numbers (hierarchical inclusion)
● Tools such as connecting blocks can help us to explore and see the smaller numbers inside of
bigger numbers with greater efficacy than other tools
● Different representations of quantities can help us to see different ways of partitioning (breaking
apart) a quantity
● Describes a quantity by talking about some of its smaller parts (part-part-whole). For example, ‘six is
three, two and one’
● The intentional use of colour can help us and others to understand our thinking with greater clarity
● Mathematicians can see the same collection in different ways
Materials
● A collection of blocks (or LEGO bricks)
● Coloured markers
Instructions
1. View video ‘6 is…’
2. Have students consider what are all the different ways we can make 6? Investigate by using blocks
or by drawing the blocks using coloured pencils.
3. How many ways can you make 6…?
a. with just 1 colour pencil?
b. with 2 different colours?
c. with 3 different colours?
Building towers
Key generalisations / what’s (some of) the mathematics?
● Numbers are made up of smaller numbers (part-part whole). For example, 8 is
○ 5 and 3
○ 2 threes and 2 more
○ 2 more than 8
○ 2 fours, and so on.
● We can use knowledge of part-part whole relationships to determine ‘how many more’. For
example, because we know that inside of 7 is 5 and 2, we also know that 7 is 2 more than 5
● Materials such as blocks, LEGO, Rekenreks, bead strings, ten-frames, dice, dominos and even our
hands can help us to explore some of the smaller numbers that can be found inside of bigger
numbers
● Mathematicians use mathematical reasoning to analyse games as they are playing them, using this
information to strategise and hopefully improve their chances of winning a game.
Teaching point
Providing students with opportunities and experiences in composing and decomposing numbers can assist
in the development of flexible additive strategies. When students know the parts of numbers and see how
Materials
● Some blocks or LEGO,
● Dice
● Numeral cards 1-6 or spinner (refer to Appendix 1)
● Pencils or markers
Instructions
You can view this video to learn how to play ‘building towers’
1. Players choose 4 numbers to build as towers (for example, 5, 7, 11 and 3).
2. Take turns to roll a die and use the number of bricks to build up their towers.
3. Towers can be built up in any way you choose.
4. Take turns to build up your towers until one player gets the exact roll to complete the last tower.
5. You can also play this in reverse.
6. Talk about how many you have, how many more you need, what strategies you used, and so on.
7. Reflect and discuss:
a. If you were to play the game again tomorrow, what is one thing you would do differently?
Why?
b. Draw a picture that shows the towers you built in order of shortest to tallest.
Variations
1. Build the towers and play in reverse. Taking away blocks each time until there are no blocks left.
2. Change the number of towers you build.
3. Change the number of blocks needed for each tower.
Materials
● Paper (to make your game board and your number cards)
● 3 sets of numeral cards showing numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (refer to Appendix 1)
Instructions
You can view this video to learn how to play ‘Dotty 6’.
● Teams take turns to roll the dice and put the corresponding number of dots into a box.
● Teams can put their dots anywhere, but they can’t have more than 6 dots in any box.
● Teams must put all their dots in 1 box.
● A team wins if they finish the row, column or diagonal of complete boxes (6 dots in each).
● If a team can’t go, they miss a turn.
Teaching point
You may like to show students a video of the game being played without audio. Can they work out the
rules?
Variations
● Change the total. So instead of Dotty 6, make it Dotty 12 or Dotty 21, for example
Number busting 26
Key generalisations / what’s (some of) the mathematics?
● Bundling and unbundling objects can help us see the way we can regroup and rename equivalent
collections. For example, it helps as see that 10 ones is 1 ten, and 1 ten is 10 ones
● You can work out how many there are in a collection (you can quantify a collection) in different ways
● In our number system, every time we collect 10 of something, we regroup and rename it. This is a
kind of pattern. For example, 10 ones is renamed as 1 ten; 10 hundreds is renamed as 1 hundred
● Mathematicians can see the same collection in different ways
Teaching point
“An excellent resource to help students to see the concept of place value is the students’ own fingers–not
to count by ones, but to show groups of tens and ones. Most students instantly recognise the fingers of two
hands as a powerful representation of ten. This representation has the advantage that the ten can be
viewed as 1 ten, as 10 ones, or as pairs of numbers that combinations to total ten. For example, 7 and 3”
(NSW Department of Education, 2007). You can learn more about how to use hands to build place value
understanding in Hands Up: engaging students as a resource for teaching article.
Bundling and unbundling paddle pop sticks or straws has the same advantages and also allows for the
physical exchange of 10 ones into 1 ten, and likewise, 1 ten into 10 ones.
Materials
● 26 items (for example, pasta pieces, counters or pencils)
● Pencils or markers
Instructions
View the video ‘Number Busting’ to learn how to number bust.
1. Get 26 items (for example, pasta pieces, counters or pencils).
2. Have students organise and describe their collection.
3. Guide students to reorganise and describe their collection as many times as they can within the
next 5 minutes.
4. Have students draw and record all of their ways of thinking about their collection.
5. Play number busting again.
Teaching point
Asking students to move the beads in one or two moves is an important rule as it encourages students to
use part-part-whole knowledge and their understanding of important relationships to make their move.
In the following excerpt from a classroom conversation, the student’s knowledge that 5 is composed of 4
and, enables them to use the ‘left behind’ strategy when making their move.
Teacher: “Can you move 4 beads in one move?
Student: [moves the beads]
Materials
● A Rekenreks each
● A set of numeral cards (0-20) (refer to Appendix 2)
● Paper
● Markers or pencils
Instructions
View this video to learn how to play
Teaching point
Here are some questions and prompts you might like to ask as students play:
• How did you know how many dots there were (after one card is flipped)? How did you see the dots?
• Which colour of cards/structures are the easiest to add/combine for your brain? Why?
• What’s the highest total you think you could get in this round? Why?
Games like Power dot pro can be the inspiration for whole-class challenges and discussions. For example,
select any 6 cards from the deck. Pose the question: If we combined the quantities represented on these 6
cards, what:
● is the smallest possible total?
Materials
Dan Finkel and the Math for Love team have generously allowed us to share the Tiny Polka Dot starter kit
with our department schools.
The Tiny Polka Dot Cards are available for printing. Download, print and cut out the cards to start playing.
Alternatively, use single dominoes.
Instructions
1. You can view this video to learn how to play
2. PowerDot is best for 2-3 or 2 teams of two or three players.
3. Divide the deck evenly among the players/teams.
4. Before each game, decide how many cards will be flipped over in each turn (for example, we will
each flip over 2 cards) then all players turn over that many cards from their deck.
5. Whoever has the largest sum/total wins the round and puts all the cards on the bottom of their pile.
6. In case of ties, each player turns over another card and adds it to their previous total.
7. The game is over when someone runs out of cards.
Example play round 1: Players decide 2 cards will be flipped over. Then each player turns over two
cards from their deck. Player 1 turns up a 4 and a 3, for a total of 7, and Player 2 turns up a 9 and a 0,
for a total of 9. Player 2 wins all four cards and puts them on the bottom of their deck.
Round 2: Players decide 3 cards will be flipped over. Player 1 turns up a 5, 6, and 8, for a total of 19.
Player 2 turns up a 1, 10, and 8, for a total of 19. Since they are tied, they each turn another card over.
Player 1 turns up a 3, and Player 2 turns up a 1, making their totals 22 to 20. Player 1 takes all the
cards, and play continues.
Variations
• Adjust the number range by taking cards out.
• Use single dominoes instead of tiny polka dot cards.
Source: Math for Love - mathforlove.com/games/tiny-polka-dot/teach-with-tiny-polka-dot