"Subitization"


Learning the Progress of Counting and Developing Beginning Number Sense Sequence
"Subitization"


In an effort to continue learning the progress of counting and developing beginning number sense sequence, I will discuss subitizing. Subitization means “instantly seeing how many.” Seeing numbers in patterns and pictorial form is the foundation of strong number sense. Subsidization is at the root of the ability to see patterns, visualize numbers, understand the relationships between numbers, support operational fluency, and add and subtract mentally, all of which are essential math skills. There are two forms of subitization:

  • Perceptual subitizing is the ability to see two or three objects and immediately know the number. Students can subitize small groups of objects, typically up to 5. This is an important first step in understanding math! As I mentioned last week, this skill is often exhibited in children who recognize the number on a die, such as four or five. If your kiddo struggles with perceptual subitizing, you can use flashcards to model different representations of groups up to 5. To build perceptual subitizing, you want to give students a lot of exposure to visual stimuli, such as patterns for three, four, and five or ten frames.


  • Conceptual Subitizing is the ability not only to recognize a subgroup but also to recognize multiple subgroups and combine the subgroups together. Such as two dots plus two dots equals four dots. Another example is seeing two fours, on an eight domino. Children at first may only be able to subitize small numbers, but in time, they will be able to apply this knowledge to larger numbers and more abstract concepts.



Activities to Develop Subitization:


Quick Image Arrays
Materials: Subitizations cards, a group of similar objects (rocks, bears, etc.), or dominoes.
Quickly shows the child a group (3 bears) or a subitization card (3 fingers) and then cover it up. See if they can tell you the number of objects. After they answer, count the objects to prove or disprove their answer. As they improve, you can add two groups of objects. Let's say you have a group of 3 bears and a group of 2 bears. Flash the object and see if they can tell you how many bears in all. This game helps children develop visual memory which will help with numbers sense. Again, make sure you count the objects after.

Matching Game
You can also create several cards that have the same number of dots or objects but with different patterns. Then have students match the numbers that are the same but in different patterns.

Which is Different
Same as above, but add a card that does not belong. Let's say you have 3 different representations of 2, add a card 3 card to see if they can identify the one that doesn’t belong in the group...the 3.

Catch the Number if You Can
Give each child a set of cards, one to ten in different patterns, and have them spread them out on a desk or table. Then call out a number and see if they find the number quickly. You can time them and see if they can beat their previous time. or have them beat a certain time. This kills two birds with one stone because this helps develops a sense of time as well.


Ten Frames
At first, place only the objects on the top row of the frame to see if the student can tell you the number. Then count the number to make sure it is correct. After they master 5, add to objects to the bottom frame. This also begins to develop a combination-of-ten, which I will explain in a different post.





For more cool ideas, visit Teachstarter
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