Telling Odd and Even Numbers by Making Pairs
About this lesson
Children act out numbers by standing up and pairing off to see whether anyone is left over. They sort the numbers into odd and even, then spot the pattern in the ones digit. You only need a whiteboard and marker, and it takes about 12 minutes.
- Grade
- 2
- Subject
- Math
- Time
- 12 min
- Prep
- None
Objective
Students will decide whether a number up to 20 is odd or even by pairing objects or people. They will then use the ones digit to sort larger numbers.
Prep
No prep
Materials
- whiteboard
- marker
Steps
- Draw 6 dots in pairs and 7 dots in pairs on the board. Say, "If every dot has a partner, the number is even. If one dot is left over, the number is odd."
- Call out a number from 2 to 20 and invite that many children to the front to hold hands in pairs. The class then calls out "odd" or "even."
- Write each number in an Even or Odd column on the board. Repeat with 6 to 8 different numbers so that many children get a turn.
- Point to the two columns and ask, "What do you notice about the last digit of the even numbers?" Circle the 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 endings.
- Finish with a fast round: say numbers up to 50 while children give a thumbs up for even and a thumbs down for odd. Ask a few children to explain how they knew.
Quick Check
Say three numbers, such as 14, 23 and 38. Ask each child to whisper to a partner which are odd and why.
Differentiation
Make it easier: Keep numbers to 10 and draw paired dots on the board for each one before children decide.
Make it harder: Ask children to predict whether two odd numbers added together will make an odd or even total. Have them test it with pairs at the front.
Good For
- Transition time
- Before lunch
- Supply teacher
- Review
