1. 15 things in 30 minutes 15 new activities to strengthen number work
Essex Mathematics Team

2. 15 activities to enhance mathematical development
….and all you need are a few sets of
….0 to 9 digit cards

3. one You need two sets of 0 to 9 cards Keep each set separate.
Shuffle both sets
Deal one set out face up on the table to make 5 , two digit numbers

4. Take the second set of cards and turn over the top two
Use these two cards to try to make a 2 digit number larger than the first one in the list e.g. 56
So , if I turn over
I could make 68 or 86
Place your number to the right of 56 if your 2 digit number is greater than 56 or to the left of it if it is smaller
Turn over the next two cards and try to make a number larger than , in this case 28. 5 6 2 8 6 8 4 9 1 7 3

5. In this game I have managed to make 4 numbers greater than the target number and 1 less . So I could say that I have scored 4 points
Another way of scoring the game would be to find the gap between each pair of numbers and calculate your total
e.g. 86 – 56 = 30
90 – 28 =62
31 – 49 = -18
42 – 17 =25
75 – 3 = 72
Giving me a total of 171 5 6 8 6 2 8 9 3 1 4 9 1 7 4 2 3 7 5

6. two You will need one set of 0 to 9 digit cards
And…a series of challenge statements such as….
a number greater than 50
an even number
a multiple of 10
as near to 75 as you can
a number less than 10
a square number
Etc….brainstorm as many as you can suitable for your children

7. Use the digit cards to try to make numbers matching each card ( it may not be possible to do them all).
Each card may only be used once.

8. 8 4 3 6 2 9 7 5 1 a number greater than 50 an even number
a multiple of 10
as near to 75 as you can
a number less than 10 6 2 9 7 5 1

9. three You will need 1 set of digit cards
This activity has a number of variations
you will need a stop watch for some of the variations
Shuffle the cards
Turn over the top card
The children may….a) count from 0 to this number

10. b) count from 0 to this number and back to 0 again
C) count from this number to 10
D) count from this number to 20
E) count down from 10 or 20 to this number
F) count from 0 in steps of this number until a target number is reached
G) count down from a chosen number in steps of this size until you reach 0

11. Other variations on this theme
Instead of turning over one card turn over 4
E.g.
5 is the starting number
3 is the step size and
28 is how many seconds you must count for …e.g. 5,8,11,14,17,20,23…time up 5 3 2 8

12. four You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 cards
Shuffle them and deal them out face down on the table as shown below

13. Turn over the top line of cards
Using all 4 cards on the left and any maths you know , how close can you get to the target number on the right?
E.g. 5 x 4 = 20 , 20 x 3 = 60, 60 x 1 = 60
Or 5 and 4 can be used to show 54
= 58 ( which is close and works on place value) 5 4 1 3 6

14. five You will need 1 set of digit cards
Shuffle the cards and lay them in a line face up on the table
The aim of this activity is to sort the cards into order from 0 to 9 in as few moves as possible.
A move consists of comparing 2 cards side by side or a run of cards and swapping the largest for the smallest.

15. 7 2 1 6 3 8 5 4 9
I will start with the 2 and 1
2 is bigger than 1 so I can swap them over
I can swap the 6 and the 3 because 6 is bigger than 3 7 1 2 6 3 8 5 4 9

16. 7 is bigger than the 1 2 and 3 so I can swap the 7 with 1,2 and 3
5 is bigger than 4 so I can swap the 4 and the 5 7 1 2 3 6 8 5 4 9 1 2 3 7 6 8 5 4 9 1 2 3 7 6 8 4 5 9

17. 1 2 3 7 6 8 4 5 9
I can swap the 6 and the 7
And now I have in order and can swap them with the 4 1 2 3 6 7 8 4 5 9 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 5 9

18. I can make a similar move with the 5 and the 6,7 and 8 leading to
Lastly I can swap the 0 with the 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 and the numbers are all in order 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

19. Six You will need one set of digit cards
Shuffle the cards and lay them face up on the table as shown below 3 9 8 1 2 4 5
Spare card 6 7

20. The card in the middle is called the nine pin
There are a number of variations to this activity
For example
Add the nine pin to each of the numbers on the outside
How quickly can you do it?
Find the difference between the nine pin and each number

21. Multiply each number on the outside by the nine pin
Depending on the number on the spare card this could be used to give time , in seconds, for each answer or give a maximum number of errors allowed in the activity

22. seven You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 cards
Any number of players ( 1 to 9)
Shuffle the cards and deal each player 4 cards face down on the table
Each player must use 2 or more of their 4 cards to try to make a sum with 0 as the answer.
A total of 0 scores the player 10 points
1 scores 9, 2 scores 8 etc.
Collect the cards up re shuffle and deal out 4 new cards .
Play continues until a player reaches 50 .

23. Sample play Ian: Alan: Graham: 1 4 2 6 6 7 5 9 7 7 3
6 – 4 – 2 = 0 Ian scores 10 points 6 7 5 9
7 – 6 = 1 Alan scores 9 points 7 7 3
7 -7 = 0 Graham scores 10 points

24. eight You will need 2 sets of 0 to 9 cards (twice!)
This means you have two packs containing
Shuffle one pack of cards and deal out 6 pairs of cards as shown

25. Lay the other pack of cards face up on the table so that all 20 cards are visible
E.g. 5 6 2 8 4 9 1 7 3 1 7 3 4 5 9 2 8 6

26. 6 7 5 6 2 8 4 9 1 7 3 1 7 3 4 5 9 2 8 6
Turn the top two cards over to reveal a two digit number
You must now select cards from the second deck to create a number to add to the one shown to give a total of 100.
e.g. take the two threes from the pack to give = 100

27. Turn over the next two cards and the next… and see how many correct sums you can make. Target is 6 of course. 6 7 3 3 5 1 4 9 6 1 6 8 4 1 7 4 5 5 5 1 7 7 8 2 2 8 6 8 9
Couldn’t do it . Not enough 2’s

28. nine You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 cards
Shuffle the cards and deal them out face up as shown below
You will have some spare cards.
Keep them face down on the table

29. 2 8
Remove any pair of cards (touching each other) which add up to 10
0 can be used as a wild card…it can be used to represent any of the other numbers 5 6 4 9 1 5 7 3 4 9 6 8 1 6 2 5 2 5 1

30. 2 8
I am going to remove each of the highlighted pairs which add to 10 5 6 4 9 1 5 7 3 4 9 6 8 1 6
I have not used my 0s as wild cards yet (I’m saving them in case I get stuck). Move the cards on the table upwards to remake the original shape and then deal new cards from the deck to complete the shape 2 5 2 5 1

31. 5
Cards have been moved up to remake shape. Now add extra from the pack to complete the shape( or as much of it as possible ). 9 5 6 1 2 1 2 4 6 4 3
Can you clear the table completely? How much of it can you clear?
That is the challenge 3 3 8 7 7 8 9 7 9

32. ten 5 4 7 1 6 2 9 8 3 You will need 1 set of 1 to 9 cards
Shuffle the cards and lay them in a line face up on the table
You must try to make a continuous sum starting at the first number and finishing with the last, using only addition and subtraction, and having a total as near to 10 as you can 5 4 7 1 6 2 9 8 3

33. For example my go might be5 4 7 1 6 2 9 8 3
For example my go might be
– 6 – 2 – = 11 which is pretty close
Could you do better?

34. eleven You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 cards
Lay one full set out on the table face up as shown
Shuffle the remaining cards and lay them face down in a single pile on the table

35. 5 1 6 2 7 8 3 9 4 Turn over the top 3 cards from the deck5
Turn over the top 3 cards from the deck
Use them to make a sum which matches one of the 10 upturned numbers and place them alongside.
Turn over the next 3 cards and try to match another number.
Can you do them all?
Sample play on next page. 1 6 2 7 8 3 9 4

36. 5 1 6 2 7 2 2 8 8 3 + - 9 4 8 1 5 - +

37. twelve You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 cards
Shuffle the cards and deal 20 of them face up as shown .
Place the remaining cards face down in a pile on the table

38. 5 2 4
Turn over the top 4 cards from the face down pile.
Can you use any or all of these cards to bridge the gap between any of the 5 number pairs on the table
e.g. can I find the link between 24 and 5
61 and 56
17 and 82
7 and 89
39 and 43.
When you have used your first 4 cards turn over another 4 and try to complete another link
Sample play on next screen 5 6 6 1 8 2 1 7 7 8 9 4 3 3 9

39. 5 2 4 7 3 3 8 5 6 6 1
My first move would be to work out the differences between each number pair
e.g. 24 to 5 is 19
61 to 56 is 5
17 to 82 is 65
7 to 89 is 82
39 to 43 is 4
I could simply say 7 – 3 = 4 s I can link 39 to 43 8 2 1 7 7 8 9 4 3 3 9

40. Turning over the next 4 cards I get5 2 4 9 7 2 5 6 6 1
This time I can say 9 x = 65 and I can link the 17 and 82 8 2 1 7 7 8 9 4 3 3 9 7 3 -

41. thirteen You will need 4 sets of 1 to 9 cards
A game for 2 to 4 players
Shuffle the cards and deal 4 to each player
Lay the remaining cards face up on the table .
The aim of the game is to be the first to have got rid of all their cards.

42. 7 3 3 8 9 7 2 6 Decide who will go first.
The first player looks at the cards in their hand. They may take 2 or 3 cards from the table to add to any one of their own cards to make a total of 13.
They lay those cards on the table and the other players check that the total is 13. If correct play passes to the next player. If incorrect the player picks up the cards and adds them to their hand.
For example my 4 cards might be 7 3 3 8 9 7 2 6
You might have

43. 5 5 6 5 6 5 6 2 8 2 2 4 9 4 9 4 1 8 7 4 1 7 1 1 3 3 8 9
I will take a 5 and a 5 and use my 3 to make which is 13 7 3 3 8 9 7 2 6

44. 6 5 6 5 6 2 8 2 2 4 9 4 9 4 1 8 7 4 1 7 1 1 3 3 8 9
I will take a 5 and a 5 and use my 3 to make which is 13 5 5 3
I will take a 5 and a 5 and 1 to use with my 2 7 3 8 9 7 2 6

45. 6 6 6 2 8 2 2 4 9 4 9 4 8 7 4 1 7 1 1 3 3 8 9
That’s not good there are no 5s left
I will take a 4 and a 1 to go with my 8 5 5 1 2 7 3 8 9 7 6

46. 6 6 6 8 2 2 4 9 4 9 8 7 4 7 3 3 8 9
That’s not good there are no 5s left
I will take a 4 and a 1 to go with my 8
And I will take a 1 a 1 and a 2 to go with my 9 4 1 8 9 1 1 2 7 3 7 6

47. 6 6 6 8 2 4 9 4 9 8 7 7 3 9
Things are getting difficult now . I will take a 2 and an 8 to go with my 3
I wonder what he has left?
I’ll take a 4 and a 3 to go with my 6 2 8 3 4 3 6 7 7

48. 6 6 6 8 4 9 9 8 7 7 3 9
That’s good I thought he would take the 2s and 4s and I might have been stuck.
I’ll take a 4 and a 2 to go with my 7. I win!
Well done. I’m stuck I need to make 6 to go with my 7. 4 2 7 7

49. fourteen You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 digit cards.
Shuffle the cards and lay them face up in 5 rows of 8 on the table.
Players take turns to remove a run of cards
A run can be 2 or more cards next to each other (with no other cards in the way) going upwards 1,2,3 or downwards 9,8,7,6 etc.
Runs can go horizontally along a row or vertically down a column ( no diagonal runs allowed).
Play continues until 5 minutes is up or no further runs can be found.
The winner is the player who has collected most cards.

50. Sample play
Amy . I will take the 7 6 and 5 5 2 5 6 2 8 9 4 6 1 4 5 8 9 9 7 9 8 7 4 1 6 6 7 4 3 1 7 8 5 1 2 3 3 3 2

51. Amy 5 2 5 6 2 8 9 4 7 6 5 6 1 4 5 8 9 9
Beth
I will take the 9 8 7 4 1 6 7 4 3 1 7 8 1 2 3 3 3 2

52. Amy 5 2 5 6 2 8 9 4 7 6 5 6 1 4 5 8 9 9
Beth
I will take the 9 8 7 4 1 6 1 2 3 7 4 3 1 7 8
Colin
I will take the 9 8 7 3 3 2

53. Amy 5 2 5 6 2 8 9 4 7 6 5 6 1 4 5 8 9 9
Beth
I will take the 4 1 6 1 2 3 7 4 3 1 7 8
Colin
I will take the 9 8 7 3 3 2 9 8 7
Amy : I will take the ( that was a sneaky one.. I couldn’t have done that before Colin took the 8)

54. Amy 7 6 5 5 2 5 2 8 9 4 6 5 4 6 1 4 8 9 9 4 1 6
Beth
I will take the 1 2 3 7 3 1 7 8 3 3 2
Colin
I will take the 9 8 7 9 8 7
Beth: My turn I wonder what I could take this time?

55. fifteen You will need 4 sets of 0 to 9 cards A game for 2 to 4 players
On a large sheet of paper
Write any 5 numbers as shown below. 23 16 17 12 15

56. 23 16 17 15 12
Shuffle the cards and deal 6 to each player. Place the remaining cards face down in a pile on the table.
They should not show their cards to anyone.,
Players take turns to select cards from their hands to use to make a calculation which will equal one of the 5 numbers shown on the paper.
When a player has made a successful calculation they write it down on the sheet near the number and put their initials beside it.
If they have used 3 cards to make the number they take 3 cards from the remaining ones in the pack.
The winner is the first to make all 5 numbers .Or who has made most when the face down pile of cards has been used up.

57. Sample play 23 16 17 15 12 5 2 5 6 1 4
I have
6 x 4 = 24 , 24 – 1 is 23 so I can make 23 5 2 5
I need 3 new cards from the pack

58. The end