Subitising

This strange word will probably only ever be used regularly in a Key Stage 1 classroom, although we all do it constantly.

It is the skill to evaluate a number of objects without counting then. Children begin to do this when playing games, for instance when using a 6 sided dice. If a child plays board games regularly this skill will come second nature to them.

This skill is very useful when children start adding and subtracting and using number bond.

When we can see the patterns in groups of numbers it is much easier to put them together, a bit like a jigsaw puzzle e.g.

Is much easier to conceptualise than 2 + 4 = 6

As I said board games are a great way to practice this skill. Other games include snap without the numbers (up to 10) or just setting out objects in different patterns and seeing who can guess the number first.