Directions:
-
Begin in a circle
-
Decide what number you want to practice skip counting
-
Decide what noise you want to make (something short like “boop!” or
buzz/bang is recommended)
-
Decide whether you will go clockwise or counterclockwise
-
Begin with 1! Next person says next number until...
-
You get to a multiple of the number you are skip counting, then that person
must NOT say the number and instead say the sound
-
Whenever someone pauses for too long or makes a mistake that person says 1
and you start again
-
Before switching numbers, be sure to skip count with the number you were
using to reinforce counting up by that number
Example:
Practicing 4s by saying “moo!” Each person on their turn would say:
0, 1, 2, 3, Moo! 5, 6, 7, Moo! 9, 10, 11, Moo! ... and then practice counting by 4s as a group:
0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 3, 36, 40, 44, 48 ... Goal: to count as high as you can without having to start again
Variations:
-
Count as a group the whole time so everyone participates
-
Use 2 different sounds and practice multiple numbers at once
-
Count up as a group first, so multiples of the number you are practicing are
fresh in students’ minds
-
Go in a circle counting up by the number for example,
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, ... and have students who pause to long, make a mistake or reach the highest fact you are learning sit down – last student
standing gets to pick the number you practice next (great to practice
5s/clocks with this variant).
-
Switch directions whenever you make a noise to skip a number (this works
best with small groups)
- Footnote: I created this based on memories of car games played with my dad and changed it to fit a whole class instead of just a few children. I did not invent it. Enjoy!
