This activity warrants constant repetition to help establish images of all numbers 10 or less. Begin by linking the dot patterns on tens frames to finger patterns. For example, show a “7” card and ask the students to show five fingers on one hand and two fingers on the other hand. Over time, the students will develop the ability to recognise instantly the number of dots without counting.

Get the students to link these patterns with the numbers to 10. Show a numeral card and tell the students to show the finger pattern or find the matching tens frame. The students should develop the ability to image the finger pattern without counting, by hiding fingers behind their backs.

The students can be seated in pairs, one behind the other. Show a tens frame to one member of each pair. That student draws the pattern as dots with gentle taps on their partner’s back. The partner then writes the matching number in the air with their finger then mimics the dot pattern in the air as well.

Extension Activity

When the students are familiar with the tens frames, ask them to identify the number of spaces on the cards as well as the number of dots. In each case, “dots” plus “spaces” equals 10. For  example, seven dots plus three spaces makes 10. Record these results using numeral cards or by writing equations like 7 + 3 = 10 on the board or modelling book.