Flip-Flop

A Flip-Flop is an easy-to-make, versatile, visual resource for use in mental/oral work.

Download it, cut it up and assemble it using clear sticky-back plastic to give you a versatile counting resource. Perfect for practising counting skills, or developing confidence with number bonds to 10.

mathsticks Flip Flops are excellent aids for the mental and oral maths section of any mathematics lesson with young childen.

As a staring point, with Nursery or Reception, let your children count the faces with you. When they are certain there are 10 you can then play a game.

By folding the Flip  Flop once along any division you can hide some faces, flipping them away from the children. Then ask the children to count how many they can still see facing them; then, ask them to work out how many they think must be hidden from them, on your side. For example, if they see 6, how many must be hidden?

You can speed up the questioning by saying:

"How many can you see?" -- Answer = 6

"How many can I see?" -- Answer = 4

The first question can be used as an assessment of their counting ability, the second relies on thier knowledge and confidence with number bonds.

Flip Flops are so versatile because, after a little experimentation and/or practice, the whole thing becomes second nature - easy to use and no fiddly bits to lose.

Every division where the Flip Flop can fold will reveal a different number bond to 10:  9 + 1, 8 + 2, 7 + 3, 6 + 4, 5 + 5...

Using this simple activity together with focussed questioning to help early years children develop confidence with their number bonds to 10. If you want to maintain full activity have the children show you the hidden number by holding up a number fan, showing the relevant number of fingers or signalling the number with the mathsicks Counting Signs.

The downloadable file, below*, is an A4 Flip-Flop sheet.