Introductory Activity :

Process:

1) Explain: The number ?2? very often describes pair. Name: e.g. a ?pair of shoes?, name a more difficult one: ?a pair of pants has 2 leg parts"

2) Ask the children what ?pairs of something" they see in the room. Each pair of something can be named only once. Make a checkmark for each item named on the blackboard.

Body :

3) Explain that the body of humans is symmetrical which means that any body part which is one the one side is on the other side as well. Ask the children if they now can find more pairs. E.g. a pair of thumbs, pinkies, etc. Again, make a checkmark for each item named on the blackboard so they children can see how many pairs they found.

4) Discuss that that 2 very often describes a pair, things that go together, but at the same time it also describes opponents = people or groups that try to win against each other (soccer teams, baseball teams, etc.) and opponents cannot do without another one. Ask who plays a sport with teams who try to win against another team.

5) Do worksheet 2.

Tell the children that once they are finished you are going to collect the sheets to put 2 stickers on it for great work.


Copyright ? August 2004 by Gisela Hausmann, permission for publication under Gisela Hausmann is granted.

Conclusion Activity :

Bonus:
Teach adding for the first time:
Allow the children to play a game of "tic-tac-toe". Reinforce that each pair of children will now become opponents for this game. Pick 2 kids, and explain: ?1 special ...name...? is now going to play against ?1 special ...name...?.
So, obviously, 1 + 1 = 2.
Then, tactfully, explain subtraction. After the game, 1 of the opponents will have won. Therefore, of the original 2 opponents only 1 will remain. 2 minus 1 = 1. And, of course both of them are special.

Vocabulary Words :

• symmetrical
  

Internet Resources Referenced in this Lesson :

Hands on Mathematics, Numbers from 1-10