Quick Images

Kindergarten Mathematics

Routines: Quick Images

Quick Images can help students to develop understanding of quantity. Being able to conceptualize a number in a variety of ways will help students to use numbers flexibly, which is an important facet of number sense. The teacher briefly shows an image of a quantity (dot images and ten frames are frequently used). Showing the image for a brief amount of time encourages the children to subitize and discourages counting by ones. Students are asked to identify the quantity they saw (How many did you see?) and to describe the image (How did you see it? How did you know it was four?). This routine provides the opportunity for students to practice thinking efficiently about quantities.

(Standards K.NBT.1, 1.NBT.2, 1.NBT.3, 2.OA.2)

Variations

Build It

After the teacher quickly shows students a ten-frame, students use their own ten-frames and counters to build what they just saw in the same configuration. The routine combines the ability to subitize with spatial reasoning. This is appropriate for kindergarten students and beginning of the year first grade students.

Teen Numbers/Two Digit Number:

The teacher quickly shows students a two-digit number represented via ten-frame cards and then asks them to figure out the number (by determining the total number of dots displayed). For example, the teacher may show three full ten frames and one ten frame with four dots, thus representing the number 34. The routine develops students’ ability to see two-digit numbers as tens and ones.