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Activity: The Human Adding Machine

Materials:
None
Time:
15 minutes
Skills:
Early Number Sense, Addition, Subtraction

By the guys at todayIsfun.com

Next time you and your kids are waiting for your meal at a restaurant or in the doctor’s office, try this fun and educational activity. This game can be played with as few as 2 people and can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. We call it "the human adding machine."

We all take turns holding up zero to five fingers and then it is the human adding machine's job to add up all the fingers. Then the game moves on to the next person, and they add all the fingers up and so on. To add some fun and make it a little more entertaining, I will talk in a robot voice and sometimes give the wrong answer just to keep my kids on their toes. I will also push the subtract button on the human calculator to create a teachable and challenging moment.

My kids love to play, and I like to think it strengthens their math skills. This is one of our most simple, easy and fun kids games.

 

"Today is Fun" provides free, fun and educational kids games and activities each day. The site is the product of two dads who are constantly trying to think up ways to entertain the kids in their families. Check out: www.todayisfun.com