Match-n-Make: Identifying Pairs™

A match-n-make lesson

The match-n-make virtual tool is a fun game that provides opportunities for students to practice computation strategies and identify number patterns and relationships. The ideas here can be used as stand-alone activities, as a supplement to an existing math curriculum, or incorporated into a professional development program for teachers.

Getting to know the lesson:

This lesson engages students to:

Identify number pairs that add up to landmark numbers (10, 20, 50, etc.)
Identify and use number patterns and relationships
Practice computational strategies supporting the development of fluency

Getting to know the match-n-make manipulative:

The match-n-make board provides pairs of numbers that add up to a landmark number. The numbers can be restricted (for example, by only using a landmark of 10, or multiples of 10) to focus on specific strategies and scaffold student learning.

Ideas for using match-n-make lessons in the classroom:

Use lessons as a quick activity to work on fluency with addition.
Before identifying any pairs on the screen, ask students to write down as many pairs as possible in their math journal, on scratch paper, or individual white boards.
Divide students into partners or teams to identify pairs. Other teams/partners can indicate agreement or disagreement using hand signals.
Invite a student to choose one number. Invite a different student to identify the match.
Ask students to share their strategies for finding matches. Are there any patterns that can help students identify more matches?
Keep track of the pairs on an interactive board, white board or chart paper as they are found. After the board is cleared, ask students to think of additional pairs.
Use match-n-make as a mini-lesson or short math activity before or after major transitions (lunch, recess, specialist classes, etc.)

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