How To Help Kids Make Sense of Numbers With Simple Hands On Activities

10/26/2025

I was watching a young child playing with blocks one day. He was happily counting out loud, “one, two, three…”, as he pointed randomly at the blocks. When I asked how many he had, he proudly answered, “Three!” even though there were closer to ten.

It reminded me of how young children learn to sing the alphabet song. They can recite all the letters perfectly, but that doesn’t mean they recognize each one or understand the sounds they make. The same thing happens with numbers. A child might count in sequence beautifully but not yet connect those number words to actual quantities.

That’s where number sense comes in, helping children move from saying numbers to truly understanding them.

What Number Sense Really Means

Number sense is the foundation of all math learning. It’s not about memorizing counting sequences or math facts; it’s about understanding what numbers represent and how they relate to one another.

Children with strong number sense:

understand that numbers represent quantities,
can compare and combine amounts, and
recognize that there’s more than one way to make a number.

For example, they might realize that 8 can be 5 and 3, 4 and 4, or 10 minus 2. They start to see patterns, estimate amounts, and explain their reasoning, skills that will help them when math problems get more complex later on.

Simple Routines That Build Number Sense

Number sense grows best through short, consistent routines that make math part of everyday learning. Here are a few easy ideas to use in your classroom.

1. Number of the Day
Choose a number and explore it in as many ways as possible. If today’s number is 7, children can:

show it with counters or base ten blocks,
draw it on a ten frame,
write it in words and digits, and
find combinations that make 7 (5 + 2, 3 + 4).

It’s a simple routine that helps children see numbers flexibly and recognize relationships between them.

2. Counting Collections
Give kids small groups of objects, buttons, blocks, or beads, and let them count. Encourage them to group items into fives or tens to make counting easier. This helps them notice patterns and begin to build an understanding of place value.

3. Quick Images (Dot Patterns)
Show students a card with dots, a ten frame, or a dice face for just a few seconds, then cover it. Ask, “How many did you see? How did you know?”
This develops subitizing, the ability to recognize small quantities instantly, and helps children begin to “see” numbers instead of counting them one by one.

Dice are perfect for this. At first, students may count each dot carefully, but soon they start recognizing patterns, like the X shape for five or the two rows of three for six. Recognizing these patterns builds confidence and deepens understanding of number relationships.

4. Making Tens with Dice
Once children are comfortable recognizing patterns, you can use dice for a quick “make ten” game. Roll two dice and see if the numbers add up to ten. Over time, they begin to recognize the combinations, like 6 and 4 or 7 and 3, without counting the dots.

This simple activity builds fluency with number combinations in a playful way. You can read more about how I’ve used this strategy in my post:
Making Tens with Dice and Ten Frames

5. Estimation Jars
Fill a jar with small items (buttons, LEGO pieces, erasers) and ask children to guess how many. Once you count together, talk about their strategies: “How did you make your estimate?” or “Was it too high or too low?”
Estimation helps children think about quantities flexibly and strengthens their ability to reason with numbers.

Using Manipulatives to Make Numbers Real

Hands-on materials help children make sense of numbers, but they work best when used intentionally. Start with real objects that can be touched and moved, then move to visual models like ten frames or drawings, and finally to symbols like digits and equations.

This gradual shift from concrete to abstract helps children understand why numbers work the way they do, not just that they do.

Encouraging Math Talk

Math grows through conversation. Whenever possible, give students time to explain their thinking. Ask questions like:

“How do you know?”
“Can you show that another way?”
“What would happen if we added one more?”

These small conversations help children reason, make connections, and feel confident sharing their ideas, all key parts of developing strong number sense.

$math number talks$

Start Small — It All Adds Up

Building number sense doesn’t require complicated lessons or fancy materials. Start with one short daily routine, a quick image, a counting collection, or a number of the day, and let your students explore.

When children begin to see patterns in numbers, understand relationships, and explain their thinking, everything else in math starts to make more sense.

By helping them see numbers, on dice, in ten frames, or in everyday objects, you’re giving them a foundation that supports every math skill they’ll learn in the years ahead.

If you’d like more ways to make number sense hands-on and engaging, take a look at my Festive Holiday Number Sense Activities for Place Value and Fact Families or download my Portable Base Ten Blocks, available for free exclusively to newsletter subscribers. Both help children explore numbers visually and meaningfully, and best of all, they make learning math fun!