Guess in 10

You will need:

• times table counters/flashcards - (DIY version here) or write the answers on pieces of paper.

• paper and pen

Pick a times table your child is working on on. Write the answers to the times table on a piece of paper. We did the 4 times table so I wrote 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48 spread out on a piece of paper.

If you have counters/flashcards (see above for a DIY version) choose one of the counters but don't show your child. If you don't have counters/flashcards, you could cut up pieces of paper and write the answers on them instead.

Your child can ask up to 10 questions to try and work out which answer you have in your hand and 2 guesses!

Having the multiples in front of them will help them to spot patterns. For example my son asked if it was an odd number then realised all of the multiples of 4 are even so that would have wasted one of his questions. He changed it and asked if the tens number was odd because 12, 16, 32 and 36 all have an odd number of tens.

As they eliminate numbers get them to cross them out until they are confident enough to guess the number. Ask them to tell you the number sentence e.g. is it 12 x 4? and then show them the answer if they guessed correctly. If not, get them to ask more questions to narrow it down.

After your child has guessed correctly, swap numbers and use a different coloured pen to cross the numbers off. If you have a dry wipe pen, you could write the numbers on a dry wipe board or a window and rub them off as you eliminate them.

This was a hit in our house and we played a few different rounds, swapping numbers and roles. As we played, my daughter started to think about questions that would eliminate the most numbers and used other times table facts to help e.g. is it also in the three times table.

Example questions:

• Is it odd?

• Is it a 2 digit number?

• Is it a multiple of ...?

• Is it more/less than...?

• Can you divide it by .... equally?

Have fun playing and see if anyone can guess in 10!