Subitizing to 10 – Let’s Talk About it! 

These number talk task cards are a great way to practice subitizing with your students. The ability to subitize (instantly recognize the quantity of small arrangements of items) is a foundational skill for developing number sense. With this resource, students will not only practice this skill, but also share their thinking as you ask them the questions provided on the back of the dot cards.  

This resource includes: 

• 30 unique dot cards
• 30 number talk question cards (to be printed on the back)

The cards feature a range of dots from 1 to 12, making this resource suitable for students of many ability levels.

Number Talks Deepen Understanding

Number talks are short discussions in which students have meaningful conversations about math. There are many benefits to engaging your students in frequent number talks, including: 

• Building Conceptual Understanding: As students discuss their strategies for solving problems, they gain an understanding of mathematical concepts that goes much deeper than simply memorizing procedures. 
• Addressing Misconceptions: As students articulate their thinking, teachers can identify and address misconceptions in real time. 
• Enhancing Communication Skills: Students will develop their communication skills as they explain their thinking and listen to others.
• Developing Cognitive Flexibility: Number talks encourage students to think about numbers and operations flexibly and mentally.

Number talks are definitely worth building into your daily math routine! 

Instructions 

To use this resource in the classroom: 

• Print the cards front and back so that the questions are displayed on the back of each dot card. 
• Show a dot card to the student for 3 seconds.
• Hide the dots from sight. 
• Ask the student the questions on the back of the card.
• Use their responses to gauge their ability and decide what dot card to show them next.

Download, Print, Cut, and Talk! 

We have provided both color and black-and-white versions of this resource in easy-to-print PDF format. Use the drop-down arrow located on the download button to download the file and get your students talking! 

Longevity Tip: Print cards on cardstock and laminate them so you can use them again and again with your students. 

More Number Talk Resources

If you want to keep the number talk momentum going in your classroom, we’ve got you covered!  Check out these favorites from our Teach Starter Team.

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Number Talks - Making Ten Task Cards

Build number sense skills with this set of 20 task cards.

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Number Talks - Ten Frame Task Cards

Build number sense skills with this set of 30 ten and double ten frame math talk task cards.

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Number Talks - Hand Signal Poster Pack

Remind your students of the basic hand signals to use in number talks with this pack of 5 poster.