Children walk or freeze depending on whether the number called out is even or odd, helping them learn number patterns while improving listening skills.
It is a great warm-up that mixes maths learning with physical activity and lots of energy.
1. Explain the concept
Gather the children and ask: "What's an even number?"
Use a simple explanation: "Even numbers can be shared fairly. If you had 2 bananas, you could give 1 banana to a friend and 1 to another. Odd numbers can't be shared evenly between two people- there's always one left over!"
2. Start walking
Ask the children to walk around the room with awareness (not bumping into anyone).
3. Call out numbers
Call out numbers in order at first, like:
"1...2...3...4...5..."
If the number is even, they keep walking
If the number is odd, they freeze!
4. Check and celebrate
After each number, check if they got it right and give praise or reminders.
5. Mix it up
Once they've got the hang of it, call out numbers in a random order:
"2, 5, 8, 3, 6, 7..."
6. Encourage quick reactions
Speed up the game for more fun. Add dramatic flair to your number calling to keep energy high.
This game is a wonderful mix of maths and movement. It's fast, fun, and a fantastic way to reinforce number learning without children even realising they're doing it.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
