Math PK-2

Dot Cards

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Overview

Dot cards build number sense and promote early math skills, particularly Spatial Skills and Non-symbolic Number knowledge. By quickly recognizing spatial arrangements of dots, such as those on a dice or domino, students are able to see how many dots there are without Counting.

Use It in the Classroom

Starting at 2:10, watch how this elementary teacher uses dot cards to encourage Non-symbolic Number understanding. By asking students to explain how they got their answers, this teacher supports their math Language Skills and development of Mathematical Flexibility.

  • Teachers can create dot cards with simple supplies such as index cards or paper plates. Dot cards can be integrated in many ways, from math talks during which teachers flash a dot card and ask students how many dots they saw and to explain their reasoning to math card games as a fun, motivational activity.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

    Subitizing Flash Cards displays dot cards with varying objects to encourage pattern recognition and understanding of part-whole relationships. Because learners must select the numeral of the corresponding quantity displayed on a dot card, they also build their number understanding.

  • Products can build on young learners' intuitive Non-symbolic Number knowledge by providing different arrangements of the same number of dots. This encourages more complex thinking of how dots can be separated into composite parts; for example, six dots can be four and two or three and three. This part-whole thinking is foundational for basic Operations and can impact learners' understanding of Place Value.
    • View References

    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Number Sense with Dot Cards

    Multiple lesson ideas, including games, with dot cards

    Examples

    Subitizing with Dot Cards

    Virginia DOE lesson plan with dot card templates

    Examples

    Ten Frames and Dot Cards

    Different ways to use dot cards in the classroom

    Examples

    Using Dot Cards to Build Number Sense

    Blog on using dot cards to learn subitizing

    Research

    Number Sense

    Topic that explores how the brain works to understand numbers and numerical magnitudes on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Numeracy and Mathematics
    Estimation
    Mathematical Flexibility
    Non-symbolic Number
    Operations
    Cognition
    Attention
    Inhibition
    Long-term Memory
    Short-term Memory
    Spatial Skills
    Speed of Processing
    Working Memory
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Home Learning Environment
    Physical Fitness
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status

    More Visual Learning Tools Strategies

    Multiple Representations: Graphic Organizer

    Visualizing how ideas fit together helps students construct meaning and strengthen recall.

    Multiple Representations: Visual Representations

    Visual representations help students understand what a number represents as well as recognize relationships between numbers.

    Videos

    Providing visuals to introduce, support, or review instruction activates more cognitive processes to support learning.

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