About Make 5! with Dot Cards

The goal of this game is to combine two dot cards so that their total number of dots equals five. This game focuses on number composition – knowing that two smaller numbers make up a larger number. Playing with quantities in all different forms helps to strengthen this concept.

Game Materials

Dot Cards, Printable Directions

Jump to Video Directions

What's the math in this game?

This game focuses on number composition – knowing that two smaller numbers make up a larger number. In this game, children are looking for two smaller numbers that together make five. It’s important for children to recognize that a quantity can be shown in different ways, like with fingers, numerals, or dots in different configurations. Playing with quantites in all different forms helps to strengthen this concept.

Number: Counting and Cardinality

Number: Adding and Subtracting

Download Directions for Make 5! with Dot Cards

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To print at home: There are 7 types of cards in the dot card deck. Each type of dot card can be printed separately on colored paper. We have suggested these colors in the directions, but you can use any paper available to you. For example, you can use blue paper to print the blue circle dot cards.