Dot Wars in Bluebirds! (Number Oracy)

In Bluebirds, we have started playing a new long-standing maths game called Dot Wars, and it has quickly become a class favourite! 🎯

During the game, an adult shows a number representation using dots. The children first write the number they can see, and then one child comes to the board to circle the dots to show how the number can be made. Sometimes they circle all the dots in one group, and other times they split them into two groups to create a number sentence.

Once the dots have been circled, the child shares their thinking with the class, explaining how they made the number. If they've made a number sentence, we then talk this aloud together and discuss it as a group. After that, we challenge ourselves even further by flipping the number sentence to find the opposite addition. If the child successfully represents the number, they earn team points for their team!

Each time we play Dot Wars, the challenge increases. Next week, we will be moving on to working in pairs. The children will need to talk together and agree on their circling strategy before coming to the board to create their number. This will encourage teamwork and careful thinking as they plan their approach. Eventually, the children will play in their house teams!

How this links to Oracy
Dot Wars provides lots of opportunities for children to practise their speaking and listening skills. They explain their ideas, listen to others’ strategies, and use mathematical language to describe their thinking. Working in pairs will further support their oracy skills, as they will need to discuss, negotiate, and agree on how to represent numbers before sharing their ideas with the class. 🗣️

Dot Wars!