Notice what stays constant
Start with eight counters and five counters. Moving two counters between frames changes the arrangement. It does not create or remove a counter: the total remains thirteen.
Connect objects and notation
Read each expression alongside the objects. Ask what the two in eight plus two represents, and where the remaining three can be seen.
Take the idea into a conversation
Invite a learner to choose a representation and explain it. Seeing a pattern is useful when it connects to a relationship they can describe.
Try the relationship.
The activity is a way to inspect an idea. Keep its learning aim and assumptions visible as you change the representation.
Open the related experienceSources and further reading
An original website editorial explanation with fictional teaching examples. It is not a quotation or article authored by Dr Sako.