Skills / Ages 5 to 8 / Math
Show eight on the ten-hole box
Showing eight on the box of ten holes as a full top row with three leftovers underneath, which leaves two empty holes, and matching it to the mark 8.
Why it matters
Eight is the first number your child can read from the empty holes as easily as the full ones. Two holes left means eight. That habit of noticing what is missing is exactly what nine, with its one empty hole, asks for next.
What it looks like when your child can do it
- Asked to show eight, your child fills the top row and puts three beans at the left of the bottom row.
- Shown a box of eight, your child says two holes are empty without counting the beans.
- Your child touches each arm on a picture of an octopus once, stops at eight, and builds that many on the box.
How to teach it at the kitchen table
- 01
Touch every octopus arm once
Find a picture of an octopus. Touch each arm once and say one number each time. Stop when every arm has been touched. The last number, eight, is how many.
- 02
Full row, then three leftovers
Fill the top row and say five. Add three beans in the bottom row, starting at the left. Say five and three more is eight.
- 03
Look at the two empty holes
Ask your child to point to the holes with nothing in them. There are two. When a box has exactly two empty holes, it shows eight.
- 04
Grow eight out of seven
Build seven, then add one bean. The pair of extras becomes three leftovers. Eight is the next hole after seven.
You will need: A dozen-egg carton cut down to two rows of five cups · Ten dried beans or buttons · Small counters like beans, buttons and pennies can choke a child, so stay at the table while they are out and put them away from younger children · A picture of an octopus · A card with a big 8 on it
Try it together
Try 1
Put one bean in the box for each arm on a picture of an octopus, touching the arm as the bean goes in. Ask how many holes are still empty.
Listen for Two. Eight arms fill the top row and three holes of the bottom row, leaving the last two holes open.
Try 2
While your child looks away, build a box with exactly two empty holes. Ask what number it shows.
Listen for Eight. Look for a quick answer from the two empty holes, since seeing what is missing is the new thing eight teaches. Counting the beans also gets there.
Try 3
Build seven. Hand your child one bean and ask them to make eight.
Listen for The bean goes in the third hole of the bottom row, next to the pair. Two holes stay empty.
Try 4
Set out cards with the marks 6, 8 and 9. Build eight and ask your child to pick the matching mark.
Listen for 8.
Try 5
Fill the whole box, then take two beans off the right end of the bottom row. Ask how many are left.
Listen for Eight. Ten take away two is eight. This is the stretch question, so counting is fine.
Watch for
- Touching the same bean or arm twice. Slide each bean aside as it is counted so nothing gets counted again.
If it is not there yet
- Go back to seven, five and a pair, until your child builds it from the full row without counting the top.
- Count short lines of six, seven and eight objects, touching each once, and stop on the last one.
A few days of this is normal, and it is time well spent. The lesson will still be there, and it will go faster.
Where this skill comes up
Zig and Zag Count to Twenty · Lesson 12
Nine
Needs it because nine is the next hole after eight.