Use this simple math exercise to reinforce number combinations with your students.

Start with numbers one to 10. Have one student pick a number out of a hat, or call it out to them. The student then holds up the correct number of fingers, so for the number 5, the student might raise 5 fingers on one hand. Then ask the student to find another combination. e.g. 3 on one hand, 2 on another. Ask the student to continue until all combinations are used. Add another student for more combinations.

Increase the number, and increase the number of students. For the number 15, one student holds up 10 fingers, the next 5. Ask for another combination, and another, and another.

The trick is that the kids can not talk to each other. The numbers can be written in Chinese and said in Chinese but the first child can not communicate in advance the number of fingers that he/she will raise. The second child needs to figure how many figures to add to make up the difference.

Make the numbers higher and add more kids!