Odd Doors
Written by John Carr
Illustrations by Kelvin Hawley
The Story
Zolar and Zina walk
down a hallway
looking at some oddnumbered doors.
They guess who lives
behind them.
Introduction
• Introduce the number language, odd and even. Children repeat odd
and even number patterns.
2, 4, 6, 8, 10
1, 3, 5, 7, 9
• Look at the cover of the book Odd Doors. Ask the children what they
think the story will be about.
• Look at the illustrations on each page. Introduce the number words
and the person who lives behind the door.
Read the story together.
• Retell the story by looking at the illustrations of the doors and saying
who lives behind each one.
• Talk with the children about times they might use odd and even
numbers. Write the numbers they tell you on an Odd and Even chart.
What is the number of the place where you live?
• Look at a number board. Children take turns to point to an odd
number and an even number. Make a large number line (1–10) on the
floor of the classroom. Ask the children to jump on the even numbers to
10 and then on the odd numbers.
• Children use crayons to draw pictures of doors belonging to different
people and animals. Make the pictures into a big book. Write the story,
following the pattern in Odd Doors.
Follow-up Activities
Dice Throw
Children take turns throwing a dice and recording the numbers.
Are the numbers odd or even?
They circle the even numbers.
Number Grid
Provide each child with a number grid with nine squares containing
random selections of odd numbers up to 10. Call out numbers (1–10)
at random. As each number is called, children place a counter on a
matching space on their grids. The first to complete the grid is the winner.
Process
• Finding patterns
• Using structured
equipment
34
© Wendy Pye Publishing Ltd 2011
Using the Online Activities
Activity 1 – Odds and Evens
Click on all the odd and even numbers in order.
As a follow-up children play Hop Scotch on a grid of even or odd
numbers only.
Activity 2 – The Odd Bod Test
Children click on numbers to see if they are odd or even.
As a follow-up, give the children counters, bottle tops and buttons and
two sets of number cards – odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) and even (2, 4, 6, 8, 10).
Children group items to match the numbers on each card.
Activity 3 – Monkey Grab
Click on the odd numbers of fruit before the monkey grabs them.
As a follow-up, provide the children with strings, beads and number
cards to thread patterns to match pattern cards.
12
3
Maths Concept
Odd and even
numbers
Maths Language
Rhyme – How Many Cookies?
Read the rhyme together.
As a follow-up, children draw a plate of cookies and write a story
about them.
How many cookies on your plate?
I have 5 cookies on my plate.
odd
even
one
two
three… ten
number
every other
pattern
count (from, to)
count on
count back (from, to)
Other Activities
Finding a group
Give each child in the group a number card 1–10. Discuss which
numbers are odd and even. Children move into odd- and evennumbered groups. They form a line from the smallest number to the
greatest.
Counting Together
Provide the children with a grid and a container of counters or small
blocks. Pairs of children take a handful each.
Who has the most? Who has the least?
They place the blocks on the grid matching 1 to 1 to find out.
Odd Run
Draw the numbers 1–10 on the playground with chalk. Ask the children
to run around until you blow a whistle and call out “Odd” or “Even”.
Children must find an odd or even number to stand on.
© Wendy Pye Publishing Ltd 2011
35