Number Talks

Due to school firewalls and security restrictions, students may not be able to access resources directly from this site. To give a student access, please first save a copy of the resource to a teacher-owned Google account, then connect the student to the teacher-owned copy. See the video tutorial   on "How to share Google files with students" for more information.

Kindergarten - Grade 1

  • Number Talk Prompts within 5: Children

  • Jamboard      
  • The Jamboard contains a collection of children's images that can be used as a number talk prompt. Engage students in figuring out "how many" and then find different ways to decompose the set by attending to different attributes.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/27/21    

  • Number Talk Prompts within 5: Fish

  • Jamboard      
  • The Jamboard contains a collection of fish images that can be used as a number talk prompt. Engage students in figuring out "how many" and then find different ways to decompose the set by attending to different attributes.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/27/21    

  • Number Talk Prompts within 5: Monsters

  • Jamboard      
  • The Jamboard contains a collection of monster images that can be used as a number talk prompt. Engage students in figuring out "how many" and then find different ways to decompose the set by attending to different attributes.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/27/21    

  • Bears in a cave (within 5)

  • Jamboard      
  • Google Slides      
  • Each slide has a statement indicating the total number of creatures, some creatures that are visible and some creatures that are hidden "in" the cave. Students should determine the number of hidden creatures, then can move the cave graphic to check their thinking. The total number of creatures varies from 2 to 5. The creatures are either bears or dinosaurs.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/5/20    

  • Frogs Behind a Log (within 5)

  • Jamboard      
  • Google Slides      
  • Each slide has a statement indicating the total number of creatures, some creatures that are visible and some creatures that are hidden behind a log. Students should determine the number of hidden creatures, then can move the log graphic to check their thinking. The total number of creatures varies from 2 to 5. The creatures are either frogs or dinosaurs.    
  • Similar Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/15/20    

  • Bears in a Cave (within 10)

  • Jamboard      
  • Google Slides      
  • Each slide has a statement indicating the total number of bears, some bears that are visible and some bears that are hidden "in" the cave. Students should determine the number of hidden bears, then can move the cave graphic to check their thinking. The total number of bears varies from 6 to 10.    
  • Similar Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/15/20    

  • Dinos in a Cave (Within 10)

  • Jamboard      
  • Google Slides      
  • Each slide has a statement indicating the total number of dinosaurs, some dinos that are visible and some dinos that are hidden "in" the cave. Students should determine the number of hidden dinos, then can move the cave graphic to check their thinking. The total number of dinos varies from 6 to 10.    
  • Similar Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/15/20    

  • Cups and Cubes (Within 10)

  • Jamboard      
  • This activity can be used to develop part-whole reasoning. Each board has the total (screened by a "?") and 2 parts (2 cups each covers a number of unifix cubes). Reveal any 2 quantities and students must figure out the third.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/16/20    

  • Fact Family Images

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jamboard is an adaption of the Illustrative Mathematics Task Fact Families with Pictures (1.OA.B) in which students create equations that match an image. This activity helps students relate addition and subtraction. (This task is also available on the page "Cardinality, Addition and Subtraction".)    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 6/4/21    

  • Dot Number Talk Prompts

  • Arrangements of 3 & 4: Jamboard       
  • Arrangements of 5: Jamboard       
  • Arrangements of 6: Jamboard       
  • Arrangements of 7: Jamboard       
  • Each Jamboard consists of a series of simple dot images that can be used as number talk prompts.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 6/9/21    


Grade 1 - Grade 2

  • Number Talk Prompts within 10: Children

  • Jamboard      
  • The Jamboard contains a collection of images of cheldren that can be used as a number talk prompt. Engage students in figuring out "how many" and then find different ways to decompose the set by attending to different attributes.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/27/21    

  • Number Talk Prompts within 10: Fish

  • Jamboard      
  • The Jamboard contains a collection of images of cheldren that can be used as a number talk prompt. Engage students in figuring out "how many" and then find different ways to decompose the set by attending to different attributes.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/27/21    

  • Bears in a Cave (within 10)

  • Jamboard      
  • Google Slides      
  • Each slide has a statement indicating the total number of bears, some bears that are visible and some bears that are hidden "in" the cave. Students should determine the number of hidden bears, then can move the cave graphic to check their thinking. The total number of bears varies from 6 to 10.    
  • Similar Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/15/20    

  • Dinos in a Cave (within 10)

  • Jamboard      
  • Google Slides      
  • Each slide has a statement indicating the total number of dinosaurs, some dinos that are visible and some dinos that are hidden "in" the cave. Students should determine the number of hidden dinos, then can move the cave graphic to check their thinking. The total number of dinos varies from 6 to 10.    
  • Similar Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/15/20    

  • Cups and Cubes (within 10)

  • Jamboard      
  • This activity can be used to develop part-whole reasoning. Each board has the total (screened by a "?") and 2 parts (2 cups each covers a number of unifix cubes). Reveal any 2 quantities and students must figure out the third.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/16/20    

  • Fact Family Images

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jamboard is an adaption of the Illustrative Mathematics Task Fact Families with Pictures (1.OA.B) in which students create equations that match an image. This activity helps students relate addition and subtraction. (This task is also available on the page "Cardinality, Addition and Subtraction".)    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 12/08/20    

  • Addition within 20 using Ten Frames

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jamboard provides two ten frames and counters for posing addition tasks within 20. A few starter tasks are provided.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 8/28/20    

  • Ten Frames: Addition involving 8 or 9

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jamboard has 18 "ready-to-use" addition prompts where at least one addend is 8 or 9. On each frame, the expression is given at top and the addends are represented on ten frames which are covered.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/19/20    

  • Addition within 100 using Ten Frames

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jam Board contains 16 ready-to-display double digit addition tasks with ten frames. The ten frames can be displayed or screened.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/29/21    

  • Bundles and Sticks Representations

  • Google Slides      
  • This slide deck contains 6 ready-to-present sets of bundles and sticks representations. Students are asked to figure out which representations show the stated amount. This activity assumes students have prior experience with bundles and sticks as a place value manipulative.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/29/21    


Grade 2 - Grade 3

  • Addition within 20 using Ten Frames

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jamboard provides two ten frames and counters for posing addition tasks within 20. A few starter tasks are provided.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 8/28/20    

  • Ten Frames: Addition involving 8 or 9

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jamboard has 18 "ready-to-use" addition prompts where at least one addend is 8 or 9. On each frame, the expression is given at top and the addends are represented on ten frames which are covered.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/19/20    

  • Multiplicative Images

  • Google Slides      
  • This slide deck includes dozens of multiplicative images that can be used for number talks. This is KNP IG activity #M 4425.3    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 9/24/20    

  • Partially Covered Arrays

  • Google Slides      
  • Adapted from KNP IG Task M4443.3  , this slide deck consists of array images that are briefly shown, then partially covered. Student figure out how many items are in the array.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/22/20    

  • Catch the Counter

  • Jamboard      
  • In this full group activity, the teacher reads and displays a skip counting sequences with an error built in. The students "Catch the Counter" by signaling when they see or hear the error. While this activity also works well verbal only, the Jamboard offers visual support that may be helpful when teaching virtually.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 11/20/20    

  • Addition within 100 using Ten Frames

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jam Board contains 16 ready-to-display double digit addition tasks with ten frames. The ten frames can be displayed or screened.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/29/21    

  • Prepared Missing Addend Tasks with Ten Frames

  • Jamboard      
  • This Jam Board contains 15 ready-to-display missing addend tasks with ten frames. The ten frames can be displayed or screened.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 1/29/21    

  • Area Tiles

  • Google Slides      
  • Jamboard      
  • This activity includes 9 area number talk prompts with 9 corresponding recording pages. Students are looking for efficient ways to determine the number of tiles in each image.     
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 3/15/21    


Grade 3 - Grade 5

  • Number Talk Sentence Starters

  • Google Slides      
  • This Google Slide Deck provides Sentence starters and frames that students can use during a number talk. Also included are questions a teacher might use to facilitate conversation and foster reflection.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 7/8/21    

  • Visual Number Talk

  • Google Slides      
  • This bank of "dot" images is useful for introducing number talks with older students. Dot talks provide a safe and engaging way to build a classroom culture in which students share their ideas and learn from peers.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 4/14/21    

  • Multiplicative Images

  • Google Slides      
  • This slide deck includes dozens of multiplicative images that can be used for number talks. This is KNP IG activity #M 4425.3    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 9/24/20    

  • Partially Covered Arrays

  • Google Slides      
  • Adapted from KNP IG Task M4443.3  , this slide deck consists of array images that are briefly shown, then partially covered. Student figure out how many items are in the array.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/22/20    

  • Catch the Counter

  • Jamboard      
  • In this full group activity, the teacher reads and displays a skip counting sequences with an error built in. The students "Catch the Counter" by signaling when they see or hear the error. While this activity also works well verbal only, the Jamboard offers visual support that may be helpful when teaching virtually.    
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 11/20/20    

  • Area Tiles

  • Google Slides      
  • Jamboard      
  • This activity includes 9 area number talk prompts with 9 corresponding recording pages. Students are looking for efficient ways to determine the number of tiles in each image.     
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 3/15/21    

  • Sequenced Quick Looks - Doubling Strategies

  • Google Slides      
  • Inspired by the Math Fact Fluency by Jennifer Bay-Williams and Gina Kling, this slide deck includes sequenced dot images that support doubling strategies when multiplying by 4, 6 or 8.     
  • Video Tutorial  
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 8/25/21    

  • Fraction Missing Addend Puzzles

  • Level 1      
  • Level 2      
  • Level 3      
  • These visual number talk prompts give the total and one addend shown using fraction circle pieces. Students determine the missing addend, then reveal the added to verify their thinking. In level 1, the total is either a whole number or a fraction within 1. Level 2 extends to totals that are greater than one and written as either a mixed number or fraction. In both level 1 and 2, each puzzle is limited to a single denominator. Level 3 extends to unlike denominators, such as in the example shown.     
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 7/7/21    

  • Sequenced Multiplication Stories - Add or subtract a group

  • Google Slides      
  • Inspired by the book "Math Fact Fluency" by Jennifer Bay-Williams and Gina Kling, this slide deck consists of sequenced stories. The first story starts with a basic multiplication fact such as 4x10. The next story involves adding or subtracting a group, encouraging students to use relational reasoning to solve the new non-basic fact such as 4x9 (pictured here).     
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 9/28/21    

  • Fraction Talk Prompts

  • Google Slides      
  • Use these fraction talk prompts to have your students talking and thinking about fractions in new and unique ways.    
  • ()
  • Last Revised: 10/18/23