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Build Em Up counting game

by Danielle Murphy
(Perth, WA, Australia)

I have a favourite maths game that I have used with many different classes including groups of students with moderate special needs.

You will need a CD copy of the song 'Build Em Up, Build Em Up, Build it higher......' or a keen group of singers... Using unifix cubes the children build towers when the song is playing - when it stops, we stop and hold up our towers.

The game is hugely adaptable, at a basic level the children can compare their towers and find the shortest/tallest, lay them lengthwise - who has the shortest/longest? We move onto counting our towers in 1's, then 2's. Towers can be build with one colour only, or 2/3/4 colours in a pattern or in groups of 5 or 10... Great when teaching multiples!

When they are ready I will provide a 100's chart, the children then colour in their total no. of cubes in their tower, the chart can be used many times!

Sometimes I will choose a mystery number - if someone makes a tower of that number they will win a small prize or sticker. That way the children are not necessarily trying to make the tallest tower each time... The possibilities are endless!

The students love the song, it is highly motivating, hands on, open-ended and they enjoy the challenge.

It's a firm favourite in my room that we play all year long!

Comments for
Build Em Up counting game

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Jun 16, 2009
 Build em up song
by: Kathy

If you have a look around in an ABC bookstore for kids CD's, you should be able to find this song. Otherwise have a look on iTunes, I'm sure it would be on there somewhere if you do a search under 'children's music'.
Have fun :)
Apr 08, 2009
 Great idea, who sings the song
by: Anonymous

I love this idea for my kinders and lower firsters. It gives them an authentic reason for counting. Do you know what the name of the CD is or the singer?

Thanks, Laura G. NJ, USA
Mar 21, 2009
 Flexibility rules!
by: Wendy K

Well done! I think Build Em Up is a great idea as you can teach a variety of different foundation concepts through a simple HANDS ON game that the children will quickly become familiar with. This saves the "teaching" time for the concept rather than how to play the game. I will definitely being using this one, although I don't have the song so I might have to alter the activity slightly by using random music that can stop at any time (like in pass the parcel or something, lol). Thank you.

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