How to Explain Odd and Even Numbers to First Grader.

One day the light bulb will click. There are lots of suggestions, but to keep it child simple...shoes!
If mom asks for 3 shoes, he'll see that there will be one extra. If mom asks for 5 shoes, he'll see one extra. They can set out stuffed animals and ask her son to share # shoes with # friends.

I found this from google "I tell the kids to hold up a certain number of fingers, then to "partner up" the fingers. If every finger has a partner, the number is even. If a finger lacks a partner, it's odd. Then I explain that for larger numbers, you look at the ones place for the number of fingers to partner"

Have they tried treating it like a pattern? If you start counting with 1, that's odd, then an even number 2, then it's back to odd, 3, etc.

If they are wanting to teach that an even number is divisible by 2, get some marbles, dice, whatever, and have the child count a pile of them, such as 5, and then divide them into groups of two. If there aren't any left over, then it's an even number. If there is one left over, then it's an odd number.

If all else fails, you can always go for memorization. Any number that ends in a 1, 3, 5 7, or 9 is odd. If it ends in a 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8, it's even.

To teach my kids this concept, I used pennies or candy as counters and plunked them down in two rows, one at a time, back and forth. They could see as I added a candy if that piece was alone, it was an "odd man out". If I set it down and it made a pair, it was an even number.

What's nice is she only needs to memorize 10 numbers to know if any number in the whole world is odd or even. Give her a list like this:

0 = even
1 = odd
2 = even
3 = odd
4 = even
5 = odd
6 = even
7 = odd
8 = even
9 = odd

Now tell her that any number she see's she'll be able to tell if it's odd or even based off the number in the 1's column (or the number furthest to the right).

38 odd or even? The last digit is an 8 and if she memorized her 10 digits she'll know automatically that 8 is an even number.

987234597 odd or even? What's that number all the way to the right? Look at that! It's a 7. Is seven odd or even? It's odd! That makes that whole big number an oddball.

That's how I was taught odds and evens. When I asked my teacher but why is it called an odd number? I was told "because when you try and put everything into two separate piles (divide by 2) you always have 1 left over that would make one of the two piles uneven if it were to be put in one. The oddball that always gets left out. The other numbers are called "even" because when you separate the 4 apples or the 6 oranges or the 8 balls into two piles, you have the same number of 'whatevers' in both piles. You have an EVEN amount."

Have the student take a bunch of square blocks and stack them in 2 stacks. Now, try to put something on top (like a long board, cardboard).
If the supporting blocks are equal, the top will be "EVEN". If you add one block to only one stack (i.e, 2 on one side, 1 on the other), you get an arch that falls over because it is not even (ODD). If you have 2 on each side, the top is "EVEN".
Doing this can make him visually see that 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 -- all numbers that can make 2 even stacks are even numbers. Whereas, 1, 3, 5, 9, all create stacks that can't support the top - they're uneven, or odd.

I teach first grade and this is how I teach my class. You have to look at the number in the ones place. If the number is 27, we take the 7 and count that many fingers alternating hands. Then when we have our 7 fingers up, 4 on one hand and 3 on the other, we put partners together. If there is an extra finger, then it's an oddball and it's an odd number. On an even number, everyone would have a partner and it would be even Steven. Then we say a chant: 0,2,4,6,8 I know my even numbers isn't that great? 1,3,5,7,9 I know my odd numbers isn't that fine?

Hi Lisa! Try this. Use manipulatives and sit down and tell him that even numbers can be shared with one other person without smushing something. Let's say you use beans. Count out 10 beans and then ask him to give you half and him half. With any number of beans, if he can split his beans with you, it's an even number. If he can't, it's an odd number.

Play with him and enjoy his "discovery". Hope this helps!

Dawn

Teach him to count by two's. Those are the even numbers.

Does this child understand sharing half?

How many pieces do you have to break a cookie into share evenly with 2 people?

Can you break a cookie into 3 pieces for 2 people to share?

How about for 4 people?

Do this visually with blocks, coins.. etc..

Have the child right down the even numbers each time things come out even..

Have him write them in columns each time he figures out what makes an even "share" number.

He will then see the numbers are all ending in the same digits.
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18

make stick people and tell him even numbers always have a friend to hold hands with (make lines of stick people walking in rows)

Odd can't be divided evenly. So take some candies or cookies and practice dividing them up. Give him 3 and ask him to put them into two even piles. When he can't, explain that 3 is an odd number and continue on going back and forth between even and odd numbers.

My daughter's teacher explains them as nice numbers (that share) and gready numbers (that don't). Nice numbers like 4 means 2 cookies for me and 2 for you.

Candy.

Getting to eat the odd ones (to make even numbers) usually cements it fast.

Its easier when they're all the same color... Which makes winter a GREAT time for this.... Since M&Ms come in Red+Green only bags. (Way easier to split out the colors)..

I'm a certified teacher. Let me see----

A simple way to start...

Take 2 pcs of construction paper. One blue and one red. Cut each pc of paper into 8 squares.

Write the numbers 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15 on the red squares
Write the numbers 2,4,6,8,10,12, 14, 16 on the blue squares

Tell this Mom to put the numbers in order across the floor/rug in order. Explain to her that the odd numbers will be the blue squares, etc...This is a great VISUAL to show the pattern of every other number.

Recite "2,4,6,8 ...Who do you appreciate? _____ Fill her son's name in the blank. This is an even number chant...

Better yet, prepare the 16 squares for her and spread them out on the floor.

I hope this helps...

She needs to ask the teacher for resources.

Personally, I think it's easiest to memorize: "2 4 6 8" as evens...but also remember zero!

Can it be divided by 2/cut in half/shared evenly by two people?
When confusion strikes in math, it's helpful to return to a number line visual.
Start at 1. Can this be shared equally by 2 people? No.
Move to 2. Can this be shared evenly by 2 people? Yes.
Repeat up the line so he sees the 2-4-6-8-0 pattern.

I agree to use counters and a line or containers. Take a bunch out. Count them. Then put one counter on each side, back and forth, til you are out. Then count each side. If they match, then they are "even" and the total is an even number. If they don't match, then it's "odd".

Eating the odd candy to make an even number is a great idea. My DD would love that.

Anything that can be split into 2's (pairs).

A pair of shoes. 2 pairs of shoes (4 shoes). 5 shoes is odd. 1 shoe is odd. 3 shoes is odd. SETS of shoes (2, 4, 6, 8 etc) make pairs.

Take any pile/group of objects. Set them apart in groups of 2. If there are any that aren't matched with a 2nd object, it is "odd". So 9 pennies: match them up in stacks of 2. 2, 2, 2, 2, and that one odd penny left over with no mate.

I don't really teach a concept when I work with my daughter. Did you teach a concept when you/they taught him to count?

Just teach him how to count even numbers and odd numbers, the reasoning can follow once he is familiar with the numbers.

The same is true for vowels. You just teach them aeiou, aeiou...soon they know them and then you can teach them what the letters do.