Doubling

Introduction

• Hold up four objects, like pencils, and tell students that you need double the number of pencils you are holding. *Ask students how many pencils you’ll have if you double the number you are holding (eight).
• Hold up eight pencils and repeat the question.
• Hold up 16 pencils and repeat the question. (Note: at this point, students may have a more difficult time answering the question; provide the answer if students are stumped).
• Tell students that today we are going to be doubling numbers, just like I doubled the number of pencils I was holding. Doubling a number is multiplying it by two.