Odd & even numbers
🎯 In this topic you will
- Recognize and classify numbers as odd or even.
🧠 Key Words
- even
- odd
- pair
- pattern
Show Definitions
- even: A number that can be divided into two equal whole parts with no remainder.
- odd: A number that cannot be divided into two equal whole parts and leaves a remainder of one.
- pair: A group of two objects or numbers that are matched or counted together.
- pattern: A repeated or predictable sequence of numbers, shapes, or objects.
🔢 Different Kinds of Numbers
There are different kinds of numbers. Some numbers are called even numbers. An even number of objects can be put into pairs with none left over. Some numbers are called odd numbers. An odd number of objects always has 1 left over when the objects are put into pairs.
❓ EXERCISES
1. Is each number odd or even? Draw a ring around the correct word.

a. $8$ odd / even
b. $1$ odd / even
👀 Show answer
b. $1$ is odd.
2. Draw an odd number of counters on the ten frame. Make it easy to see that it is odd.

👀 Show answer
3. Colour the even numbers on the number track red. Colour the odd numbers on the number track blue. What pattern have you made?

👀 Show answer
Odd numbers: $1, 3, 5, 7, 9$ (blue).
Pattern: the colors alternate odd, even, odd, even along the number track.
4. Is each number odd or even? Use the number track above to help you.
a. $1$ odd / even
b. $4$ odd / even
c. $7$ odd / even
d. $10$ odd / even
👀 Show answer
b. $4$ is even.
c. $7$ is odd.
d. $10$ is even.
🧠 Think like a Mathematician
Work on your own. Use the ten frame odd and even jigsaws that you made in the classroom.
Put two numbers together to make ten, so that the ten frames are whole again.
Discuss what you notice about the numbers in each ten frame.
Show Answers
- Observation: Pairs of numbers that add to $10$ complete the ten frame.
- Pattern: When one number increases, the other decreases so their total stays $10$.
- Example:$1 + 9 = 10$, $2 + 8 = 10$, $3 + 7 = 10$, $4 + 6 = 10$, and $5 + 5 = 10$.
❓ EXERCISES
5. $8$ is the answer.
What could the question be?

👀 Show answer
• Which number is $2$ more than $6$?
• Which number is $3$ fewer than $11$?
• What is the next even number after $6$?
• How many counters are in $4$ pairs?
• Which number comes after $7$?
• Which even number is between $7$ and $9$?


