What makes a number even or odd?

We started the week by learning all about even and odd numbers. To understand the "why" behind this concept we worked to line numbers in pairs. If every number has a partner, then it is even. If there is an "odd one out" then it is an odd number. We started by practicing making pairs with our fingers and then moved to using skittles!

As I called out a number, the students would place that number of skittles in pairs to determine whether it was even or odd.

"3 is odd!"

"6 is even!"

"10 is even!"

This was so neat because I think it really made sense for the kids and was a concrete way that explained why numbers were either even or odd.