How to Teach Odd and Even Numbers in 4 Easy Steps

Ever wondered how to teach odd and even numbers to your child? Grasping these fundamental math concepts is essential for them. This blog provides a step-by-step guide to help you effectively communicate these ideas. By the end of this post, your child will be able to identify and work with odd and even numbers confidently.

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

Try for free

How to Teach Odd and Even Numbers in 4 Easy Steps

Step 1: Introduction to Odd and Even Numbers

The first step is to explain odd and even numbers to your child, setting a foundation for understanding number patterns.

When to start: Begin this lesson once your child is comfortable recognizing numbers and counting. For some children, this could be as early as preschool.

How to teach:

• Start with a simple activity that visually demonstrates the concept. Gather a small group of items, like blocks or fruits, and invite your child to divide them into two groups. 
• For example, if you have six apples, show how they can be split into two groups of three without any leftovers — this is an even number. 
• Then, try it with five apples. They’ll see that one apple is left over, making it an odd number. Through this, you’ll help them see that even numbers divide neatly into two equal groups, while odd numbers leave one out.
• Once your child understands it, use these activities to reinforce the concept:

Begin here

to engage your students and simplify teaching

Identify Even or Odd Game

Play

Check Even or Odd Game

Play

Select the Even or Odd Number Game

Play

Explore More

Now your child should be able to:

• Identify whether a number is odd or even based on its ability to be divided into two equal groups without leftovers.
• Understand the basic concept that even numbers split evenly, while odd numbers do not.

Step 2: Pairing and Grouping

The goal here is to help children visualize odd and even numbers through pairing, enhancing their ability to differentiate between the two. This step is crucial in teaching odd and even numbers to a child, as it builds a practical understanding they can apply in real-life scenarios.

When to start: Once your child understands the basic concept of odd and even numbers from Step 1, introduce them to pairing and grouping.

How to teach:

• Gather a collection of small, easily manageable items like coins, beads, or small toys.
• Spread them out and encourage your child to pair them up. Guide them to notice if each item finds a pair or if one is left without a partner.
• Explain that if every item pairs up without any left alone, the total number of items is an even number. If one item remains unpaired, the total is an odd number.
• Here is a fun activity to teach them the concept of grouping and pairing:

Begin here

to engage your students and simplify teaching

Count Objects in Pairs Game

Play

Explore More

Now your child should be able to:

• Independently pair objects and understand why some items don’t find a pair.
• Correctly identify if the total number of items is odd or even.

Step 3: Recognizing Patterns

The objective is to help your child recognize the pattern in the last digits of odd and even numbers, which is a critical step in learning odd and even numbers.

When to start: Introduce this step after your child is comfortable with identifying odd and even numbers through pairing and grouping.

How to teach:

• Create flashcards with numbers ending in each digit from 0 through 9.
• Discuss and demonstrate that numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are even, and those ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are odd.
• Use a fun sorting game where your child sorts the flashcards into two piles: odd and even. This visual and physical activity reinforces the recognition of patterns.

Now your child should be able to:

• Identify the last digit of a number and determine whether it is odd or even without needing physical pairing.
• Apply this knowledge to larger numbers, enhancing their skill in identifying odd and even numbers in varied contexts.

Step 4: Practical Application with Story Problems

This step focuses on applying the understanding of odd and even numbers to real-world contexts. It culminates previous lessons and introduces practical ways to teach odd and even numbers.

When to Start: Move to this step after your child can comfortably identify odd and even numbers by recognizing patterns in the last digits.

How to Teach:

• Create simple story problems incorporating everyday scenarios, such as dividing treats among friends or organizing books on a shelf.
• For instance, ask, “If you have 13 candies and want to share them equally between two friends, will each friend get the same amount without any leftovers?”
• Encourage your child to solve these problems using both mental calculation and physical objects if needed, reinforcing their understanding of how odd and even numbers behave in different situations.

4 Additional Ways to Teach Odd and Even Numbers

1. Online Odd and Even Number Games

Introduce children to interactive online games that focus on odd and even numbers. These games provide immediate feedback and keep kids engaged with repetitive practice. This helps reinforce their understanding while keeping the learning fun and interactive.

2. Odd and Even Number Worksheets

Worksheets are a structured way to reinforce concepts through practice and repetition. They help children identify patterns and consistently apply their knowledge of odd and even numbers. Use them to complement hands-on learning for comprehensive understanding.

Begin here

to engage your students and simplify teaching

Explore More

3. Odd and Even Days

Designate certain days as “odd” or “even” to create playful learning opportunities. On odd days, engage in activities that involve odd numbers (like hopping three times), while even days feature even-numbered activities (like clapping four times). It makes learning rhythmic and memorable.

4. Use Snack Time

Use snack time as a learning opportunity by encouraging kids to divide snacks evenly or identify leftover pieces. This practical application makes learning both fun and relatable, helping children see how math concepts apply to their daily lives.

Conclusion

We’ve covered a comprehensive approach on how to teach odd and even numbers to your child through engaging activities and practical examples. Regularly practice these steps with your child using everyday objects and scenarios to reinforce these concepts. This hands-on experience will solidify their understanding and make them confident in identifying and working with odd and even numbers daily. 

Related Reading: How to Teach Number Sense to Kids

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)