Lesson 1 — The Magic 1-2-4 Cards

Age: Grades 1–3 (ages 6–9) Duration: 15–20 minutes Format: Web game (play right away, no prep needed) Concept: Data Representation — the numbers a computer really uses to store data are binary (0 and 1). These cards are a playable version of that idea.

Learning Objective

Kids tap the 1, 2, 4 cards to combine them into a target sum — starting to notice that special numbers (1, 2, 4, 8...) can combine to make every other number.

Do It Together (Parent-Child Co-participation)

Cut paper into 3 cards labeled 1, 2, 4, and see if your child can combine them to make every number from 0 to 7.