NCERT Ganita Prakash, Class 7, textbook pages 209–240 (Part 1)

How to teach Class 7 Maths Chapter 6, Number Play, at home

Parity, magic squares and number patterns, taught with things you already have at home: a 20-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

276951438every line sums to 15

NCERT Class 7 Maths Chapter 6 Number Play: what it teaches

More number puzzles: odd and even (parity) rules, magic squares where every row, column and diagonal has the same sum, and number sequences such as Virahanka numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…).

Why it matters later. Parity and pattern reasoning train proof thinking used in algebra and geometry later.

See it: this chapter in pictures

odd + odd = evenodd + even = oddodd × odd = odd
Parity rules explain many puzzles.
1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21 …each = sum of previous twoVirahanka numbers
Known in India long before Fibonacci.
5 odd numbers → odd totalso they can’t make 20parity proves it
Parity can prove something is impossible.

You need

  • paper grids
  • number cards 1–9
  • coins or counters

Tonight’s 20 minutes

  1. Test: odd + odd, odd + even, odd × odd. Write the parity rules.
  2. Fill a 3 × 3 magic square with 1 to 9 so every line sums to 15.
  3. Write Virahanka numbers: each is the sum of the two before.
  4. Puzzle: can you make 25 with an even number of odd numbers? Why not?

Words to use

  • parity
  • odd
  • even
  • magic square
  • magic sum
  • sequence

Watch for

  • Guessing parity rules from one example. Try several examples and explain with pairs of dots.
  • Magic square by trial only. Put 5 in the centre first; then pair numbers that add to 10.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouCan five odd numbers add to 20?

Your childNo, five odd numbers make an odd total.

A game for this week: Magic square race

  1. Give each player a blank 3 × 3 grid and 1–9 cards.
  2. Race to make a magic square.
  3. Check all 8 lines.
  4. Try with 2–10 next.

A 5-day plan, 20 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Parity rules.
  2. Day 23 × 3 magic square.
  3. Day 3Virahanka numbers.
  4. Day 4Parity puzzles.
  5. Day 5Magic square race.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Pairs of socks: odd one out.
  • Sudoku and magic squares.
  • Rhythm patterns in music (Virahanka).
  • Turn-taking games.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

Odd + odd = ?

Even.

Magic sum of a 3 × 3 square with 1–9?

15.

Next Virahanka number after 8, 13?

21.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Explains parity rules.
  • Builds a 3 × 3 magic square.
  • Continues Virahanka sequences.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Ganita Prakash (Class 7). See the full Class 7 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What is parity?

Whether a number is odd or even.

Why is the centre of a 1–9 magic square 5?

It is the middle number, pairing to 10 across.

What are Virahanka numbers?

A sequence where each term is the sum of the two before; known in the West as Fibonacci numbers.