Best Investment Ever

I think my most favorite "purchased" item that I had in my classroom was my large dice. 

I am fortunate that my school purchased them for me, but unfortunate as I could not take them with me when I left.



These are the ones I used: Large Dice

 They are from Discount School Supply and currently retail for $37.  Yeah, that is a lot, but I did not have to pay for them!  :)


I bet you can find cheaper ones.  Or go in on a set with another teacher.






Prior to owning these dice, I had made my own out of square boxes I acquired somewhere.  My home made dice lasted about 3 years, and I was not able to change what each face said.  So one had numerals and the other had dots. 

This is a picture of my "old" dice:

So how did I use the dice?  Oh my gosh is SO many ways!  If you have read some of my early posts, you may remember I am big on being active in the classroom.  Maybe cause my students were all so young, but I feel like even the older students can benefit by them as well.  This set let me put movements into the activity that we may not have normally thought of.




Young students: roll 1 die; start with dots then move up to numerals.  Have 1 student count the dots then choose a movement for the class to do "that many" times.  To get more students involved at once, have one student roll, one count, and another pick the activity.  I used this activity without the dice as we learned about each number; this is a great way to review all numbers you have covered so far, or you can put the same number on each side, so it always comes up "3."  See how long it takes the kids to catch on!  I usually prompt the first few movements, like "clap three times" or "jump three times" (make sure you wear comfy shoes that day) then let the kids take over.  Really gets those wiggles out of the little ones.

 

Preschool students: you can use the dice as part of a themed activity where they make a physical connection to objects based on the roll of the dice.  Here, the student could roll a die, either read the numeral or count the dots, then "feed" the squirrel that many acorns.  Can be adapted to ANYTHING - put that many apples/leaves/snowflakes on (or take off) a tree; make a tower with that many blocks; count out that many goldfish for snack, you get the idea. 

Pre-Kindergarten students: once your students recognize their numerals add the second die and they can match sets.  Roll the two dice; did you get a match?  Are there more or less dots than the number you rolled?  Could not find pictures of that in action. But...

Kindergarten and first grade: here the students used the big dice in a couple ways, then followed up with a small group and individual activity with small dice.



The rolled the dice and the students tallied on the white board how many times each number came up.  This was partial tally writing and partial probability lesson.  I find this is a great activity to cover both concepts in a fun way.

The students working on their individual tallies.  I asked them to roll their die a specific number of times, like 40.  So they had to keep adding their tallies up to see when they hit 40. :)

Another way we used the big dice was for addition and subtraction practice.  We used the dice as a group activity, counting the dots chorally to add.  I would (or sometimes a student) write the addition sentence on the white board so we could "see" what we just did verbally.  As time went on, the dice were changed to have numerals on them, and we used small manipulatives (coins in this picture) to add. 



For subtraction, I had one dice with numbers 5 and above, and the other dice had 0 - 4.  We had to work harder to find the difference than we did for the sum, but the kids caught on pretty well.  At first we wrote the numbers that we rolled on the board, and figured out which on was "greater." We then wrote the subtraction sentence and added attribute block magnets to represent the larger number.  We took away the smaller number and voila! We found the difference.  Older students can roll the dice to add more than two numbers, multiply, or divide.  Orrrrrrr...you can use it for place value identification. 

Another example of using the dice is in my post titled Making Numbers 5/26/2012.

By using dice that  you can change the faces, you can customize the dice to every activity. I used them once to build a snowman; they students had to roll six different body "parts" to build the "whole" snowman.  But that is a whole other concept!

Does anyone else have big dice they use in their classroom?  Can you share some of your activities?  This is just a small sampling of what can be done.  Hope I've inspired you a bit today, to get those kids up and moving instead of sitting in chairs all day.  Math should be hands on, and fun!!

Kathy

Clothesline Math Game Posted

Okay, one product done and posted!

Clothesline Number Games 0-20

This set includes two spinners, one with four colors and one with six colors.  There are six sets of number cards 0 to 20, and the symbols +, -, =, <, and >.  A pencil and a paperclip finishes the spinner, and all you need is a clothesline, some spring-style clothespins from the dollar store, and a printer!  I suggest printing them on cardstock and/or laminating for longer use. 

Thanks to Graphics From The Pond for the spinners!

Graphics From the Pond

Carrot Picking...or apple...or pumpkin...

One of my favorite activities to do at the beginning of the school year is to "pick apples from the tree."  I had a set of apples with numerals on them that had been handed down to me by a previous teacher; on one wall I had a big seasonal tree leftover from when I taught science.  The type you buy from a teachers supply store.  I put pieces of velcro on the tree, then on the apples.  Or leaves...which look like snowflakes in the winter when all the leaves have fallen off.  We used little pink flowers in the spring.

I used this tree for so many things; one of my favorite was to pick apples.  On the back of each apple there was a number up to 30.  The students would get a chance to pick an apple from a tree, then they had to tell me the number.  I had multiple apples with the same number on it, and would put up the appropriate numerals based on the age of the class coming in.

This is a great way for me to get a sense of numeral recognition at the beginning of the year.  I would keep a running record of which numerals they got correct and incorrect, and as the year went on I could add to it.  This helped me when assessment time of the year came; if they consistently recognized the numeral 3, I did not need to ask them that one.  I also used the apples to make sets; pick an apple then give me "that many" of something. 

Unfortunately my tree got destroyed and I cannot not locate a good picture of it to show you.  But I do have a picture of some young 3s (and visiting toddlers) "Carrot Picking" in our circle time area.  This was an activity I did in May, I think.

The kids had so much fun and did really well taking turns.  This is a simple shape to draw and copy onto colored construction paper.  I laminated a blank piece of green construction paper and made the tops, then taped them on.  Super quick and easy!  I know EVERYONE has an apple graphic somewhere in their files, and I bet everyone has a pumpkin too.  Fun hands-on activity, helps practice taking turns too.  My Kindergarteners had to pick two carrots and tell me the sum or difference, depending on the unit.  Great workstation if you have the space.  Let's those boys who need some movement in their learning get it out.

Hmmmm....bet you could have the kids order or group the numbers on  a clothesline... :)

Enjoy!  Kathy

Fly Freebie is ready!

Well, took longer than I expected, but here it is!

I opened a TpT store where you will be able to purchase this cute little guy in a few different formats.  He will be available in color with numerals, letters (upper and lower) as well as word families.

But you my followers and visitors have the opportunity to grab him here in a blank format; you can customize him as necessary.  I have to say he was fun to design; the fly graphic is mine and mine alone - I did not use any graphics from anyone else.

So here ya go!  Enjoy, and please let me know how you plan on using him!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Swat-those-flies-Freebie

One of my favorite places

Good news - our new computer has shipped!  It is expected to arrive by July 12...and in that box is my new software! I can't wait!

In the meantime, I thought I would share with everyone a place that I found quite by accident.  One day I turned on our bedroom tv, which pretty much only gets used at night, to listen to music while I did some stuff in the room.  So the tv was on a channel I don't usually watch, and playing was a show called "The Teaching Channel."  It was a one-hour show filled with short videos by teacher for teachers.  I instantly got sucked in (of course!) and at the end they showed a website for more videos.  Later that day, I got a chance to check out the site and was pretty much glued for the evening as I watched video after video.  I watched videos about the age group I was teaching, the subject I was teaching, and pretty much every one under the middle school age.

Those teachers featured gave me some awesome ideas!!  Some of my best came from a 5th grade literacy teacher, of all things.  I used a bit of this and a bit of that from different teachers, and came up with a great teaching model I used for my math classroom.

So there is the wonderful place I still frequent: Teaching Channel

They offers a play to "make notes," and even one of those cute little buttons you can add, so that you can save things from other sites back to your note area.  There are weekly newsletters you can sign up for, to let you know about new videos.

I thought today I'd share a video I found to be cute!  I am VERY into kinesthetic learning, especially for the younger classes.  I incorporated music and movement as much as possible into my daily math lessons.  I did not get to try this one out - I ran out of time at the end of the school year but I would love to know if any of you have done it, or plan on it next year.

What do you all think about this activity?  I'd love to hear what YOU think!!

Mingle & Count


Kathy

Kindergarten workstations

Crazy busy at work today and again tomorrow.  We have two school-wide concerts each year; one in December and one in June, along with our Kindergarten graduation.  I'd love to post a couple pictures but since I do not have permission to post any of the kids' pictures online I don't think I should.  I try very carefully to make sure the students are not identifiable in the pictures I do pose.  Let me just they are freaking adorable all dressed up!!

So earlier this week the Kindergarteners finished up their review workstations.  Here is what we did:

After completing our "Think Math" brain warm-up, our choices were

Domino Parking Lot

The kids loved trying to find the "domino bus" that fit in each spot.  They were so excited when they pulled out one they needed and disappointed when it had to "go back" if they filled that slot or if it was "too many" (I have dominos up to 9 in the box.)

This free activity came from Mrs. Williamson at
Welcome to Room 36





Since we worked hard twice coming up with a number story for our last two Think Math sessions, I gave them blank writing paper and asked them to come up with a number story of their own.  They asked another student for the "answer" then they created the question.  This class LOVES to draw.  So any opportunity I have to let them get creative, I do.





We got a little calculator practice in as well.  The CCSS are for the Kindergarteners to be fluent in their facts up to 5, and even though my district has not been required to implement them fully yet I wanted these students to head into first grade knowing them anyway...just in case they will be expected to meet the first grade expectations next year. I do not know exactly when the public schools will start their new math, but I would expect it to have to be soon!

So what the students had waiting for them here was a tray of calculators, pencils, and a web with the numeral 5 in the center.  They had to think of a fact that they think adds (or subtracts, I added that to make it more interesting) to 5.  They had to check their work on the calculator and if they were correct, they wrote it anywhere on the web.  I had some real creative thinkers...some of the kids were using 2 digit numbers!  They used their counting by 5s knowledge to subtract bigger numbers.  I was so proud of them! Not the original intent of the activity, but they get points for creativity. This workstation was meant to be individual, but I noticed some worked together when they got stumped.


A "May Do" was practicing making patterns on the pocket chart with some cute pictures I printed out from
KidsSoup.
This is a pay for membership site but luckily me school has paid for one!  It has some great activities for the preschool/pre-K ages.  I use some of the support materials, like these adorable cats and dogs with my Kindergarten classes.

So that's it for today.  The other time with this class we played BINGO where they each got a prize and a little "good luck" present from me.  I'll still see them for 2 more hours before my last day but they will just play and have fun those days.

Now for that well-earned glass of wine after the craziness of concert day #1.  Cheers!

"Making" Numbers

Okay, trying to figure out how to do this!!

Last week I conducted a two day lesson on "joining" numbers for my 2 Pre-K classes.  We discovered different ways to make 3, 4 & 5.  I started with the fabulous chart I found somewhere in the blog world:

I cannot for the life of me find the original source. I had this window open for so long...and now as I go thru my history for the weekend it is no where to be found. If ANYONE knows where it came from PLEASE tell me so I can give credit where it is due.  Thanks!!

Our group lesson was first: observation of me making 4s.  I then handed out 2 sets of 5 cube trains (different colors) and we worked to make 5s.  I demonstrated while they did. 

Here is the 5 chart. I had tons of post-it's at home that my own kids never used (that the teachers always ask for in their lists but always come home unopened??)

Since this was a new experience for my students, I did all the demonstrating. Next week when we get to "breaking" numbers, I am going to have them participate by placing & removing the post-its.




Then, using the wonderful worksheets created by Maria at Kinder-Craze we got a chance to work on our fine-motor skills by making 3s.

Making Numbers!

Day 2 we worked in small groups to complete one of these fabulous babies from Nicole at Rowdy in Room 300:

Composing Number Booklets

I pre-folded the books for the kids, as I thought it would get a bit too confusing for my younger, more challenged students.  I am going to have them cut the strips, then flip the book over to make them.

I asked the students to choose two colors to draw circles with.  They did a really awesome job with this activity.  The original activity had the students draw all of one color first, then go back and fill in the required number of color 2. We did each strip at a time instead, and they really got it!  A couple of the younger ones wanted to go to the next strip with the second color at first, but with assistance figured it out pretty quickly.



Friday we conduct review lessons in all day centers.  For the math center we played the following game:


Using the Blooming Addition worksheet I found from Fran at Kindergarten Crayons  I created a game.

The student rolled my large die until they got a 4, 5 or 6.  They recorded their number in the "last box" on their sheet.  This is the number we will make.  The first group I asked to write the number 2 in the "first box" then draw two flowers in the pot above it.  Each student had to figure out how many more flowers they needed to draw to "make" their number.  I thought this would help me keep control over the different numbers if we all had to count on from the same number.  My groups consist of 2-4 students, for varying reasons.

The second group wanted to roll the die some more, so we decided to roll for our first number too!  They rolled until they got a 1, 2 or 3 (if they were making 6) and that made the game a lot more fun.  Here is a completed page by Jilly:

Next week, we will do a one-day lesson on "breaking" numbers.  I can't wait!!

Kathy