Math Sense

I hope you can find something in my collection of math ideas and activities that you can use in your classroom.  I believe that teaching math through the use of literature is an excellent way to provide various experiences for young children.  There are so many great math books on the market today for our classrooms.  For most math concepts, I have added the books that I use in my classroom.  All of the books I have listed can be found at www.amazon.com. 

This was the very first math resource book I bought while I was student teaching.  There are 121 manipulative math experiences that help children discover concepts naturally.  This resource uses easy to find materials and includes take home projects to stimulate parent-child interaction.

Calendar

Montherena
Sing the months of the year to the Macarena, using the Macarena movements.
January (right hand faces down)
February (left hand faces down)
March (right hand faces up)
April (left hand faces up)
May (right hand on left shoulder)
June (left hand on right shoulder)
July (right hand on right ear)
August (left hand on left ear)
September (right hand on left waist)
October (left hand on right waist)
November (right hand on right hip)
December (left hand on left hip)

OH MONTHERENA!  (jump and turn ¼) repeat.

Addams Family Days of the Week

 Days of the week, (snap snap) days of the week, (snap snap) days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (snap, snap)

There’s Sunday and there’s Monday
There's Tuesday and there’s Wednesday
There's Thursday and there's Friday
And then there's Saturday.

Days of the week, (snap snap) days of the week, (snap snap) days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (snap, snap).

Days of the Week

(sung to the tune of “Clementine”)
There are seven days, there are seven days, there are seven days in a week.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

These are the activities I do during calendar time. 

We chant or sing the months of the year.

Name the month and spell it.

Name the season and spell it.

We talk about our seasonal tree.

We chant or sing the days of the week.

Yesterday was ______, today is ______, tomorrow will be ______.

Check the pattern on the calendar.

Add a straw to the place value pocket.

If we move a bundle of ten straws to the tens place, then Zero the Hero visits us and we sing his song.

Add a tally mark to the monthly tally chart.

Move a marble from one jar to the other.

Turn over a # on the 100's chart.

Put up a Count the Days Lakeshore Kid.

Check the weather and color in the weather graph.

Fill in the temperature on the temperature graph.

If a student has lost a tooth, we add their name to the tooth on the calendar board.

If it is a student's birthday, we sing "Happy Birthday" at this time.

Math Their Way Tubs

For the first two weeks of school, I introduce one Math Their Way tub a day.  The students learn the proper name of each of the manipulatives.  I explain the proper way to work in these tubs and how to clean up and put them away.  During the first six weeks of school, the students free explore in our MTW tubs.  There are so many great ideas in the MTW newsletter, that I won't even begin to try and list all of the ones that I use.  If you don't have your own copy, you can go online and print it out at http://www.center.edu/NEWSLETTER/newsletter.shtml.   I introduce Unifix cubes on the first day of school. I let half of my students look at books or draw while the other half gets to free explore the Unifix cubes.  On the second day of school, I introduce pattern blocks.  Now, I will have three groups rotating between unifix cubes, pattern blocks, and books or drawing.  Each day we add another tub until all have been introduced.  These are the tubs that I use in my classroom:  Unifix Cubes, Pattern Blocks, Tiles, Wooden Cubes, Jewels, Geoboards, Power Blocks, and Junk Boxes

Math Tubs Job Board

My tables are color coded, so my students check the job board to find out what tub they will be working in. 

Shapes

We do a shape study a week in my classroom.  We begin our study with the circle.  I use several TLC projects to reinforce the shapes.  The TLC Traffic Signal and the TLC Ice Cream Cone can be found in the TLC Beginning Lessons Book at

http://www.tlclessons.com.   I use TLC books because you talk about shapes in every lesson.  By the end of the year, your students will have no problem identifying shapes.

When we study the square, we make the TLC Robot.

When we study the rectangle, we make the TLC house.

We also do shape show and tell.  During our shape study my students bring in those shaped items.

Search your classroom for shapes or play I spy looking for shapes. 

I have a Shapes Kit from Lakeshore that we use during our shape studies.

There are lots of file folder shape games.

Our students also have to learn 3-D shapes.  I have wooden 3-D shapes that stay in the math center all year.  We use flash cards daily for instant recognition.

I have a shape bulletin board set that includes 8 shapes and the 8 shape words.  There are 16 accent shapes-two for each shape posted on the bathroom doors in my classroom.  These stay up all year for easy access to check on a shape or  to use for reference.

Shape Poems

Patterning

The first activity I introduce for patterning is rhythmic clapping.  I clap a pattern and the children join me.  I will add snapping to the pattern after a few days.  Then we use snap and clap cards and unifix cubes to create patterns.

Our calendar is a very important part of our patterning lessons.  We name the pattern each day and we guess what will be next if we extend the pattern.

Pattern cards are used with just about any manipulatives you have in the classroom.

These are just some of the things we use for patterning:  Unifix cubes, color tiles, pattern blocks, shell counters, frog counters, teddy bear counters, die cuts, leaves, nuts, pasta, Fruit Loops, paper chain links, M & M's, candy hearts, farm animals, jelly beans, stamps, children, fruit, vegetables, bingo chips, beans, stickers, junk, seashells, clothing, and beads.

Lakeshore has a great Patterning Pocket Chart for your students to manipulate pictures to make patterns.

Use your overhead projector and overhead manipulatives to make patterns.

Make headbands with patterns block paper pieces.  My students must make their pattern with pattern blocks and then copy and glue it onto their headband.

Sorting and Classifying

We use these sorting trays for a lot of sorting in the classroom. 

We also use these sorting mats.

I have many overhead manipulatives to use for sorting.

Sort real objects such as apples, leaves, nuts, shells, pumpkins, material scraps, and candy hearts.

Sort apples and pumpkins by color, size, weight, or stems.

Sort candy hearts by same color, same message, same number of letters, or same number of words on a heart.

Sort teddy bear counters by color or size.

Sort Teddy Bears brought from home by size, color, gender, those wearing clothes, etc.

Sort farm animals by attributes.

Sort animals that are oviparous/not oviparous/I don't know.

Sort plastic eggs by color.

Sort animal crackers.

Sort zoo animal counters.

Sort zoo animals by attributes.

Sort Gummi bears and use a ditto for your sorting mat.

Counting

Rote counting doesn't mean a child has the understanding and skill to count.  A child may be able to count to ten, but if you put 10 objects in front of the child, he might not be able to successfully put the words with the objects.  That's why it is so important for teachers to give children opportunities to practice one-to-one-correspondence.  We play many counting games in the classroom with our classroom counters.  We have bugs, fish, shells, frogs, bears, people, links, cubes, gems, tiles, fruit, farm animals. wooden blocks, and pasta.

Workjob Mats ( seen under Set Values) are good tools to use for your students who haven't mastered one-to-one-correspondence.

Graphing

These are some of the graphing questions we use in my classroom.

Which story do you like best?

How do you get to school?

How do you go home?

Who is in our class?

When is your birthday?

What is your favorite color?

What is your hair color?

What is your eye color?

How many members in your family?

How many rooms in your house?

How many letters in your name?

Have you ever been on a sleep-over?

What kind of apple did you bring?

How do you like your apples?

Does your apple have a stem?

How many seeds does your apple have?

What is your favorite flavor of jam?

Do you like pumpkin pie?

Who's afraid of bats?

Are you afraid of spiders?

What kind of leaf did you find?

Do you like turkey?

Are you afraid of mice?

Where did you get your Christmas tree?

Which do you prefer-Mittens or Gloves?

Have you ever built a snowman?

Will the Groundhog see his shadow?

What is your favorite farm animal?

Do you like green eggs and ham?

How do you like your eggs cooked?

What is your favorite insect?

What is your favorite zoo animal?

How many pockets are you wearing?

Do you like watermelon?

Do you like school?

What is your favorite center?

Which milk do you like best?

What kind of pet do you have?

What is your favorite holiday?

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Who is your favorite super hero?

Number Tubs

My number tubs were created the very first year I began teaching.  My mentor, team leader, and very good friend Lynette O'Briant, let me take all of her number tub ideas and I incorporated them into my classroom.  Some of the ideas are from Math Their Way.  Each number tub focuses on the numerals 0-10.  Since we focus on a number a week, starting about week six, I do not start number tubs until we are on the number 4.  Then only numbers 0-4 will be in a tub.  You add a number each week until you have reached number 10.  I have enough supplies in each tub for 4 students.

The Center for the Innovation in Education, Inc. has some of the products that I use for my number tubs.  http://store.yahoo.com/new-center-account/

Playdough

Students make snakes from playdough and then they form the numerals on laminated numbers.

Rubbings

To make the rubbings, you need 4 x 5 pieces of cardboard.  On each card, print in purple and green to indicate the sequence of the strokes needed to form the numerals.  Then use Elmer's glue to cover the number.  Make sure to put enough glue so the number will be raised.  Cut scrap paper in 4 x 5 pieces.  My students must put the cards in order from 0-10 before they begin to do their rubbings.  When they are finished, the must put the numbers in order before I will check and staple them.

Stencils

I bought number stencils from a teacher supply company.  My students have to write their numbers in order.

Windows

Math Their Way calls these Number Line Templates.  Mine were made by me using tagboard and a box cutter for cutting out the window.  My students must do their windows in order from 0-10 and then put them in order for me to check and staple.

Number Tiles

Students put number tiles in order 0-10.

Stamps

Students stamp numbers in order 0-10.

Writing

Students use Numeral Writing cards to trace numerals. The numerals are printed in the purple and green sequence.  The students use Vis-A-Vis pens on the laminated cards.  Before they can begin a new number, their card must be cleaned.

Geoboards

The Geoboard numeral cards are from Math Their Way.  My students must use geobands to form each number correctly.

Salt Numbers

I have spray painted pie pans black.  Pour in enough salt to cover the bottom of the pan.  Students use number cards to correctly form the numerals.

Number Puzzles

It's hard to put puzzles in a tub, but sometimes you need something for those students that get finished with their tub faster than their tub time.  So I always have number puzzles available for them.

Estimation

I know that there is a big difference of opinion about estimation jars in the classroom.  I use them in my classroom.  We estimate just about everything that will fit in my estimation jar.  I always have a reference of ten objects for my students to look at each time they make an estimation.  I make an estimation chart each year with my student photos.  On Monday, each child gives me their estimation and I write it beside their photo, then on Friday, we count out the objects.  These are just some of the things that you can estimate.  Cereal, Crackers, Candy, Cookies, Math Counters, Plastic Bugs, Nuts, (be careful using acorns, they have worms in them) Buttons, Marshmallows, Seashells,and Beads.

I prefer not to use food because it just gets thrown away after I handle it.

We also estimate things that won't fit into my estimation jar.  Number of seeds in an apple, circumference of an apple, number of apples that will fit in a small paper lunch sack or a plastic tu or a basket, number of seeds in a pumpkin, number of seeds in a watermelon slice, circumference of a pumpkin or a watermelon, and the weight of a pumpkin or a watermelon.

Problem Solving

Lakeshore Learning has this great problem solving pocket chart kit that helps your students visualize math problems.  Your students use manipulatives to work the problems.  You also get blank strips to make your own problems.  It comes with some manipulatives, but you can make your own problems using manipulatives from your classroom.

I Can Add & I Can Subtract Kit

Cute manipulatives and coordinating activity mats give kids hands-on problem solving practice.  These can be found at Lakeshore.

Set Values

Workjob Mats

http://www.kinderkorner.com/

These are just three examples of my Workjob Mats that I borrowed from Kinder Korner.  The first example has the correct number of stickers on the mat for the children to use as reference.  The second example has just the number on the mat.  The third example has the number and the number word on the mat.

Measurement

Unifix cubes, wooden blocks, and snap together links are good tools of non standard measurement.  Your students will love measuring each other and things in the classroom using these tools. 

How many pumpkins tall are you? 

During our pumpkin unit, we see how tall our pumpkin is using unifix cubes.  We also see How many pumpkins tall are you?  I have laminated a line of pumpkins that I hang up and each student stands by the pumpkins.  They each have a pumpkin paper that says _______ is _______ pumpkins tall!  A friend helps them measure themselves and we make a class book How Tall is Mrs. Pohlmeyer's Class?

Pumpkin Weight/Kid Weight

Before we weigh our pumpkins, I let each student get on the bathroom scale and weigh himself/herself.  We discuss whether the pumpkin will weigh more or less than we do.  We take guesses on how much the pumpkin will weigh.  I write these on chart paper.  Then we weigh our pumpkin.

Circumference

We measure the circumference of apples, pumpkins, and watermelons.  Before we measure, I ask each student to take as much yarn as they think it will take to go around the apple, pumpkin, or watermelon.  After we check their pieces of yarn, we hang these on a chart that says too long, too short, and just right. 

Weigh Apples

 We make predictions if an apple weighs more or less than other things in the classroom.  I use a small balance scale that I have in the math center.  This leads to more guess and check activities in the math center throughout he year. If you have access to a postal scale, you can do actual weights of their apples.  Then you can see who has the heaviest or the lightest apple.

Measure Teddy Bears

During our bear unit, measure the Teddy Bears brought from home with unifix cubes.

Weigh an Egg

Put a hardboiled egg on one side of the balance beam and unifix cubes on the other.  How many unifix cubes will it take to balance the egg?

Time

Time Poems

When I begin to teach time, I bring in lots of different kinds of clocks.  I explain the difference between an analog clock and a digital clock.  I use the original Judy Clock and student Judy clocks in the classroom.  We also make paper clocks for my students to take home.  We only learn time on the hour in Kindergarten.

Money

Money Poems

In Kindergarten, we learn to identify the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter.  We also learn how much each is worth.  I have each of the coin poems enlarged on poster board with a picture of the front and back of the coin.  We use these posters until we learn the poems.  I have a classroom money kit in the math center for my students to use.  I keep real coins in the calendar area for instant recognition.

Fractions

I teach half/whole in Kindergarten.  The best way that get through to children this age is by using food.  So before we dig into any snack, I make sure I talk about the whole snack and then I break or cut it in half and talk about half of the snack.  I have a pizza in the home center that I use also to demonstrate the half/whole concept.

Tangrams

http://www.learningresources.com/SearchResults.pasp?txtSearchPhrase=tangrams

This item has been discontinued and is no longer available.
 

After I have introduced tangrams using Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magic Shapes, I put these alphabet tangram cards into a math tub.  The tangram cards are from Picture Puzzles Workbook from Learning Resources.  The cards are laminated for durability.  The cards and one set of tangrams are kept in a pocket folder.  Four sets are kept in the tub.  Tangrams come in four colors.  The pocket folder matches the tangrams (kept in a Ziploc bag) so my students can keep them organized.

I have my own classroom set of tangrams, but if you don't and would like to make your own, you can find the directions at these sites:

 http://mathforum.org/trscavo/tangrams/construct.html

http://www.ex.ac.uk/cimt/puzzles/tangrams/tangint.htm

This is an interactive site for you to use in your classroom.  There are easy and hard puzzles for your students to work.

http://pbskids.org/sagwa/games/tangrams/

Addition

 I have made this activity mat for my students to learn the beginning concepts of addition. 

If the problem is 2 + 3 =

We put 2 counters in the top left square and 3 counters in the right top square.

Then you bring the counters down.

Answer-5

I have the Domino Addition Activity Kit from Lakeshore.  Included in the kit are 4 sets of dominos, 4 laminated activity mats, and a drawstring storage bag. 

Subtraction

I use this activity mat for subtraction. 

If the problem is 5 - 2 =

You put 5 counters on the leaf.  The caterpillar eats 2.  How many are left?

Answer-3

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Last Updated  09/05/2006