Candy Corn Place Value

To assess the students' ability to represent numbers in various forms, they created candy corn place value art. Each student was given a different number. They wrote the number in the top portion of the candy corn. In the second portion, they had to draw a pictorial model of the number. In the bottom portion, they had to write the expanded notation of the same number. The kids loved it and had no idea I was assessing their understanding.

Pumpkin Shapes

While learning about the attributes of shapes, we discussed that the attributes stay the same no matter how large or small you make that shape. The students explored this concept by making larger squares, square rectangles, and triangles out of smaller pattern blocks. They then used paper pattern blocks to make a pumpkin shape. As they worked we discussed how many sides and vertices each shaped had.

The Shape of Things

We read The Shape of Things by Dayle Ann Dodds to introduce the attributes of shapes. After reading the students were each given a random shape that they had to turn into a real life object, just as in the book. They then told me about their shape which I typed following the style of the book. The pictures were bound together in a class book for them to read during Daily 5 and Math Tubbing. I believe it is important for students to be exposed to math vocabulary in all subjects.

Place Value Depictions to 120 Download

Fellow teachers, I just created a new place value download, Place Value Depiction to 120, for my Teachers Pay Teachers store. These printable posters allow students to depict numbers through pictorial models, expanded notation, written form, and on a tens/ones chart. Students can compare numbers using the various number depictions. The posters can be completed individually or in small groups to reinforce place value skills. The posters can be bound together as a book once completed to use as review. The posters can also be used to assess students' understanding of the place value concept.

Skip Counting

We spent a few days reviewing and practicing skip counting from Kinder. The students each colored a pair of socks and added it to a clothesline. As a class, we practiced counting them by two. We then did the same thing with handprints and practiced counting them by fives. We discussed which one was faster (counting by fives) because five is a larger number than two. This led to a discussion that counting by tens in place value in faster because ten is a larger number. Fellow teachers, in my class I have a number line in our whole group area. I use garage sale dot stickers of various colors to mark where skip counting patterns. For example, the multiples of 5 all have a pink sticker and the multiples of 10 all have a yellow sticker. We practice counting these at transition times and as we have a spare moment here and there.

Shape Attributes

As a part of our study of shapes, the students made shapes on geoboards. We discussed that even if shapes a different sizes, their attributes remain the same. As they made the various triangle, square, and square rectangle shapes, they counted the number of sides and vertices. They also drew pictures of their shapes on a geoboard recording sheet.

Bubble Gum Graphs

To reinforce the concept of graphing, I came up with this quick yet fun assessment. The students were each given various number of dot stickers (the kind you use for garage sales). They placed the gumballs on their gumball machine template. They then had to count the number of gumballs for each color and record their findings on a table. Using the data on the table, they created a bar-type graph. On the bar-type graph, they had to label the title, the numbers, and the answer choices. They also had to answer questions based on the results of their graph. Fellow teachers, you can download this lesson my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I forgot to take a picture of their completed products but they turned out great!

 

Real Object Graphs: Apples

In math the students learned about various types of graphs: picture, bar-type, and real object. During one of the lessons, they tasted red, yellow, and green apples. They then decided which one was their favorite to place on a real object graph. After making the graph, they  talked with a knee-neighbor about the results. They then individually used the data from the real object graph to create a bar-type graph. They answered ten questions about the data to find what was the most popular type of apple, the least, etc.

Shaving Cream Fun

To have a little fun and clean off their desks, we played in shaving cream during the last week of school. The students practiced writing their word wall words, solve addition and subtraction problems, and drew pictures in the shaving cream.

My Dream Bedroom: Area

To review area, the students designed their own dream bedroom. They first listed on a Circle Map furniture, toys, and other miscellaneous items they would love to have in their bedroom. They then drew those items, represented as squares and rectangles, on grid paper. After labeling the items, they measured the area, in squares, of each item and wrote sentences about their measurements. They then compared their items to one another according to their area.

What is Your Dream Vacation?

Using the software Kidspiration on our Promethean Board, we had a quick review of how to create a bar-type graph. We reviewed that first you need to ask a question. Then, you need to have some choices and record those choices on a table. Once you have choices, you can take a survey and mark your results with tally marks. The results can then be put into a bar-type graph. Kidspiration had premade templates with a question and table so the students used those to practice. They then created their own table on paper with at least four choices of dream vacations. They then surveyed ten classmates and created a corresponding bar-type graph on grid paper.