Pumpkin Patch Place Value

Each student was given a bag of candy pumpkins to count during a Place Value lesson. They used a ten rod sheet to help sort the candy in rows of tens. We discussed that it is quicker to count by tens than by ones because ten is a larger number. After making their pumpkin patch with the candy, they recreated it on the ten rod sheet by thumb printing pumpkins. They then completed a recording sheet to identify how many tens and ones were in their pumpkin patch as well as the expanded notation. Their work was bound into a class book to use during Math Tubbing. The templates can be downloaded from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Place Value Initials

To practice building larger numbers, the students used printable base ten blocks to build the first letter of their name. They then counted how much their name was worth. The pages were later bound together as a class book so the students can practice counting the larger numbers during Math Tubbing. You can download the template here.

Skip Counting Puzzles

The students worked in small groups to create skip counting puzzles. Each group was given a sentence strip, a beginning number, and a rule card for what number they would be skipping by. On their sentence strip, they wrote their skip counting pattern down. They then covered three of the numbers with Post-It Notes. Each group them presented their puzzle to the class for their friends to solve the missing numbers.

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!