Math Activities from Oriental Trading

I am so excited to share with you some FUN math activities for your primary students.

Over the summer I always love to browse online and find new and exciting activities to incorporate into my classroom.  This summer I hit the jackpot while browsing Oriental Trading's Education Page.

They have some amazing things that I can't wait to use in my classroom this year.

First of all, how cute is this graph pocket chart?  I am excited to use this as part of our morning routine and morning meeting.  My students will come in the classroom and before heading to their seat, they will mark their answer to our "Question of the Day."  Then at our morning meeting, we will review the data from chart.  I love using graphs daily because it really helps my students understanding comparing.

Another product I fell in love with were these foam number math dice with numerals on them.  We will play lots of math games with these dice.

Right now I am teaching "Kindergarten Jumpstart" for two hours a day.  School will start fully next week.  Today at jumpstart, we used the dice for number recognition and counting.  The students rolled the dice and then had to count to that number.

We will also use these dice with counters.  The students will roll the dice and have to show that many counters.  Everything is more fun dice!

My last goodie I am sharing today are these awesome pocket dice that are completely customizable.  I am using them for tally marks here.  Instead of having numerals or dots, I used index cards and made tally marks for my students to practice.  They roll the dice and then write the numeral for the amount of tally marks they rolled.

I plan on using these dice ALL.  THE.  TIME.  I will be using them literacy centers, math centers, and science centers.  I love that I can easily switch out the picture on them without having to store tons of different kinds of dice.  It's a teacher's dream!

My students are going to LOVE all these fun math activities.  Oriental Trading has made shopping easy for teachers too.  I created a wishlist so I can keep track of all the items I still want/need.  I am able to share this with my family or even parents who are looking for a way to help purchase items for the classroom.  You need to hop on over there, check out all the great goodies and create your own classroom wishlist!

Looking for a deal at Oriental Trading?  Check out their coupon page for the latest sales!

*Disclaimer:  I was sent products of my choice in exchange for writing this post, but all opinions expressed are 100% my own!

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Loved That Lesson: Subtraction Fun!

Don't you just love when you think of an idea for a lesson totally a whim and then your students end up totally getting into it?  I do!  That is what happened this week.

Let me explain:  We have been learning about addition and subtraction for a little while, but my students really struggle with using a part, part, whole mat.  I needed a different way to teach it.  On my way to school one day this week, a thought popped into my head and when I got to school I quickly changed my plan for math that day and I am so glad that I did.

I created a SMARTboard notebook page with a part, part, whole organizer and then a subtraction problem at the bottom.  Then I added stars to be our manipulatives.

I pulled student number sticks and had students come up to represent first the whole with stars and then writing the number on the equation.

Then another student would come up and move some of the stars to the first part box and write their number on the equation.

Lastly, a final student moved the rest of the stars into the second part box and wrote our answer on the line.

My students love any chance they get to use the SMARTboard and this really helped them grasp the concept of the part, part, whole mat.  On Monday, they will do the same lesson, but this time with a partner and their own mat and manipulatives rather than whole group.  I know that it will be much easier this time for them as they quickly grasped the concept during our SMARTboard lesson.

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Number Sense Game {freebie included}

Last week was all about learning our numbers in math.  This week I wanted to focus on number sense....more specifically 1:1 correspondence and counting objects.

I decided that we needed some hands-on engaging activities to practice these concepts.  My kiddos were absolutely loving dice so I came up with a game for them to play using dice and teddy bear counters {although you could really use any object you wanted to}.

Students were paired up.  One student had a die and the other student had a bag of teddy bear counters.

Step 1:  Student A rolled the die.

Step 2:  Students count the dots on the die to know what number they will be working with.

Step 3:  Student B gets out that number of objects.

Step 4:  Student A counts the teddy bears to check Student B's work.

Step 5:  Student A praises or coaches Student B.  {We practiced a lot with this ahead of time.  What do we say when our partner gets the answer correct?  How can we coach our partner to get the correct answer?}

Step 6:  Student's switch jobs.  Now Student B will roll the dice.  Students will then go through all the steps again.

Once the students had played the game for a bit and I had a chance to go around to check on each group, I had my students complete a practice page so I could see what they could do independently.

On the practice page, I realized that my students did pretty well with counting, but struggled with writing the number to match the objects.  They could say the number, but writing it was a whole different struggle.  We will continue to work on that skill this week.

Tomorrow, we will do this activity again except we will be using some fall objects.....leaves!  When it is time to practice independently, my students will complete the worksheet below.  I am leaving it here as a freebie for all of you!  {Just click on the picture to download it!}

You will want to check back later this week because I have a fun surprise in the works.  I hit some personal milestones and I want to celebrate with YOU!

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Throwback Thursday

I am linking up with Hope from 2nd Grade Shenanigans for Throwback Thursday.  I am sharing a popular post about Math Apps I like to use in my classroom.

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I recently posted about some of the literacy apps I use in my kindergarten classroom.  If you are interested in reading that, please click {here}.  After that post, I had some people ask about the math apps that I use.  I am here to tell you all about it today!

The apps I am showing you today are all free.  Some have the option to purchase the full version, but for now I am just using the free version. 

Just as I do with my literacy centers, one of my math centers is the iPad center.  I choose which app the students are doing at that time, but on Fridays for Free Choice Centers the students have the opportunity to use any app on the iPad they wish. 

These are my two favorite math apps of the moment:

Animal Math

The three free activities included in this app are math activities with counting, sequencing & patterns, and addition to 5.

When students get on the app, this is what they will see:

They will choose which animal to “play”

Bessie (cow) – Counting to 10

Ralphie (cat) – Sequences & Patterns

Albert (zebra) – Addition to 5

For each game, the students will answer a series of questions.  If they choose a wrong answer then that answer will disappear and the student will choose another answer.  If they answer correctly (no matter if they have previously answered incorrectly), the app cheers for them.  I really like this because no matter the student’s ability, they can feel successful because the app is cheering for them. 

Here are a couple screenshots from the app:

(there is quite a variety of questions so I just included a small sample)

Counting to 10

Sequences & Patterns

Addition to 5

I have been using the addition to 5 section as that is what we are working on in math right now.  My students are seriously loving this app.  I think your students will enjoy it as well. 

Turbo Math

This app has a lot to choose from.  When the students get on the app, they will need to choose their name and then pick a lesson to do.  I like using this app to differentiate so I choose which "game" I want the students to play.  

You can choose from the following categories:  Counting I, Counting II, Number Sense, Addition, Subtraction, and Time, Money, & Geometry.  (The categories are on the left hand side)

Within each category there are many different skills.  Each skill has its own "game".  For example, in the addition category, there are 20 different skills starting with addition of 1 and ending with adding 3 single digit numbers - up to 10.  (Skills are on the right hand side)

As I stated earlier, we are starting addition so I had most of my students focus on that portion of the app.  Here is what the students will see:

They need to slide the number to the sea animals.  For this example, you slide the number 7 up to the seahorses.  

Here is an example from the number sense category:

Here is an example from the subtraction games:

Example from the geometry category:

I really feel that the Turbo Math is a great choice for differentiating with your class.  There are so many FREE activities that you can choose from and many different skills being covered.  My students LOVE this app and I am sure your students will too.

Do you have a favorite math app that your primary students use?  Tell me all about it in the comments!  I am always looking for new apps in my classroom.  :)

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Fun with Measurement

I can't believe how long it has been since I have last blogged.  I promise I have plenty of good reasons...grad school finals, soccer tournaments, oh and hubby had surgery.  (He is all good now..thank you all for the prayers and well wishes)

I had wanted to share with you all a couple weeks ago about some easy and FUN measurement activities I did with my class.

The first activity we did was comparing objects by height.  My students were paired up with a partner.  Each partner found ANY object in the classroom.  (any object except the ones on Mrs. Pauley's desk ;)  Then they went back to their "meeting spot" and compared their objects.

I would ask for the student with the shortest object to raise their hand, then same with the tallest object.  It was a great introductory activity for comparing.  My students LOVED it!  The best part about it....NO PREP!!

The other fun activity we did was with measuring our own height.  Once again, the students worked with a partner.  Partner A held a piece of string at the top of their head while Partner B pulled the string to the floor and then cut it.  Then they switched.

As you can see, they took their job very seriously.  I loved watching them get so excited about MATH!

Once we were finished, all the students lined in order from shortest to tallest.  If there was any confusion about where someone should stand we just held up their string.  The only prep for this one was to grab some yarn/string from the art closet.

Isn't it funny how students seem to love those easy or no prep activities just as much if not more than those lessons we pour and pour time and prep into?

How do you teach measurement in your classroom?  I would love to hear!  Please tell me in the comments below.  :)

Now I am off to get a good night's sleep.  Tomorrow is our school carnival which means a very long day, but I love it so I can't complain!

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Fun and Easy Math Game

Don't you love when you have an activity for your class that creates independence, reviews a concept, and there is NO prep?  Well I know I do!  I am a busy mom so I like it when I find something to do in my classroom that requires little or no prep.

We have been working very hard on learning addition and subtraction.  I wanted to give my students some time to practice these concepts independently (well almost independently...they were working in pairs).

For this, I used a structure called Rally Coach.  The students worked with a partner.  The only materials they needed where whiteboards, markers, and some math manipulatives (we used linking cubes).

One student (the coach) wrote an addition or subtraction problem on the board (2 + 3 =).

The other student would use their linking cubes to find the answer while counting out loud so the coach could help if needed.

Then they would write the correct answer on the board.

I make both the students read the entire number sentence out loud when they are finished.  (2 + 3 = 5)

After that, the partners will switch roles.

Another great thing about this activity is that it can be as short or as long as you would like.  You could have your students only addition problems or only subtraction problems, or even a combination of both.

Do you have a math review activity that you love to do with your class?  I would love to hear all about it!

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Fun Math App

I have previously posted about some literacy and math apps that I like to use in my classroom.  You can read about that {here} and {here}.

Today I wanted to tell you about a new math app I came across called Champs of Numeria.

It is like a tic tac toe, but in order to place your piece you have to answer a math problem.  There is a range of abilities in the game anywhere from beginner to advanced.

You can have up to four players at a time.  Sometimes I am not able to have enough iPads for all the students to use individually so this is a great app for the students to use during those times.

When the students start the game, they get to choose their character.  You can see some of the choices in the picture above.  My students love all the fun choices of characters.

Once the characters are chosen, the students get to play the game.

You can see in the picture above that there are three math problems to choose from.  The student chooses a problem and finds the answer on the board.  You hold down that number until it changes.  Then the next player will take their turn.  Each time it is a new player's turn, that character is shown.  I love this because then my students don't argue about whose turn it is.

The students are trying to get four of their numbers in a row.  Not only do the students need math skills to play this game, but they also need strategy.  It is really interesting to watch my students play the game and see what strategy they use to play the game.  Are they just worrying about their four in a row or are they trying to stop their opponent?

I have to tell you that when my students play this game they are so engaged.  They help each other with the math problems.

I would not recommend this app for the beginning of kindergarten, but second semester is a great time for this game.  I waited until after our addition unit before I introduced this game.  We worked for a long time on addition so I thought this would be perfect for independent practice.  I know that some of the other grade level teachers in my building have let their students try it out with harder problems like multiplication or subtraction.

Are you interested in getting this game for yourself?

Just head to the app store and look for Champs of Numeria.  It is only $0.99.  You won't regret your purchase.

Have you tried out this app?  I would love to hear your thoughts about it as well!  :)

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Math Apps in the Classroom

I recently posted about some of the literacy apps I use in my kindergarten classroom.  If you are interested in reading that, please click {here}.  After that post, I had some people ask about the math apps that I use.  I am here to tell you all about it today!

The apps I am showing you today are all free.  Some have the option to purchase the full version, but for now I am just using the free version. 

Just as I do with my literacy centers, one of my math centers is the iPad center.  I choose which app the students are doing at that time, but on Fridays for Free Choice Centers the students have the opportunity to use any app on the iPad they wish. 

These are my two favorite math apps of the moment:

Animal Math

The three free activities included in this app are math activities with counting, sequencing & patterns, and addition to 5.

When students get on the app, this is what they will see:

They will choose which animal to “play”

Bessie (cow) – Counting to 10

Ralphie (cat) – Sequences & Patterns

Albert (zebra) – Addition to 5

For each game, the students will answer a series of questions.  If they choose a wrong answer then that answer will disappear and the student will choose another answer.  If they answer correctly (no matter if they have previously answered incorrectly), the app cheers for them.  I really like this because no matter the student’s ability, they can feel successful because the app is cheering for them. 

Here are a couple screenshots from the app:

(there is quite a variety of questions so I just included a small sample)

Counting to 10

Sequences & Patterns

Addition to 5

I have been using the addition to 5 section as that is what we are working on in math right now.  My students are seriously loving this app.  I think your students will enjoy it as well. 

Turbo Math

This app has a lot to choose from.  When the students get on the app, they will need to choose their name and then pick a lesson to do.  I like using this app to differentiate so I choose which "game" I want the students to play.  

You can choose from the following categories:  Counting I, Counting II, Number Sense, Addition, Subtraction, and Time, Money, & Geometry.  (The categories are on the left hand side)

Within each category there are many different skills.  Each skill has its own "game".  For example, in the addition category, there are 20 different skills starting with addition of 1 and ending with adding 3 single digit numbers - up to 10.  (Skills are on the right hand side)

As I stated earlier, we are starting addition so I had most of my students focus on that portion of the app.  Here is what the students will see:

They need to slide the number to the sea animals.  For this example, you slide the number 7 up to the seahorses.  

Here is an example from the number sense category:

Here is an example from the subtraction games:

Example from the geometry category:

I really feel that the Turbo Math is a great choice for differentiating with your class.  There are so many FREE activities that you can choose from and many different skills being covered.  My students LOVE this app and I am sure your students will too.

Do you have a favorite math app that your primary students use?  Tell me all about it in the comments!  I am always looking for new apps in my classroom.  :)

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