1-2-3 Come Skip Count With Me
Do you read the story “How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin” by Margaret McNamara?
If you haven’t heard of it, click the LINK to see it on YouTube.
It’s not only an interesting read aloud that your students will really enjoy, but it’s absolutely perfect for exploring estimation and skip counting by 2s, 5s & 10s.
In the story, this is done via a small, medium & large pumpkin experiment, that Mr. Tiffin’s students take part in.
Skip counting is a standard most of us have on our “To Do” list, but finding interesting activities for practice can be challenging.
With that in mind, I designed a variety of fun, pumpkin-themed, skip counting activities; which will keep your students happily engaged, while they practice skip counting by 2s, 5s & 10s.
I use the story “How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin” as an excellent introduction to skip counting, then transition to the activities.
There’s a nice variety of pumpkin-themed worksheets.
These are great as table top activities, for early finishers, a homework assignment or a sub tub.
I've included "trace & write" skip counting worksheets, as well as "What's Missing?", where students fill in the missing skip counted number. (These are simple & quick assessment tools too.)
My students love the "Skip Count While You Connect the Dots" and the Bingo-dot worksheets.
They enjoy visiting this center, which I set up on a wooden TV tray.
My kiddos use an orange & yellow bingo dauber (you can buy them at The Dollar Store) to make an AB-AB color pattern, as they skip count and dot each numbered circle.
They also enjoy the puzzles. I've included colorful ones, so you can print, laminate & trim.
I keep mine in our math center and use them every year in October.
There are also black & white puzzle patterns, so children can color and make their own.
Finally, there is also a variety of games that your students will enjoy, while they learn & practice the various skip counting standards.
On the craftier side, I’ve also included a pumpkin slider craft; if your students are like mine, they will absolutely love making one.
To save time, run the pattern off on orange construction paper, then have students add a bit of green crayon to the stem & vine.
They then cut out their pumpkin & insert the "slider" strip, with whatever set of skip counted numbers you want to work on.
If you want a bit of 3D pop, give kiddos a piece of green pipe cleaner to wrap around a pencil then poke into the stem and attach with a piece of Scotch tape.
I've also included an easy-peasy, square pattern, which is simpler for little ones to cut out.
There's also a variety of posters, including a "Look Who Can Skip Count By..." poster, which students get to sign, once they have mastered skip counting.
Trust me on this one, this is a "big deal" to my students, and helps build their self-esteem as well.
It takes less than a minute to count together as a class.
I cover the next number with the "Count with me" strip, then move it as children skip count aloud.
Hang a set in the hallway, outside the bathroom, so when you're lining up waiting for children, you can practice!
You can also give children a mini certificate of praise for their accomplishment. They come 4-on-a-page, in black & white as well as color.
As with the posters, there's a different one for skip counting by 2s, 5s & 10s.
There are two featured FREEBIES today. Both have a pumpkin theme.
The first is a sweet little "Welcome to our patch!" poster you can hang on your classroom door.
The other is a "Just For Fun" trace & color worksheet I designed after reading "Pete the Cat's 5 Little Pumpkins" story. Hope your kiddos enjoy it.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
It's really a gray, overcast day, so no Mr. Sunshine to energize me; however, it makes for a great time to check a few things off my too-long "To Do" list.
Wishing you a terrific day filled with lots of fall fun.
"Try to learn something about everythig and everything about something." -Thomas H. Huxley
