1-2-3 Come Do Some Coin Activities With Me
Today's blog features some of my favorite coin activities, which will help your students learn to identify the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar.
Use them for your coin studies, or plug them in with your Presidents' Day lessons.
In the Poster & Game Packet, I’ve included pocket chart cards, flashcards, strip puzzles, large posters showing both the front and back of the coin, plus “How Many?” posters, which show how many pennies make up each coin.
There are also cards to play Memory Match and “I Have; Who Has?” games, as well as several “I Spy a Coin!” whole-group game sheets, which can be used as an assessment too.
I've included smaller versions of the posters, plus a bookmark, that students can keep in their math journals to use as a reference tool, plus a certificate of praise for 4 as well as 6 coins, with two size options.
Another way to quickly and easily reinforce coins is with the "Coins On A Roll" Dice Game Bookmark packet.
You can explain the directions, or hang up the rebus poster.
Afterwards, they have a nice bookmark to keep in their math journals.
I truly believe that when children really take a look at the various coins, checking out similarities and differences, that they will latch on to information that helps them remember which coin is which.
A visually fun way to do that, at the same time getting in some comparison-contrast writing, is with a Venn diagram.
Children can work independently, with a partner or in small groups to analyze and evaluate each coin using the various Venn diagram worksheets.
For younger students, do this as a whole group activity, where they come up with the answers and you jot them on the worksheet.
The 45, "Fix The Sentence" cards, are also an interesting way to review coins, and practice reading, as the cards are packed with Dolch sight words.
They are a quick, easy and fun way to review all sorts of facts about US coins, which will help students differentiate, so that they can remember which coin is which.
At the same time students are practicing end punctuation and capitalization, along with a few math concepts.
There are a variety of sentences that need a period, exclamation point or question mark.
Proper nouns, as well as the first word, need to be capitalized as well. Have students use a dry erase marker to make corrections.
After you read and correct the sentences as a whole group, have children choose X number of mini cards to fix independently, by writing the sentences correctly.
Finally, I designed Lincoln's Log Cabin. It features a brand new, shiny penny to help reinforce the fact that Lincoln's face is on that coin.
Older students can practice skip counting by 5s or 10s (the logs are numbered), while PK kiddos use the logs that are numbered 1-10.
I’ve also included 4 worksheets, as well as 2 writing prompts, along with blank templates so you can mix math with literacy.
Assign a prompt, give students a choice, or have them make up their own, gluing their completed worksheet to the back of Lincoln’s log cabin.
For a nice hallway display, punch a hole at the top and suspend from the ceiling.
Today's FREEBIE is a set of "I Spy" a letter worksheets, featuring Abe Lincoln and uppercase letters, as well as George Washington and lowercase letters.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you found something useful here to help enhance your study of coins and Presidents.
"Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will." -Nelson Mandela
1-2-3 Come Do Some Presidents' Day Activities With Me
Because February is packed with so many special celebrations, I do President's Day throughout the week and tie Presidents in with our study of coins.
Recognizing a penny, nickel, dime and quarter are part of our report card standards, so I designed some quick, easy and fun ways to practice.
Here are four of my students' favorities.
The coin “Popsicle stick puppet paddles” are a simple way for me to review various facts about the coins, as well as whole-group assess.
Students need just two Popsicle sticks, as they glue the penny & nickel back-to-back, and the dime and quarter back-to-back.
Since size is one of the ways my kiddos differentiate the coins, I designed the coins on a background circle.
Children color, cut and glue to the top of two different colored Popsicle sticks. I’ve included small, medium, and large pattern choices.
They can simply write the names of the coins right on the sticks using a marker, or have them trace, trim and glue the labels.
Teacher reads clues from the poster. Kiddos hold up their coin “puppet paddle” when they know which coin is being described. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.
Number puzzles are a quick, easy and fun way for students to practice sequencing numbers from 1 to 10, counting backwards from 10 to 1, as well as skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s & 10s.
By featuring a penny, nickle, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar coin on the puzzles, they are also a way to reinforce differences, to help students identify and remember the various coins.
Print, laminate & trim and use as an independent math center. I've also included trace & write ones as well, so that students can color & cut up their own puzzle. There are 42 coin puzzle options in all.
Next up, is the "Money Matters Mobile". There’s nothing like a “hands on” craft to get my students excited about learning something new. This craftivity will help your kiddos learn to identify the fronts and backs of coins.
I’ve also included coin templates for the half dollar and dollar, and scanned in a real dollar bill, then adjusted it to use as a header for our mobile, giving our “dangler” a bit more color.
Finally, the "Flipping Over Coins" is another crafty option. I truly believe this visual helps students differentiate, helping them to remember which coins are which.
I not only wanted my kiddos to be able to identify the coins, but tell a little bit about them. In so doing, they have additional ways to remember each one.
I've included a variety of options for you to choose from, including a 4-coin flip up, as well as one with 5 coins.
Students color, cut and glue the coins to the front, then snip on the dashed lines to make a "flap" which they flip up to reveal the name, color and value of each coin, as well as which president appears on the coin.
Finally, they tally how much it's worth, as a fun way to get in a little more math practice.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a sweet "You are cent-sational" craft, which would be fun for students to make after they have learned to identify all of the coins.
To add some writing, have students write why they feel they are "cent-sational" on the back. To tie the craft into Presidents' Day, have them choose a President that they felt was awesome and write why they think he was the best.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. The wind is howling outside my office window, but the sun is shining in; so I might venture out in this 2 degree weather, or not . . . Wishing you a super-duper day.
"Believe you can and you're half-way there." - Teddy Roosevelt
1-2-3 Come Do Some Valentine Activities With Me
Yesterday's "Let's Do Something With Those Valentines!" Math & Literacy activities, were such a huge it, that I decided to make a few more worksheets where students use their valentines. These have to do with measuring.
Because my kiddos rip through their valentine cards and are done in about 5 minutes, when I really wanted that activity to last longer, I designed these quick, easy and fun worksheets to extend my sanity-time on party day.
There are 2 worksheets children complete using their valentine cards. They are independent activities, as well as one where they partner up.
Choose just one worksheet, or print both back-to-back.
Children will enjoy playing with their valentines longer, as they practice a variety of non-standard units of measurement, while you grab a few stress-free moments to relax before the next activity.
Another "print & go" activity is the Valentines For Sale emergent reader, which practices a variety of standards.
Children read the simple sentences filled with 37 Dolch sight words, trace and write the color, number and coin words, color the valentine hearts the appropriate colors, then cut and glue the matching coins to the boxes.
This quick, easy and fun activity is perfect for party day.
Today's featured FREEBIE is "Lovie". She's a fish made from heart shapes. This craft is a simple and fun way to show small-medium-large and explain symmetry.
Use it as a valentine craft for party day and give children some Fishy crackers to "o-fish-cially" wish them a happy Valentine's Day.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
February is so packed full of special celebrations and themes that my mind's on hyper-drive. Wishing you a happy-go-lucky day.
"If you can believe it, Hollywood wanted to change my birthdate. I was born after Valentine's Day, so they wanted to change it to February 14. A Latin lover should be born on Valentine's Day. I said no." - Cesar Romero
1-2-3 Come Do Some Valentine Party Day Activities With Me
Do your kiddos rip into their valentines and are done with that activity in about 5 minutes, when you were hoping to stretch that out a bit for more sanity-time on party day?
With that in mind, I designed some "Print & Go" easy-peasy valentine worksheets, that students complete using their valentine cards.
There are 4 worksheets to choose from (plus one also has a boy & girl option).
Pick what fits your needs, or do all 4 and simply print back-to-back for a 2-pager.
Your students will enjoy pouring over their valentine cards to complete the quick, easy & fun worksheets, which practice a variety of math & literacy skills, and you'll have some time to yourself to relax a bit before the next activity.
I've included colors, 2D shapes, counting, sorting, sight words, tally marks, greater & less than, graphing, plus a Venn diagram for comparison-contrast writing, and a place to glue their favorite valentine, then tell who it's from & explain why it's their favorite.
Today's FREEBIE is a paper chain craft. It's super simple to make the links look like hearts, and the perfect, "little something different" for pary day.
Younger kiddos can count links and show an AB-AB or ABC-ABC pattern, while older students can write spelling or sight words on the strips, or math equations from the board, then solve the equations on their links.
You can also use the hearts for other things, such as a bouquet for mom.
I've included an owl pencil topper in the packet as well. Just a little something you can whip together and leave on top of your kiddos' desk as an inexpensive party-day surprise. You can get a pack of 20, valentine pencils at The Dollar Store.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Today was short & sweet as I just got out of the hospital.
Sigh... some of my friends are zipping off to Florida or taking a cruise; me, I land in the hospital for a 2-day "staycation" because of breathing problems.
Feeling tons better and raring to design some more stuff!
Nothing like a little set-back to really make you appreciate life. Wishing you a healthy, rest of winter and beyond.
"They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything." -Bill Keane
1-2-3 Come Do Some More Valentine Activities With Me
I love Valentine's Day; it's one of my favorite parties at school too, so I'm constantly dreaming up new ideas to make the day special, while still learning standards. Today I'm featuring 3 of my newest creations.
“Valenteens” are goofy little heart people that feature a ten-frame.
I designed the craftivity to showcase teen numbers, which can be toughies for kiddos. However, because of the blank templates provided, you have the option to simply make a silly valentine, or one with numbers 1-12, for younger students.
Children can create a boy or girl "valenteen", by where they glue the bow.
The bows come blank, as well as printed with a teen equation.
There is a blank full-size heart pattern, so that children can draw their own silly face, as well as 10 hearts with a variety of faces for them to choose from.
I’ve also included a 1/2 heart pattern. Print and fold on the dashed line. Keeping the paper folded, students cut on the black line and then unfold their paper to reveal a large heart. My students are always amazed at this, adding to the fun of our lesson.
There are 4 options for the 10 frames: a blank set, a set with numbers, a set with hearts, and a set with numbers & hearts.
If you choose the blank set, children can make X’s & 0’s (hugs & kisses), use stickers, bingo daubers, or draw and color shapes to fill in the boxes. For that finishing touch, I’ve also included gloved hands and shoe templates.
You don’t have to have legs, but I think they add to the silliness of the “valenteens”, plus accordion-folding paper is a fun fine motor skill, that helps strengthen finger muscles.
I included links for the "My Funny Little Valentine" song, so you can play it while your kiddos work on their creations.
There’s also a poster of the refrain, as well as an “Our Funny Little Valenteens” poster to use in the center of your bulletin board display.
Next up is the "Hh is for Hearts" alphabet wheel. I'm currently in the process of making one for each letter, and introduce them when the theme is appropriate.
Dollar Deal Alphabet Wheels, are a quick, easy & fun way to practice letters, and build the vocabulary needed to give an example of a word, with that beginning sound.
They feature 6 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black & white, as well as full-color, so that you can use a colorful one for an independent center and use the black & white pattern for a whole-group or individual word work activity, where kiddos make their own.
Finally, The “100 Chart, Heart Art” is a very versatile activity, as I’ve differentiated the directions for PK to 2nd grade.
“Mystery Math” hidden pictures, are a quick, easy & fun way to practice recognizing some of those big numbers that kiddos often trip over, when learning how to write and count numbers.
Using a 100s chart so students are seeing numbers in proper sequence, helps them wrap their head around a variety of math patterns, and is especially helpful to visual learners.
I’ve included a 100s chart worksheet without directions, so you can do this as a whole-group, “Listening & following directions” activity. For younger kiddos, simply call out the numbers they need to color.
I feel even young children can gain number sense by doing this as a “monkey see-monkey do” activity.
I’ve also included a set of spatial directions for you to read to older students: “Find the number 66. Color that box and the box that is UNDER it.”
There’s also a worksheet that includes the numbers to color, if you want to use this as a homework assignment, table-top activity, independent center, or something for early finishers.
To practice double digit addition and subtraction, there's a worksheet where students have to solve problems to find out what numbers they are supposed to color.
Completed projects make a cute February bulletin board. Use the “We LOVE Mystery Math!” poster in the middle of your display.
The featured FREEBIE today is a set of valentine 10-frames. A nice "go along" to the Valenteen 10-frame craftivity mentioned above.
Besides the 10-frame cards, the packet also includes heart-themed, counting tiles, plus math symbols and number cards, so that you can make equations and play a variety of games.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a blessed day filled with lots of "warm fuzzy" moments.
"Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love." -William Shakespeare
