1-2-3 Come Make Some Autumn Activities With Me!

Since the apple puzzles and flip-to-find puzzle-booklets, were such a huge hit, I decided to make them for each season and major theme.   I just finished 12 fall puzzles and have included leaves, spiders, owls, scarecrows, pumpkins and Halloween in the pictures. 

As with the apple puzzles, there is a set using numbers 1-10, as well as a skip count by 10's set.  I design every day and welcome suggestions, so if there's a fall theme I've missed, that you'd like a puzzle for, shoot me an e-mail: dianehen@teachwithme.com and I'll whip something together.  

The puzzles are a quick, easy and fun way to get your kiddo’s sequencing numbers. One of my Y5 report card standards, was to be able to put a puzzle together, so these are especially beneficial.

Print off the puzzles on construction paper, or card stock, laminate and trim.  Keep each puzzle in its own Ziplock Baggie. Pass them out to your students and set a timer.  See who can complete their puzzle the fastest.  When they are done with one, they may exchange theirs, with another student, who has a different puzzle.

You can use these each year, or skip the lamination and give each child a puzzle to take home. They can cut their own strips, mess them up and put them together.

Another thing you can do with the puzzles is make a puzzle flip book.  I used 3 puzzles for the booklet in the photo. Print the puzzles, and cut into strips.  Alternate the 3 different puzzles, so that when you make your flip book, the puzzle picture is now all jumbled. 

Glue just the number portion to the top of the 1-10 or count by 10’s puzzle template, gluing all of the #1 strips, onto the #1 square, the 2's onto the 2 square etc. Children decide on a puzzle to "flip and find" and then flip the puzzle strips up 'til they find a match. Click on the link to view/download the Fall Number Strip Puzzles.

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I try and blog every day, and post the newest FREEBIES that I've just designed, so I hope you can pop by tomorrow.  As always, I enjoy reading any comments you wish to share.

"One of the secrets of teaching, is to appear to have known all of your life, what you have just learned this afternoon." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Spy Some Apple Fractions With Me

Whenever I do a theme, I try to incorporate a variety of standards, that encompass all of my subjects.  Because fractions are sometimes difficult for younger kiddo's to understand, it's very important to SHOW these math concepts, and then to reinforce them, by having students follow up with several hands-on activities.  If you teach first grade, these fraction lessons will help with the Common Core State Standard: 1.G.3

There's nothing like food to grab a child's attention, so I suggest showing children a variety of apples, explaining that they are not only red, which many of them think, but yellow and green as well.

Display an uncut apple and explain that it is a WHOLE apple, then cut the apple down the middle and explain that now the apple is cut in half, and that 2 halves make a whole.  Show this by putting the two pieces back together. 

Ask children if any one knows how many pieces you'll have, if you cut the apple in quarters, then show them, by cutting the apple in half and then in half again.  Count the 4 pieces; review that one of the 4 pieces of an apple is called a quarter or 1 fourth.  Rubberband the 4 pieces together, to show that 4 pieces equal a whole apple.  Ask your students to choose a partner and explain what they have just learned to each other. 

While they are doing that, cut up the apples so that everyone can have a little bite of each kind.  Tell them to remember which colored apple was their favorite, so you can graph the results.  If you'd like a copy of this apple graph as well as all sorts of other apple graphing templates, (22 different apple graphs) click on the link.

Later, to reinforce and practice fractions, students put together an apple flip-up booklet.  To make one, run off the printable on red, yellow and green construction paper. 

Children choose a color and fold it in half horizontally.  This is another opportunity to review the word half with them, as well as what horizontal means.  Students cut the top "doors" so that they will "flip up."  Remind students to open their paper, so they are less likely to cut the bottom one at the same time they are slitting the top.

Children write their name on the front of their apple flip up booklet and glue apple pictures under the "doors" to match the fraction words on the top.  When everyone has completed their "flip up" review as a whole group. 

Included in this packet, is also a trace and write apple fraction booklet, so that the math vocabulary is reinforced in yet another way.  This is a great activity for your Daily 5 Word Work. There are matching apple fraction pocket or word wall word cards as well.  Click on the link to view/download the Apple Fraction Packet. 

If you feel students need more practice, or you'd like a quick review, follow up the next day by having them do the apple pie flip up or the apple pie trace and write booklet.  Click on the link to view/download the Apple Pie Fraction Packet.

At the end of the day, I review things that we've learned, using anchor charts.  After we go over the concepts, I let children help decide where we should hang the latest posters.  Click on the link to view/down load the Fraction Anchor Chart Posters.

Because my Y5's especially enjoyed "craftivities" (great for fine motor skill practice) I often set up a more "artsy" center, for students who completed their table top lesson. 

These independent centers were highly motivating for students to get down to business and complete their work, so they could make "something special."  To avoid hurt feelings, children who ran out of time, got to collect the "pieces" and materials for the project to take home.

The Fraction Apple Flip craftivity is perfect for these independent centers. Click on the link to view/download it. 

To make one, simply run off the templates on red, lime green and yellow construction paper.  Students cut and collate their apple so that the 1/4 is on the top, followed by the half and then the whole apple.  Staple the corner and review.  I've included a stem and leaf template to make the fraction sections look like an apple.  Pre-cut these for students to glue to the top-back of their apple.

Finally, games are a terrific way to practice life skills, as well as reinforce standards, in an interesting and fun way.  This "Spin to Win" game, is called Apple Fraction Action. 

Students can play indepently, or in a group of 2 or 3. Whatever apple they land on, they mark an x under the matching fraction apple on their graph.  When the timer rings, students total up their columns and circle which apple they have spun the most. 

I've included a whole class graph as well, so you can review, by charting everyone's answers. Click on the link to view/download the Apple Fraction Action game.

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I blog and design every day; hope you can pop back tomorrow for the newest freebie(s).

"Treat a [student] as he is, and he will remain as he is.  Treat him as he can and should be, and he will become, as he can and should be." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

1-2-3 Come Review Shapes With Me!

I found that the more I immersed children in shapes and shape vocabulary, the quicker they grasped the standards.  I tried to give students a variety of activities to do, that would involve an assortment of standards, so that I was covering quite a bit, in  a short amount of time, with just one activity.

Glyphs and games were wonderful alternatives, that my Y5's really enjoyed.  I get quite a few requests for glyphs, and by the number of people who download and PIN them, they are obviously popular.  The Quilt Glyph is covered with 2D flat shapes.

Run off and pass out the glyph quilts. Students write their name in the center. The teacher reads the Quilt Glyph directions and has students color the shapes according to their answers. To add that "finishing touch" students can glue a photo on their favorite shape.

Pre-cut a variety of colors of construction paper.  Have students choose one and glue their quilt to it.  Arrange all of the pieces on a bulletin board to resemble a large classroom quilt.  Your caption can read: "We are all wonderfully unique, yet we go together perfectly!"  Click on the link to view/download the Back to School Quilt Glyph.

Another way to review shapes is via the "Quick Quilt" game. Run off the template.  Students take turns spinning the shape spinner. 

Whatever shape they land on, is the one that they trace and color on their quilt. Encourage students to identify the shape by saying its name. 

The 1st one who completes their quilt, or the one with the most shapes colored in when the timer rings, is the winner. 

The rest of the players complete their quilts too.  I've included a black and white spinner, as well as one in color, plus both options, with shape- word labels.  Students can color they shapes any color that they want (I encourage children to use lots of colors) or they can color the shape to match the one on the spinner.

Click on the link to view/download the Quick Quilt Shape Game.

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"If you can't make a mistake, you can't make anything." -Marva Collins

1-2-3 Come Make Some 10 Frames With Me

Thinking about numbers using frames of 10, can be a helpful and easy way for students to learn basic number facts. A 10 frame is a simple graphic tool that allows people to  “see” numbers. They will help your students with number sense, place value, patterns and relationships, as well as subitizing.

While researching 10 frames, I found a wonderful 10 frame game your students can play.  There's no reading involved, a voice tells you what to do. The four games that can be played with their applet, help to develop counting and addition skills. Children can independently play: How Many, Build, Fill and Add.  Click on the above link to hop on over.

I also took a look at YouTube to see if I could find some quick explanations.  There's a  Ten Frame 4-minute video that does a nice job. Click on the link to pop over. For a 1 minute 10-frame explanation click on that link.

Since I planned all of my teaching around various themes each month, I decided to make 10 Frames featuring the most popular ones I could think of.   Working on the same procedures can get a bit boring, but if you switch things up with different 10 frame templates, students will get excited to continue practicing skills.

There are a lot of ways to use these 10 frames.  They certainly enhance number sense.  They also help students subitize:recognize at a glance, domino and dice patterns without having to count the dots. 

Besides the obvious uses, I've also made a set of numbers, number words, and math symbols ( plus, minus, equals, greater and less than) so students can make equations and play a variety of other games. i.e.  Match the 10 frame to the number card, or number word, to play a Memory Match game, or play "I Have; Who Has?"  

To practice subitizing, use them as flashcards to see who can call out the correct number first. They are also nice in a math center, using manipulatives and dry erase markers to fill them in.  To make manipulatives to add to the 10 frames, simply run off extra pages of the 10-filled 10 frame and cut them into squares.  

I'm in the process of making some for each month, and started with September.  I just finished apple 10 frames, owl 10 frames and pirate 10 frames.  Click on the links to zip on over to download these freebies.  I also have pumpkins, leaves, scarecrows, frogs, stars, bats, spiders, dinosaurs and bees in the works, to round out fall, before I begin ones for winter.  If there is a theme that you'd like 10 frames for, shoot me an e-mail and I'll add it to my list, and let you know when I've completed it. diane@teachwithme.com

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"My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance, but understanding of illiteracy, because some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than some college professors." -Maya Angelou

1-2-3 Come Study Shapes With Me!

This 40-page packet will help you review Common Core Standards: K.G.1, K.G.2, RF.K.1a, RF.K.3c, L.K.2a, L.K.2b, L.1.2b, RF.1.1a, K.MD.3, 1.MD.4, 1.G.1
with quick, easy and fun ways to review 2D shapes.

The packet includes:

• Easy reader pig shape booklet using over 40 Dolch words. Nice for Daily 5 Word Work.
• Attributes worksheet
• Matching shapes to shape words worksheet
• Spatial direction worksheet
• Graphing extension
• Craftivity: Nose Shape Matching Game or center activity
• Craftivity: Piggy shape paddles. Use as a manipulative for assessing, or make several sets, pass them out to students so they can show you the correct shape when you ask for it.
• Craftivity: Color shape mobile
• 10 color word cards with 10 "color me" piggy cards.  Use to make Itty Bitty booklets or play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games.
• Shape word cards with matching piggy shape picture cards in color and in black and white. Use to make Itty Bitty booklets or play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games.
• Craftivity: Feed the Pig assessment game.  Use the above cards, pass them out to students and then have them feed the pig as you call for the various shapes or colors.
• A certificate of praise

Click on the link to view/download the Pig Shape Packet.

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" To teach is to learn twice over." -Joseph Joubert

Me and My 10 Frame

My 10 Frames have been one of the most downloaded items on the shopping cart.  (Over 100,000!)

I thought to spice things up, and keep your students interested, I’d design a mini set of 10-Frames they could manipulate, and make a set for each month (September through June.)

3 days, and 101 pages later, Monthly 10 Frames was born.

It will help you with Common Core State Standards:K.CC.2, K.CC.3, K.CC.4a, K.CC.4b, K.CC.4c, K.CC.5, k.CC.6 K.OA.1 K.OA.5

Your students will really enjoy the variety of hands-on activities they can do with this packet.

Now you can use a different-themed 10 frame each month. These can also be a fun way to individually or whole-group assess.

The packet includes:

• 10 different monthly 10-Frames in color. (September -June). Print & Laminate.
• I've also included 10 black & white monthly 10-frames, so you can run them off to give to your students.
• 20 different manipulative sheets with 80 pieces per page.  Print, laminate and cut out.  Store each set in a Snack Baggy.
  

• A blank set of 10-frames so you can design your own, or make 20-Frames for higher number math.
• Traceable numbers from 1-50 so students can make equations and then show their work with the manipulatives and 10-frames.
  

• A page of math symbols for the + sign, - sign, & = sign.
• A page of > < symbols.
  

• A "Trace & Write" skill sheet for numbers 1-50.  As a game have students choose a number and count from there to the end.
• Sort by 5's & 10's mats.
• Blank addition & subtraction mats for you to fill in with your own equations.
  

• 10 addition mats with equations for the fact families.
• 21 subtraction mats +
• 2 certificates of praise (1 for addition, 1 for subtraction.)

Partner students up and play math games. Use the manipulatives to make patterns.

Click on the link to view/download the 101-page Monthly 10 Frame packet.

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“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” -Martin Luther King

Math Games Are "Snow" Much Fun!

A fun way for students to practice addition and subtraction is with Dominic the Domino Snowman.

Students roll a pair of dice and then add and subtract.  Children write out the equations and complete the work on a separate sheet of paper.

To make this even more interesting, students use dominoes for Dominic's buttons, finding matching ones that correspond with the dice combinations they rolled. 

You can play with real dominoes, or run off my templates to make paper ones.

Run off, color and laminate a class set of the snowman templates and use dry erase markers, or have students color their own snowman and record their work on a separate sheet of paper.

Click on the link to view/download Dominic the Domino Snowman

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Do you have a math game you could share with us?  I'd enjoy hearing from you. diane@teachwithme.com or post a comment here.

"A college degree and a teaching certificate define a person as a teacher, but it takes hard work and dedication to be one." -Paul McClure