Concept Confessions: Numbers, Numbers Everywhere!

To start the school year, my students in 5th grade are working on some number sense / place value review. I quickly created some number cards for some basic activities - here they are on google docs.
Number Cards 3-5 digit

I am planning to use these cards for reading multi-digit numbers. The cards are color-coded:
pink - up to the hundreds (3-digit)
green - up to thousands (4-digit)
blue - up the ten thousands (5-digit)

Number Cards - Ordering

I am planning to use these cards for ordering numbers. They are color-coded as well with some sets skipping by ones and others skipping by random intervals. After students put the number cards in order from least to greatest OR greatest to least, have the student read the numbers aloud.

You could use these cards for many other "number sense" activities:
flash a card and ask for the number before
flash a card and ask for the number after
compare two cards - which is greater or less
show a card and ask how close to 100 or 1,000
flash a card and ask for the digit in a specific place value
show two cards and ask which is closer to 0, 100 or 1,000
show two cards and ask how far away they are from one another

Primary Math Linky Party

I am linking up with Linda at Primary Inspiration . . .

I posted about my Number Sense packet a few days ago . . . I couldn't resist linking this up. These basic number sense activities are perfect for primary grades. I made them for my older students who have gaps and deficits - but they would be useful for Pre-K and up.

Check out all the ideas and products that are part of this linky!

Concept Confession - Math Madness

I have been working on math activities for my classroom. The issue comes in when the WIDE range of students requires me to make different things. So, on one hand, I was making some fraction activities and on the other hand I was making number sense activities.

                                                            Number Sense Activities


I have had the pleasure of have some extensive training on the importance of number sense. These skills provide a solid foundation for all other mathematical skills. If there are gaps or deficits in basic number sense, then math thinking will not develop naturally and students will rely on steps and procedures as opposed to understanding the concepts. With this being said, I have some students who have splinter skills with numbers . . . I also have students who are just learning their numbers. For both, I have been using these activities from my packet of Number Sense Activities:


These are number cards that could be used for an endless list of activities!

Subitize! This was something I learned a great deal about and had never intentionally taught. I used dots from dice and cards to get quick recognition, but I didn't realize the power it had for visualizing numbers.

Five Frames - basic number sense starts with 5 - this gives a framework for visualizing five and then constructing and de-constructing five.

A fun way to get students to count and make sure they are understanding the value of numbers. Try it as a brain break!

Building numbers is a great way to work on facts. Using a ten frame and two colored chips, this activity requires students to visualize the adding and what that looks like. The more they can visualize these concepts the more it becomes their OWN knowledge and takes on a personal level of understanding.

I love this one. You could play this with dice and cups, but then it would be a great center! It pushes students past using dots to COUNT the answer for both numbers. A great way to lead students to count on, but not tell them to do it.

 . . . these are some of the activities from the Number Sense Packet. My students have really enjoyed using the the materials.

Fractions

The fraction packet is new to my TpT store. It is designed for students in 3rd and 4th grade but who require some modifications to the curriculum. With that in mind, I think it would work for students in 1st-5th, whether beginning fraction work or needing some review.

Here is the cover . . . Super Heroes are big right now for my students. They have enjoyed having a character to associate with their fraction work . . . CAPTAIN FRACTION!

These two are great for reading fractions, fraction identification, and fraction matching. For kids who need challenged, I was able to use these cards to sort equivalent fractions and play Go Fish for equivalent fractions.

These task cards were the hardest for my students . . . trying to color the fraction of the group. This offered LOTS of extra practice. I could easily get manipulatives for them to physically sort and then color with a dry erase marker on these laminated cards.

The comparing cards were a great way to see if kids needed to have a visual or if they were starting to understand the relationship of the denominator and the numerator. I always allow my students to draw or use materials to figure out answers, and this one had a range of student supports.

Finally, I made a Fraction Battle Game - just like war. We mixed it up, having the larger fraction win sometime and the smaller fraction win other times. There are fraction number cards as well. It was great when the kids got equivalent fractions and had to battle for a group of cards! Competitive learning at its best!



Concept Confessions

Week One

I want to start a post each weekend . . . where I confess the concepts I have been working on with everyone. Feel free to confess your concepts! We can all gain from everyone's' productive weekends – or we can gain from other people being productive! 

Okay, this weekend was all about GRAPHING. Many of my students need to work on interpreting graphs and have IEP goals linked to such skills. SO, I was on the prowl for graphing activities. I found some I really like, take a look:


             A graphing lesson by Ashlyn Ellsworth     
St. Patrick's Day graphing by Ashley Hughes


            Create-A-Graph, by Amanda Richardson


I will use these activities with my kids, as a fun introduction or quick review. I wanted to go into some depth about parts of graphs/charts (labels, titles, types, etc,). I made a SmartBoard lesson with some links to help with that. 

I also created a quick, generic form to practice some basic questions that go with interpreting graphs/charts. I attached that to the SmartBoard lesson, along with some pictures of graphs/charts. Use these resources to model, teach or allow independent practice. 

My concept confession is "Gotta Graph It!" 

       






                           

Fall . . . and Math Games

Fall is here. Today we had class parties and I am more tired after those than a full day of teaching!

I have been working on math activities and games to help build number sense. Many of my students are able to complete math operations with hundreds charts, fingers or taught strategies, but they do not UNDERSTAND numbers. I have been going "back to the basics" to build these concepts and games always help!
Here is a game that works on adding/subtracting 10s and 100s. I start by teaching the 10-shortcut on the hundreds chart and build from there.
Check out the game on my TpT store: Build an Equation.                                 

Measuring with Metric

In fourth grade, the measurement instruction is focused on the metric system. I found some great activities to use but not much that put everything together. So, I made an activity that includes units of length, weight/mass and capacity (meters, liters and grams). I also developed an assessment tool that matched many of the activities we did in class.
I am an Interventionist, so these were designed with my students in mind - they would be great for more hands-on learners, younger classrooms or students who benefit from modifications.
These are some of the puzzles pieces for Measurement Match.
Check out the Measurement Assessment that I created to end the unit.

Measuring in FALL

Measuring has been our math focus this week. Because the leaves are changing, I thought I would bring some Fall into our lesson. Collect some leaves and try this activity - download the free App LeafSnap so that students can identify the types of leave sthey are working with!
Measuring with Leaves on TpT