Show Me The Number! {Representing numerals to 10}

We work with numbers to 10 on a regular basis.  I like to expose my students to a variety of ways of representing each numeral - meaning that although many of them can count orally and find the numeral, I want them to understand that numbers can be shown in many ways!

We have our students sign in each morning in many different ways.  Here is an example of how you can use 10-frames - make small square pictures for each student and have him/her find their picture and place it on the 10-frame to "sign in".  
Note:  I have MANY MORE than 12 students (actually 29 in total - LOL)!  This was taken as an example.

We use dot plates on a regular basis as well.  These are simple to make.  All you need are paper plates and bingo dabbers (or markers).  Dot each plate to represent numerals 1-10.  I like to have the plates look similar to how numerals would look on a dot die for quick number recognition.

This game is a staple in our math centre.  It's called Domino Parking Lot and it is a free download from Mathwire.com.  You can download it here.  Just add dominoes!

Provocations, or invitations for learning, are activities set up that are meant to "provoke" children.  Math provocations are simple and easy to set up and I love how flexible the materials are so that the children can use them in many different ways!

Recently we added these math cards to the math centre.  Students could use them to represent numerals 1-10 in many different ways.

This student took nearly all afternoon concentrating so that she could explain her great thinking!


You can download these cards for FREE by clicking on the picture below.



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February: All About Friendship!

I love the month of February - the students are very eager to write cards for each other for Valentine's Day and it's the perfect opportunity to discuss what it means to be a friend!
We brainstorm all the nice things we can do for each other.

Last week we set up a post office in our classroom, filled with various cards, stamps, and envelopes (and a mailbox too!) to encourage the children to write messages to one another.

You can find everything you need to set up your Post Office{here}.


They even made their own "mailboxes" when the postal worker delivers the mail!
(yes, they are wine boxes, free from the liquor store!)

You can read all about how we set up our Post Office {here}.


We set up a lot of fun provocations this past week, perfect for Valentine's Day!


The students chose a "secret friend" and made that person a pattern bracelet.  Then wrote "To: and From:" on the envelope and mailed it!  We can't wait to open our packages on Valentine's Day!



We have been working a lot on identifying numbers without having to count them (subitizing) and these games were lots of fun to play!

Roll the die, count the "mail", record on graph.
We often set up co-operative games so that Year 2 students can show Year 1 students how to play.
We played this with a partner or in a small group - roll the die and cover up the numeral on your playing mat.
Flip over a 5-frame card and read it.  Colour in the correct box.
The book, The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins, is one of my favourite books to read - it discusses fair shares.  How many ways can you share the cookies?  Is it fair?  We had a lot of great discussions as we tried to share the "cookies" with our friends.


Then in small groups we worked with numbers to 10, looking at if we could share them (even numbers) or could not share them (odd numbers).


M.M.:  Every time you could share the cookies it reminds me when we count by 2!


We discussed what we could do with the extra cookie when we could not share fairly.

S.F.:  We could cut it in half so we both get part of it.

C.F.:  No one gets it so it's fair.

C.C.:  We could throw it away!

You can find the above math games (and lots more!) in my I Heart You!  A Friendship Unit on TpT.

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