Tales of Frogs and Cupcakes: February 2015

Two blog posts in the same month--WHOA! What is going on?! ;)

So one main thing we have been learning about in my classroom lately has been MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

We have been looking at money for a few weeks now, studying the features of each coin and its value:

Here is a money chart I made with a previous class:

We have also done many activities to make equivalent sets of coins:

I have some kids that can count coin collections by 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s--and then I have kids who cannot point out a nickel. With such a wide range of knowledge, I have to make sure that I have good, quality activities that meet the needs of all levels of my learners. Since I teach math in small groups, I am able to easily differentiate for the different levels.

In the Math with Technology station, my students have been playing these games:

Here are our FAVORITE money videos to watch:

And today I created this fun little station activity to use next week!!

In SWAP!, students will match cards that have the same value. There are 5 sets of cards that include 3 levels of play.

*BONUS* Each set of cards also includes a QR code version!

Check out SWAP! here:

And since St. Patty's Day is coming up, now is a good time to check out this fun, little activity:

It is part of this pack, which includes MORE money activities:

Adios! :)

Yes, yes, yes, it has been a while since my last blog post. I'd like to not have so much time in between them but life kind of gets in the way of that!! :)

I am here today to bring you a number sense game that I use as a daily warm-up, but can also be used as a whole group, small group or math center/station activity.

Building number sense is something that all grade levels ~~should~~ ~~must~~ ~~have to, have to~~ can do. ;) It is especially important for K-2 to build number sense in order to lay the foundation for higher level math. (Not to mention that number sense is needed to do everyday activities such as cooking, games and playing sports!)

One tool you can use to help build number sense is the 100 chart:

The activity I want to share is called "Arrow Arithmetic" in It Makes Sense! Using the Hundreds Chart to Build Number Sense (click below to view the book).

In this activity, students will receive a clue such as:

and will use the 100 chart to figure out the answer. So how do they figure out the missing number??? They have to use the arrows and some number sense!

Each arrow represents a direction you can go on the 100 chart: left (-1), right (+1), down (+10) and up (-10). Students can use a 100 chart to determine that the missing number is 45. Eventually, students will be able to determine the answer using mental math and even be able to solve problems that include diagonal arrows. And what does that eventually lead to?? Being able to add and subtract two-digit numbers using mental math!

Pretty cool, huh?!

I urge you to give this activity a try. My students LOVE it and beg to play it every day (which lately, we have been doing)! And they are REALLY good at it. :)

I made a little activity pack to go with the Arrow Game activity from the book: