Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Thrifty Thursday-Counting Games, Number Bonds, and Tens Frames

Going to the Dollar Store is always an adventure. But, when you go with a friend.... Kathleen and I recently headed to the dollar store and found some great things to teach math. Here are some of our favorites.
Slide1
Be sure to check out the paper good section. These monkey plates are perfect for counting games. Instead of writing the numerals on the plates, I give the kids a set of number cards to place on the plates. This way I can also use the plates for addition and subtraction!
Slide2
 These cute monsters were party invitations for a monster birthday party. I just cut off the backs of the cards, added some wiggly eyes and I am ready to go! Another easy, peasy counting game. 
Slide3
These cupcakes were also birthday invites. That means that I got 8 game boards for $1! You couldn't buy the ink for $1! Again, I just cut the fronts off of the cards and added a package of birthday candles.
Slide5
These divided plates are from the baby section in the dollar store. Here's what we did.
  • Start with all of the buttons in the large section. Say, I have 7 buttons (or whatever number you are working on.)
  • Divide the buttons between the two smaller sections. Say, I have 3 buttons, I have four buttons.
  • Move all of the buttons back to the large section. Say, I have 7 buttons.
It is important to return them to the starting place. We want kids to see that just be dividing the buttons, by spreading them out, we do not get more buttons.  According to Piaget, conservation of number doesn't happen until developmental age 7. This mean that we need to provide the children with many meaningful, concrete experiences!
Slide6
Love pinwheels. We use them for everything! Here's how we play this How Many to Make 10 game.
  • I wrote the numerals on each of the blades.
  • Spin the pinwheel.
  • While it is spinning, grab one of the blades.
  • Using counters, the children count that many objects onto a tens frame.
  • Ask, How many more do you need to make 10.
If we do not allow children to use manipulatives, we are expecting them to solve this problem at the abstract level. We want to give children many opportunity to solve problems at the conceptual level!
Slide8
I love placemats. How excited when I saw this idea on another blog!

18 comments:

  1. Kim, Where did you find the divided plates? I do part-part-whole with paper ones and have looked everywhere for solid colored ones.

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  2. Can "cuteness" get any cuter? The best thing is the students will love using these products to learn instead of just paper and pencil. How creative you are! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  3. I love all your ideas, but the cupcake with candles is my favorite!
    Jennifer
    kindertrips

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  4. Where do you think Kathy? You know me...The Dollar Tree!

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  5. I always love your cute ideas!! Thanks for sharing them! :)
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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  6. Kim Where did you find the cards and monkey plates and banana candy.
    THis is all too cute. Is it all from the Dollar Tree ?

    Antoinette Arezone
    arezone@sbcglobal.net

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  7. Thrifty Thursday posts are quickly becoming my favorite! You know all teachers are obsessed with a bargain! You are the BOMB! :) Thanks for sharing your creative ideas!
    Erin
    Eberhart’s Explorers

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  8. I'm in love with this post!!
    Blessings,

    Jessica Stanford
    Mrs. Stanford's Class
    I need your help! Come check out my last post ❤

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  9. I love the tens frame placemats! How smart!!
    ~Jen
    Jen's Kinder Kids

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  10. Antoinette, The plates were from the Dollar Tree. I actually found the candy at Michael's when I went in there to get something else!

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  11. Thanks to your post, I picked up the monster cards, cupcake cards, and even some super cute pirate cards in the dollar section of Target today. I thought I might use gold coins as the counters for the pirate cards. Thanks for the inspiration! :) Love your stuff!
    ~Jessica

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  12. Kim,
    What sort of counting game will you have the kids do with the monster cards and cupcake cards? Will they roll dice or use number cards? I'm thinking about using them in a math station and it would be independent or with a partner. What are your thoughts?
    Thanks,
    Robin

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  13. Robin,
    I am going to use them to do my workjobs. I did several blogposts about them some time ago. Follow this link to the first one and then there are several more posts that follow.
    http://kindergals.blogspot.com/search?q=workjobs

    kim

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  14. Hi Kim,
    Thanks so much for answering my question! I went back to the Workjobs posts that I had missed and devoured each one! :) I am soooo excited to begin this process next year. Can you please tell me how you store everything and keep it organized? It sounds as if the children get to choose the work mat and counters that they want to use, but how much choice do you really let them have?
    Thanks so much. I wish I was heading to I Teach K in Vegas this year...got to go last year and had the best experience! Have a wonderful time!!
    Thanks so much...
    Robin
    Ilovetotchkinder@aol.com

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  15. Robin, I store each workjob in a baggie. Then I put the baggies in a basket. I usually have 6-8 workjobs out at a time. Then, I just rotate them in and out so that the kids don't get board with the same ones.

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  16. Kim, Where did you find the divided plates? I do part-part-whole with paper ones and have looked everywhere for solid colored ones.

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