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.

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!

 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. 

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.

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!

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!

I love placemats. How excited when I saw this idea on another blog!