Hands-On Learning with Simple Equations

When it comes to math started with concrete and going to abstract allows your learners to best understand the skill.  Providing guided math lessons and centers that create hands-on learning experiences for your students will allow them to model the concrete skills your are teaching, as well as, joining the concrete with the abstract when it is time to do so.

I begin teaching addition and subtraction with NO equations.  This allows my learners to focus solely on the concrete skill of adding and subtracting.  Just like writing, you teach your learners the sounds of the alphabet before you expect them to create a word on paper.  The same goes for math skills, allow your learners to acquire the skill hands-on before you expect them to create or write an equation.

When my students are able to model addition and subtraction through word problems or real life situations, then the equations or abstract come in.  This game is my go-to concrete to abstract activity for addition and subtraction...paper plate, maniupulatives and dice!  

I prepared the activity by getting materials for the season, which was fall.  I picked up this plate and dice from Target and the leaves from Michaels.  For the activity, we simply roll the dice and count out the correct number of manipulatives.  Now, we are able to put the abstract in action by writing the equation they just created.  I begin by modeling this and then they are able to do the same. 

One of the best things about this activity is that it can be used for both addition and subtraction.  Just flip the plate upside down and reverse the equation by rolling one dice and subtracting.  This is a great way to introduce fact families and how addition and subtraction work together.  

Let's Make Learning 'Egg'-citing!

Hi Everyone!

It's Jenn from Crayons & Cuties In Kindergarten!

Grab those plastic eggs and...

Head over to my blog to find
  10 ways to use plastic eggs 
for ELA, Math and Science!

I always do an Oviparous Animals unit in my kindergarten classroom each spring.

Because I am a 'theme nerd' and have a need (sickness maybe?!) to make everything connect, I have my ELA and Math centers include eggs, as well!

On my blog you will find 10 simple, relatively no-(major) prep ways to incorporate plastic eggs into your centers!

They range in grade level from PreK-2 depending on how you offer support and/or enrichment!

You will find detailed pictures and FREEBIES on the post like this fun free editable pack...

and how I have used eggs to help with composing and decomposing...

Decomposing is a difficult skill for many kinders to understand, but I found using the double sided counters really helped them!

You can read more about how I had my kinders use eggs and counters on THIS POST.

(You can even find free recording sheets to download!)

as well as making groups of 10...

Recruit parents and fellow teachers to save egg cartons for you (and maybe even donate some plastic eggs since this activity requires quite a few)!

The idea of making an egg carton into a 'ten frame' came from a post back in January 2014 by Laura at Differentiation Station Creations!  

And it works PERFECT for this activity of using eggs to make groups of 10!

You can read all about how I used it in my kindergarten class, and download the free spinner and recording sheets on THIS POST!

The post will also talk all about how I introduce oviparous animals to my kids and has links to oviparous resources and a free lifecycle download!

I hope you and your students have an 'egg'-citing time learning math, words, letters and more using plastic eggs!

Until next post,

One Game...Many Uses!

WOW!  February surely went fast!  I can't believe it is my time to post again!

It's Jenn Drake from Crayons & Cuties In Kindergarten and today I am bringing you a 'tried and true' game I have played in my kindergarten classroom for years!

I have modified it over the years, but think it is finally 'at its best' and ready to share!

It is called 'Blast Off' and it can be differentiated in so many ways that it can be used with PreK-2 students!

I use it primarily to practice reading, writing and using sight words, but I am going to show you how it can be used for many ELA and Math skills!

So what is 'Blast Off' and how have I used in in my kindergarten class?

It is an independent 'game' that can be used as a 'game center,' 'word work center,' 'word study center,' 'ABC center' or more!

It basically consists of this simple 'recording sheet'

and a spinner!

That's it!!!

And it can become a weekly center activity that is virtually no prep on your part!

Students spin, read and find it on the recording sheet and then write!

 They continue to spin, read/find and write until one of the words gets to the top- the rocket- and 'blasts off!'

That word is then the 'winning' word!

Once they have a winning word, I have my students then use the word in a sentence on the back and draw a picture to match the sentence!

 It is SO easy to get it ready for the next week!

I bought transparent spinners that I taped onto the top of CD/DVD cases to make my spinner 'cases' that are re-useable!  I did not 'invent' this idea...I saw it on A Differentiated Kindergarten's blog post!  I purchased my spinners from Learning Resources, but I hear they are now discontinued!  AHHH!  I did find a set on Amazon.  If they are no longer available when you go searching, you can also purchase just the spinner and hot glue it to the top of the case!  Phew!

I print my spinner forms on cardstock and laminate.  I then use a dry erase marker to write the words for the week.  Slip it in the case and it's ready to go!   I don't have to worry about the words 'wiping away' as they spin because they are tucked in the case!  When the new week rolls around, I slip the spinner out, rub the words away (I use donated children's socks as erasers in my classroom!) write in the new words, slip it back in and we are ready for the new week!  SO much less prep than making new spinners each week, right?!!!

So what are some other ways to use the 'Blast Off' center?

Here are just a few ideas!!

And for the visual learners, here are a few pictures!!

Here is an idea for the beginning of the year, review/practice and/or PreK!

Want a way to practice the sound/symbol relationship?!  Add pictures to the spinners and recording sheets (read below for a how-to on this too!!)

Differentiate between 2, 3 or 4 different word families with the different recording sheets!

 My kinders always confuse the /e/ and /i/ sounds- do yours?!  This would be a great way to practice, review and 'drill' in a fun, non-threatening manner!

And for more of a challenge, use it for fact families, addition, subtraction and more!

There are SO many other ways to use them- be creative!!

So I mentioned I would show you how to digitally customize your spinners/recording sheets!

Here's how!

You can choose to print and write or cut/paste if you choose to go that route!

I want your students to enjoy practicing sight words and more as much as mine do, so this pack of 'Blast Off' recording sheets and spinners is FREE in my TpT store!

Just click the cover and download!

You will find spinners and recording sheets for sorting 2, 3 and 4 items as well as all the ideas/suggestions for use, how to set up the spinners and links to the spinner 'parts' and pictures of it in use!

As always, feedback for free downloads is always appreciated!

And....today is also '$2 'Two'-sday!'

Find my Spring Read the Room for CVC/CVCe Words for only $2 ($6.25 value)!

You can find more $2 Today Only deals by clicking here!

While you are on the Teachers Pay Teachers site, be sure to fill up your wishlist...

TOMORROW, February 25th, TPT is having a one day site-wide sale!

Sellers will discount their stores up to 20% and TPT will give you an additional 10% off with the promo code HEROES!

It is a great way to stock up on all the goodies you will need to 'Ring In Spring!' 

(We surely need that this year after the winter we've had so far here on Long Island!!)

The Primary Pack Gals Have Come Up With Some 'Must-Haves' For Your Wish-List!

Be Sure to Check Out These Goodies!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Shopping!

Until next post,

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth, & Nothing But The Tooth

Need some ideas that will get your kids focused on their teeth and dental health? Differentiation Station Creations has you covered!

Dental health is one of my favorite themes!  Kids love learning about and exploring teeth.  The stranger and grosser, the better.  I have a bunch of strange, but exciting dental health activities.

One of my favorite activities was creating a model of a mouth and using that model to practice flossing.  It was extremely easy to create and is sure to grab the attention of all your young learners.  We created our model out of large marshmallows, pink construction paper, and 2 red plates.

Hot glue large marshmallows to a red plate and let them go stale.  The longer you let them sit, the harder the "teeth" will get.  We let ours sit out for a week and the teeth were pretty hard.  This gives you a great base to use to practice flossing.

Place play dough between the teeth.  This will simulate plaque and/or food.  Kids can use pipe cleaners or yarn to clean between the teeth.  I found that yarn worked a lot more like floss, but the pipe cleaners made it much easier to get out the "plaque".

Don't forget to break out toothbrushes after flossing!  Kids can actually see the residue from the play dough plaque and can polish their pearly whites!

Don't forget the tongue!

Head over to my blog to see more teaching ideas to explore teeth!

Reindeer Romp: DIY and Freebie!

It's Laura, back from Differentiation Station Creations!  If you haven't noticed, I love to create learning activities from recyclables/trash.  I'm back with a festive holiday manipulative made from a shoe box and some finger puppets.  I'm bringing you DIY directions, so you can make your own holiday house for tons of holiday learning!

I got the original idea for this creation from my son.  We received some reindeer finger puppets in the mail from my mom.  He's very familiar with how I transform finger puppets into Velcro manipulatives.  See examples here and here.  He wanted to create a song that would use reindeer on top of a house.  You can get a FREE copy of the song that we wrote in this blog post! 

With a vision, we got right to work!

 

Materials:

- Shoe box

- Two small rectangles of cardboard 3"X 5"

- Foam, construction paper, or felt

- Hot glue gun and glue

- Velcro

-Some type of reindeer (finger puppets, pictures, small toys)
-Green paper plate
-Cotton balls

 

We got out one of the shoe boxes I just happened to have under my bed.  I made 3 different versions of this house.  Two with boxes that have hinged tops and one with a fully detached top.  The hinged top was my favorite, by far.  It was more durable and less likely to lose its' roof :)

Cover the bottom part of your shoe box with foam/construction paper/or felt. 

I chose green foam as the base.  I measured and cut the foam to cover the entire bottom of the shoe box.  (Foam makes the box even more durable).  Hot glue all of the foam to the box.

I used foam for the base, all the windows, and the door.

To make windows: Cut out 2 red squares and 2 slightly larger white squares.  Cut or draw a cross through the red square.

To make a door: Cut out a red rectangle and a small white circle for the door knob.

I originally covered the entire roof with black felt, but then quickly realized that I had to cover it with white "snow". 

You will only need to cover the bottom lip of the box top with black felt or foam.  Hot glue the black felt/foam/or construction paper to the box.

Cut out a wavy design in white to show snow falling from the roof.  I cut the waves freehand, but you could easily draw and then cut.  Hot glue the white foam to all edges of the box top.

Trace and cut a piece of white foam or felt to fit the top of your box.  This will be the snow on your roof top.  Be sure to liberally hot glue the foam to the roof.

To create your chimney, get your two pieces of cardboard.  Mine were 3" X 5".  I folded them in half and then folded a small lip at each end of the rectangle.  This makes it very easy to hot glue them together.  As you can see, I do not have perfect cuts.  However, this does not matter, because it is covered in felt or foam.

Hot glue the two rectangles into a square shaped chimney.  Hold until the glue is dried. 

Next, hot glue felt around the chimney.  You can also line the chimney with felt, if you choose.

Liberally, use hot glue to attach the chimney to the roof.  I truly mean use A LOT of hot glue.  This chimney will get a lot of love!

Hot glue Velcro to the top of the house.

We created reindeer manipulatives out of finger puppets.  You can see the DIY directions on my blog here. 

You can use any type of reindeer manipulative, including pictures, to Velcro to the top of your roof.

You are ready for the "Reindeer Romp"!  You can use these "Reindeer Romp" songs that are sung to the tune of "Five Little Speckled Frogs". 

 You can use these songs as a fun way to add and subtract reindeer off the roof.  It gives children a fun and hands on way to play with number sense.

We created a small area of snow, for the reindeer to jump into the snow.  Use a green plate and hot glue cotton balls to the middle.



Get your FREE copy of the "Reindeer Romp" songs here!

Hope your kids have a wonderful time using the Reindeer Romp manipulatives and songs.  Check out my blog for more ideas on how to use this set of manipulatives!

For more winter and reindeer activities, you can check out:

Rowdy Reindeer Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Rowdy Reindeer! "Roll, Say, Keep!" Pre-Primer Dolch Sight Word Center + Extra
 

Rowdy Reindeer! "Roll, Say, Keep!" Primer Dolch Sight Word Center + Extra

Rowdy Reindeer! "Roll, Say, Keep!" First Grade Dolch Sight Word Center + Extra



Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!  Until next month,