Addition and Number Sentences

Oliver was having some trouble focusing on his addition the other day, so we decided to leave the kitchen table and try something a little more hands on. There is nothing very sophisticated about this method of teaching addition, but it really worked with Oliver!
In our Singapore math program we are working on one-one correspondence counting. He is counting up from 1-10 as well as counting down from 10-1. In the program we are focusing a lot on learning the value of numbers alongside of number recognition. This is great because we want our kids to recognize the numbers...but we mostly want them to understand the value of each number.  For example, having them say out loud "three is one more than two or nine is one more than eight." I have also been working with him on "greater than, less than, and equal to," terminology. All of these things combined are helping him understand the process of addition because he is being forced to understand the value behind each number.

Materials Needed: 

• Paper Plates/Paper Bowls
• Markers
• Construction Paper
• Some kind of counting blocks or tools

I took out 10 Styrofoam bowls from the cupboard and wrote a number 1-10 on each of them. Then I took out a piece of construction paper and made two signs (a plus sign and an equals sign).

 Various ways to use the Activity:

1. First I scattered the bowls on the ground and had Oliver line up the bowls in order from 1-10.
2. Next, I scattered the bowls again and had him line up the numbers from 10-1.
3. We discussed our symbols and how they make number sentences. Then I lined up the symbols and placed different combinations of numbers in the number sentence for him to solve. (He made a couple of problems for me to solve too.)

Teaching Tip: While we were working through the different problems Oliver would place counting blocks by each number to help him solve the problem.  While he was placing the blocks by the bowls I had him counting out loud. Once the problem was solved I also had him say the number sentence out loud.  For example, in the picture above he said out loud, "three plus four equals seven." Talking through the problems out loud helped him to remember the different parts of the number sentence and will help him to recognize the symbols as we work with them in the future.

Fun with Chalk

Chalk is always a wonderful way to spend quality time outdoors with your kids. Today was one of the first nice Spring days that the kids spent outside on the driveway so we brought out the chalk! This was a simple and fun activity to get the kids moving and counting all at the same time.

Shape/Number Jumping Game:
We started at the top of the driveway and I drew multiple shapes with numbers inside of them counting up from 1-25. Oliver and Ellie had a blast calling out the numbers as they jumped from one shape to the next down the driveway.  I could also call out a number or shape for them to run to and make it a fun racing game.

Simple and Fun!

Teaching Tip: This could also be a great way to practice Letter Recognition or other Math Skills.  Try writing numbers on the driveway and ask your child to run to the number that equals 3+5 or 7-4...

File Folder Games

I started making file folder games when Oliver was two years old and found so many free resources online to help me get started.  Unfortunately I do not have the specific link for this particular game because I made it a couple of years ago, but I wanted to share the fun and simplicity of file folder games for toddlers and early elementary age kids.

This particular game is an Alligator math file folder game that is designed for kids age four or five. This game is teaching number recognition as well as how to compare numbers and recognize which number is greater than, less than or equal to another number. I love this game because the kids understand that the Alligator always eats the larger number. They are also becoming familiar with math terms and symbols that they will be using later on in Kindergarten math. This game could be easily re-created by writing numbers on pieces of paper and printing out a fun Alligator picture! The blocks that Ellie is using were helping her to visualize the numbers when deciding which one was bigger than the other.  The blocks also offer great practice with 1-1 correspondence counting.

Even though I don't have the link to make this particular game you can easily find another just like it by searching "free file folder games for preschoolers."

I did come across one of the file folder websites that I have used in the past and have provided the link below.  On this website I have made both the cupcake counting game as well as the gingerbread man counting buttons game.  Both are great for kids who are learning to count and recognize numbers!
File Folder Link:
http://www.filefolderfun.com/SearchPreschool.html

Teaching Tip:
Along with the Alligator math game I used a worksheet from the math-aids.com website.  The website can be found under the Templates/Resources tab on the home-page of my blog. Once you are on the website, the worksheet can be found under Kindergarten math skills. The worksheet can be customized for use with numbers 1-20 and gives the kids a variety of numbers to compare using the Alligator symbol above.  They also have to cut the alligators out, so I found it good practice for Oliver's fine motor skills as well. 

File folder games are an inexpensive way to bring fun learning into the home with a variety of learning topics.  All you need are some file folders, packaging tape (to laminate pieces) and a printer. I store these games in a nice file folder storage box for easy access!

Counting with Pony Beads

My kids really enjoy playing with pony beads.  This activity combines that enjoyment with work on their counting, number recognition and fine motor skills! So Simple and very fun!!


Materials Needed:
Foam Sheets
Pipe Cleaners
Hot Glue Gun
Pony Beads

To Create:
I cut out 10 small rectangles out of different colors of foam sheets. I used a permanent marker to put the numbers 1-10 on each rectangle (you could also use numbers 11-20). I simply poked a pipe cleaner through the bottom of each rectangle and hot glued it to the back of the rectangle for reinforcement. Then all you need to do is supply a little container of pony beads and instruct the kids to put the number of beads on the pipe cleaner that is displayed on the rectangle.

Fun and Simple Math Games

I love flashcards!  I have been collecting flashcards for several years and have found some great ones for playing simple games, learning letters and reinforcing math concepts.  I have noticed that Oliver, Ellie and Gideon have been visiting my flashcard drawer a lot lately and love playing "school" with each other as well as simple games.

Today they pulled out my Gummy Bear Flashcards and wanted to play a game with them. I bought these flashcards for fifty cents at Good Will and the pack includes 39 cards with shape, number and color recognition on them. The colorful Gummy Bear's are what catch their eyes!

Ellie had fun searching for the shape and color cards

**Teaching Tip: Just making your flashcards available for the kids to play with encourages them to explore without it being a "forced" learning time.  They may not have played this game so well if I had been the one to pull the cards out and try to organize the game myself.

I spread the cards out all over the floor and Oliver, Ellie and I played a searching game with them.  Both Oliver and Ellie loved asking each other, "Can you find a ___________?"  This was a fun game to watch, because Oliver tailored his questions appropriately for Ellie and I was able to ask him some more difficult questions appropriate for his age level.  

For Ellie, we had her searching for different shapes and colored bears.

For Oliver, I was asking him to find cards with a specific number of bears on them.  He would pick up each card and count the bears. I tried to have him look at the overall group of bears and decide if the number he was looking for was greater than or smaller than the group on the card.  I want him to gain an overall sense of numbers (especially when items are grouped) that enables him to be able to estimate how many items are in a group without always having to count each item individually.
I also asked him to locate shape cards by identifying the number of sides and corners. "Can you find the shape that has five sides and five corners?"  For the colored cards I was asking him to identify the primary colors or colors that when combined can make a different color. "Can you find the two cards  that mix together to make green?
By the end of the activity Ellie was also finding the shapes based on the number of sides and corners! It's fun to see how any simple activity, like this one, can incorporate so many different learning objectives.

Learning Objectives Covered: (in about 15 minutes)

1. Counting/Identifying Numbers
2. Identifying Colors
3. Identifying and Naming Shapes 
4. Identifying Different Properties of Shapes
5. Communication Skills (Formulating Questions for Each Other)
6. Teamwork!