Fun in First

A Teaching Blog by Jodi Southard

Math

Fact Family Fun

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We just started introducing Fact Families in Everyday Math last week.  Most of my students caught on pretty quickly, but some needed something hands on that got them physically involved.  So, I came up with this idea.  I used three page protector sheets and put yarn in the holes so they could hang on students necks.  Then I slipped in three numbers to make a fact family.  I wrote a + sign and = sign on the board and had students make an addition fact with their numbers.  Then they had to do a “turn around fact” to make the other addition problem.  I made a huge deal about how the biggest number person did not move, only the two smaller numbers.  Then I put a – sign on the board and had students move to make a subtraction problem. Then they switched to make the other subtraction problem.  We discussed that the biggest number started both subtraction problems.

Here is a Fact Family review sheet for you as well.


Colored Number Grid

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I saw this idea at a Math Workshop and loved it.  It’s a simple way to help children use the number grid effectively when adding and subtracting.  The numbers in the 10’s column are colorcoded to match the number in the 1’s column that would come next.  I used markers to outline each number grid that my students have on their desks.  This is a computer version to download.
Here is a second version for people using a Math series that has a number grid in a different direction.
Download by Clicking Here
Here is a third version.  This one is a much smaller version so you can print them out and tape them onto student’s desks.
Download Smaller Version


Roll a Rule

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If you use Everyday Math, you will know all about “What’s My Rule?” problems.  Every year I have a group of students that just don’t get it.  If you are not familiar with “What’s My Rule?” then here is a quick explanation.  The first box is the rule box. For example, +5, -10, count by 2’s, …  The boxes after that follow the rule everytime you move to a new box.  Sorry, my explanation isn’t very good 😉
Anyways, I think “What’s My Rule?” problems are boring.  I see the point in them and once my students get really good at them, it is amazing the types of problem solving I see them doing to figure these out, however, I needed to add some “fun” to them. 
Students will roll a die, count the dots and put the number in the rule box. Then they will roll again, count the dots and put the number in the bold box.  Their next job is to fill in the remainder of the boxes by following the rule.  *To make this more advanced, have students roll two dice to get their numbers.
Clear as mud, right 🙂
Download Here

Cool Resolutions

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Even though I love Christmas Break, I dread taking down the Christmas decorations and bulletin boards in my classroom because it just looked so great with everything up.  However, I want everything Christmas gone so I don’t have to come back to it in January.  Our last day of school before break was today, so I decided to have the students write about their New Year’s Resolutions.  We discussed the word resolution and brainstormed some ideas.  Then we made penguins to glue our resolutions onto and titled the bulletin board, “Cool Resolutions.”  Now we’re all set for January.

I loved their resolutions.  Some of my favorites: “I will eat more fruits and vegetables”  “I will not fight with my brother.”  “I will try and behave.”  “I will always listen to my teacher.”

Christmas Bulletin Boards

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This is an easy bulletin board that I did this year.  I cut out Christmas lightbulb shapes from construction paper and had students write something they could do to make the world a better place. 

For this bulletin board, I had each student complete a job application to be one of Santa’s elves.  Then they colored and cut out the elf ears, hat, and body.  I glued these parts to their faces.  SO CUTE!!

Click here for my Elf Job Application.