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I Love The Hardware Store: Math Manipulatives for Addition

January 21, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com 19 Comments

addition machine

DIY: Easy Math Manipulatives for Addition

Years ago, I needed to find a simple contraption that would turn into an addition machine.  I was a special education resource teacher and all my teaching supplies had to fit on a cart or a rolling suitcase.  I hit the hardware store.  Apparently, I chose a P trap with a cleanout spout.

I had used these same p traps before, but I used them for whisper phones.  You can find the perfect size for kids and adults.  The beauty of these p traps is that you do not have to do any prep for them to work!
The “Addition Machine” p drain has a very easy to use drain at the bottom.  My three year old is able to open it.  I added an addition sign to the middle of the machine, so it gives a visual that you are adding both sides of the adding machine.
To make this work, you need 3 small containers and something to prop the “Addition Machine” up against.  I used a small stool from IKEA.  It is exactly the right size to fit my “Addition Machine”.
 To prep the “Addition Machine”, you need a dry erase marker and some small manipulatives.  I have used pom poms, marbles, and any small little things that I find around the house.
First, you write two numbers, with your dry erase marker, on each of the top two containers.  On the bottom container, you will write an equal sign.
Students will count out the correct number of manipulative and put them in each of the top two containers.  We always counted out loud and examined the two sets of manipulatives before moving on to the next step.
After putting the manipulatives in the containers, I had a student pour each container into the “Addition Machine”.  We stated the addition sentence, as we went through the process.  The addition sentence, in this case”2+4″, is the magic password that gets our “Addition Machine” to work!

 The magic is starting to work!

After all of the manipulative are poured into the “Addition Machine”, we say the magic sentence “2+4” again and this time open up the drain.  All the kids seem to hold their breath, as the manipulatives pour from the “Addition Machine”.
Before we recite the entire addition sentence, “2+4=6”, we pass around the lower container to see the magic that has happened.  Each set of manipulatives from the containers has mixed together to form the whole!!!  It never ceases to amaze!  This activity is great for a concrete way to examine Part-Part-Whole.

 After we all examine the manipulatives and count how many there are in all, a student will write the sum on the lower container.  Then, we are able to recite the whole addition sentence: 2+4-6.

I’ve had kids want to do this activity over and over, not even realizing that they are practicing addition.  Such fun and it really helps those kids that need the hands on, concrete learning.
Hope this can help you, as much as it has helped me!  Don’t forget the p drains, without a cleanout spout can be used for ready made “whisper phones”.  Buy and use.  My kind of materials 🙂

I also linked up with The Preschool and Kindergarten Community. Be sure to check there for tons of great ideas!

 

Filed Under: addition, addition machine, DIY, manipulatives, math

Interactive Playdough Mats

January 7, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com 2 Comments


The weather outside is frightful, so it seemed like a good day to play inside with playdough!  Since we can see the snow outside, we made snowballs and snowmen and all sorts of cold things from inside our cozy house.  We have been experimenting with all kinds of playdough recipes, but this is the one that seems to work best for us: http://www.playdoughrecipe.com/
 
We used the playdough mats and cards from my Interactive Play Dough Mats: Snowballs!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Snowballs-Interactive-Playdoh-Mats-Counting-Centers-and-Games-and-Printables-974760
  We had a ton of fun picking a mat from the pile and making a “snake” to put on the numeral.  After the playdough traced the numeral, we used our fingers to trace the numeral.  It is great for little learners to actually feel the shape of the numeral.  Then, we made a matching number of snowballs. 
 Squished snowballs are better than no snowballs at all!

 
One thing that makes these mats interactive is adding the cards.  Students will choose a card from the pile (you choose the skill that you want them to work on) and build the appropriate number of snowballs, snowforts, or snowmen.  Here she is drawing from the numeral cards.
There are also ten frame cards.  Students can practice with the ten frame cards to help them build automatic recognition of the ten frames.
The fun begins with addition. If you are feeling adventurous, you can add two colors of playdough in your center.  Then, students can represent the two numbers with two different colors.
You can also use snowball manipulatives with the mats.  Students can draw the cards and represent the numeral, ten frame, or addition sentence with the snowball manipulatives.
When I am working with young students or students with fine motor difficulties, I always hot glue foam to the back of my manipulatives.  This allows students to have more success in grasping and manipulating them. 
 

Addition with manipulatives.
 
The best of both worlds!  Play dough and manipulatives.
After playdough, we used the cards to have a “snowball fight”.  This partner game is “war”, but sounds more fun when you call it a “snowball fight”.  We changed it up, by giving one player numerals and one player ten frames. 
 
You can also have a “snowball fight” with addition sentences.
I love all the games that you can play with a few types of cards.  We played memory with numerals and ten frames, but you could also use addition sentences and ten frames, addition sentences with matching sums.  The list is endless!

There are tons of printables to go along with the playdough mats, so you can keep extending the learning!
 
Next Monday, I am going to be holding my first Collaborative Giveaway.  It is going to be AWESOME!
There are so many wonderful teacher authors and artists that donated to this giveaway.  I want to try and highlight each one of their stores before the giveaway is over.
 
I’m going to start with one of my favorite clip artists.  You may recognize her work from the games above.  Sarah from Educlips is AMAZING!  If you haven’t seen her work, then you absolutely need to check it out.  She makes everything that she draws irresistible!  For this giveaway, Sarah has donated:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Clip-Art-Bundle-1034429
 
While we are talking about clip art, we can’t forget Glitter Meets Glue Designs!  This clip art is original and unforgettable.  If you love glitter (I definitely do!), then this is the clip art for you!  Here is the awesome art donation:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Magnifying-Glasses-Dipped-in-Glitter-Little-Scientist-Detective-Work-1034185

Filed Under: addition, hands-on learning, manipulatives, math, numerals, play dough, play dough mats, playdoh, playdoh mats, snow, snowballs

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