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DIY Math Manipulative & Giveaway!

October 8, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com 2 Comments

A few exciting things happening! I have my first post with The Primary Pack. I’m so excited to share my new friend, “Greater Gator”! Find out how to make your own math manipulative and puppet.
Scoop up a bunch of FREE chants and songs to go along with “Greater Gator”.

Check out a few ideas to use with Greater Gator! I will be sharing a whole pack to use with “Greater Gator” soon! Hope you enjoy it 🙂

While you are here, enter some amazing giveaways!!

http://www.kennedyskornerblog.blogspot.com/

Prize Pack #1

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Prize Pack #2- Win my Romp and Stompin’ Letters Pack!

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Prize Pack #3!

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Prize Pack #4!

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Prize Pack #5!

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Prize Pack #6

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Talk Like A Pirate Day + Freebie!

September 18, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com 4 Comments

Some of my favorite activities are centered around the pirate theme. Kids seem to love the mystery of buried treasure, maps, and intrigue on the high sea! What better time to play like a pirate, than “Talk Like a Pirate Day”. You can check out the official site for “Talk Like a Pirate Day” here.

I have some fun pirate activities that we are playing with all week! Did I mention that I love pirates??? We started out by making “Pirate Gold Play Dough”. We used a recipe from Kids Activity Blog. To make the play dough more like treasure, we added glitter to the dough. The kids got to pour it in and knead it into the dough. Great fine motor practice and FUN!

We used the “Treasure Dough” with my Pirates: Interactive Play Dough Mats Pack. The kids used the play doh to create the numerals. Some kids made snakes to create the numerals, others smashed the play dough down on the numeral.

I always have them trace the letter, after building it with play dough. It lets kids really experience the letter formation in a very tactile way. It’s also a great way for kids to take ownership of the numbers. They build the number and trace it themselves.

Below, the students used the play dough to create the numeral and to make the matching number of “pirates”.

Another way to use the pirate manipulatives is to press them on top of each play dough ball. This will really help students to focus on one-to-one correspondence.

I include treasure chest mats and cards to make these mats more interactive. There are three types of cards: numerals, ten frames, and addition cards.

Here the student chose a ten frame card and created the same number of play dough treasure in the chest.

Here is an example of a numeral card.

Here is the addition card. I have students use two different colors to represent the addition sentence.

Then, students will use their fingers to physically touch and count each piece of “gold”. This student smooshed each piece, as he counted. It really gives them the kinesthetic experience of counting each piece of play dough.

We also got out the “Missing Pirates” Missing Addends pack. Students will use counters to identify the missing number in the addition sentence. You can get a free sample of this pack here.

Students will record the addition sentence on the recording sheet.

Here is an example of how I set up the center. I include the missing addends mats, the pirate counters, and the recording sheet. Check out this post to get the little story that goes along with the mats and more suggestions!

We also experimented with pirate treasure! We used a recipe for dinosaur eggs from Projects for Preschoolers. See it here. We used the same recipe. My son wrote it down for us to follow. On the last part, he was experimenting with cursive.

The kids were able to use measure each ingredient.

They mixed it all together.

Added the water and started to hide our treasure!

We used all kinds of “treasure”. Pirate coins, beads, costume jewelry, even real coins.

They had a great time hiding the treasure in the “rocks”.

Costume jewelry peeking out.

When they were done, we put them on an old cookie sheet and let them dry overnight. We put them in a window, so the sun helped dry them.

While we waited for the treasure to dry, we created treasure chests.

I cut an egg carton in two pieces.

The kids painted them and decorated with stickers.

The next day, I hid all of the pirate treasure. They were able to go on a treasure hunt (with maps) to find all the pirate treasure. They wore their pirate hats and the eye patches (for about one minute) to complete the pirate look.

After collecting all their treasure, they got to break open the “rocks”. It was really like hunting for buried treasure.

They wanted to use pirate tools, but you could just break them open with your hands.

They got to use old toothbrushes to clean their treasure.

Then, they added the treasure to their treasure box!

It was such a fun experience!

I hope you have a fabulous “Talk Like a Pirate Day” tomorrow! If you would like to use any of my pirate resources, you can click on the pictures below to purchase them. Ahoy, matey!!

I linked up with Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies!

Hands On Activities to Explore Space

September 6, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com 2 Comments

Space is irresistible to many children. The idea of a place that is just out of reach and alien to our way of life here is fascinating. Imagine a place where you float, instead of walk. Where stars shine bright and they can explore places where no one has ever been before. This is a world of wonder for many children and adults. Bring concepts of space to life with hands-on activities and props. Allow children to use their imaginations to explore beyond the boundaries of our world!

One of the most engaging ideas of space, for my children, is the idea that people would float or fly. Rockets and space ships are engaging and fun! We created a “Rocket Blaster Pack” out of Pringles cans. This can be used for dramatic play, or for gearing up as your astronauts set out on their own missions! It was easy to create and is sure to be a favorite of your space explorers. You can get the DIY directions here.

Keeping with the space travel theme, I love the idea of using the rocket ship for different activities. I found an awesome post at Mrs. Karen’s Presschool Ideas. She has fabulous ideas for a space unit and you should definitely check them out! I loved her rocket ship names and decided we needed to make our own!

These are very easy to differentiate. For this child, I cut out the shapes and wrote the letters for the name. He traced the letters and glued them on the page.

This child wrote her own name, and cut out some of the shapes. All the glue and glitter was done independently. Notice the glitter that literally coats the table 🙂

This child cut out squares that were traced onto the paper and completed the rest of the task independently.

You can provide as little or as much support as needed. We moved onto patterns, after names. You can use any pattern: AB, AAB, AABB, ABB. We used an AB pattern and the kids had a great time selecting the colors for their patterns.

You can differentiate by:

– Create the pattern on a model and have children glue the same colors on top of your pattern.

– Give the child the exact number of specific colors to create the pattern and provide a model.

– Give the child the exact number of specific colors with no model.

– Provide children with a rainbow of colors and let them create their own pattern.

The last set of rockets that we built was focused on counting. Students would build the rocket ship with the same number of squares as the numeral on the top. Students count and glue. You could provide a model for students to use for a reference, or to glue right on top of the model.

Here are some of our rocket creations! I love that you can use the same concept in so many different ways. The kids were engaged with every project.

I have a space write the room activity for the alphabet and for numbers to 20. It gets kids up and moving around the room, while practicing key skills in a fun, thematic way.

You can click on the pictures to purchase the packs!

Both the alphabet and math pack have differentiated recording sheets.

When children are searching the room for the numbers 0-20, they can record their findings in three different ways.

They can count and record the numeral,

record with tally marks,

or record by drawing circles in a ten frame(s).

Students can use a pencil or crayon, but I found that the little bingo dabbers worked perfectly and were so much more fun! These bingo dabbers were from the dollar store.

We also used the cards from the pack to play memory,

BAM! (this is just War with a space themed name). Great for working on greater and less than.

Here the kids got the same amount, so they had to use cards to spell out BAM!

I have one more really fun way to explore space and math concepts. This past year, I found the great song “Five Little Men in A Flying Saucer”. It is a great song that teaches ‘left’ and ‘right’ and subtraction. Here is a version of it from Twinkl Primary Resources.

I created my own manipulative out of plastic plates and Little People, so that my kids could explore subtraction in a hands-on way. We listened to the song and acted out the story with the “Little Men”. Get the DIY directions for the manipulative here.

Hope you found some great ideas to use with your space exploration! I would love to hear your ideas for playing in space!

I am linking up with Comprehension Connection for a Thematic Thursday linky!

Apples + Freebie!

August 29, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com Leave a Comment

I love fall! Even though it is still August, I can taste that fall crispness coming. Nothing says fall like sweet, crisp apples!

I put two of my favorites together, apples and play dough, and cooked up some juicy fun!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Apples-Interactive-Play-Dough-Mats-Counting-Centers-Printables-1353686

I started out by making up a batch of play dough. We made two types of play dough. The first was a new type for me. I got the idea from Crayons and Cuties in Kindergarten. You can see her awesome post on coconut play dough and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom activities here.

The coolest part of this recipe is that it has only two ingredients: conditioner and corn starch. We used Suave Apple Conditioner, so the play dough would spell like delicious apples. You use one cup of corn starch and 5 tablespoons of conditioner. You need to make sure to stir well in between each addition of conditioner. You can see the directions in pictures on Jenn’s post.

We added food coloring to the play dough to make green and red apples. Our hands did get dyed when using the food coloring, but it doesn’t get on your hands once the dye is mixed in.

Notice the green hands 🙂

Here is our red dough.

This play dough has a very different consistency than regular play dough. My son and daughter kept asking for the apple clay. It almost feels like cloud dough. I kept the dough in the fridge and used it for several days and then tossed it. It definitely does not last like play doh!

We got our play dough recipe from Jenn, too! She got it from the Imagination Tree. This is an awesome recipe, because

#1- It lasts 6 months

#2- It’s no cook

#3- It takes 4 minutes

#4- It LASTS 6 MONTHS!!

Click here to get the play dough recipe from Imagination Tree!
We added food coloring and cinnamon for an apple pie kind of smell.

Now for the fun! We broke out the play dough mats with numbers. The kids used the dough to form the numbers. Great fine motor activity, as well as, practice with number formation. I always have them “trace” the number after they create it on the mat. It is a very tactile experience to run your finger over the bumpy play dough. It also helps them get familiar with the shapes of each numeral.

For each number, they also made the corresponding number of apples on the tree. We practiced counting with one-to-one correspondence after they created the apples.

My daughter and her friend switched mats and they “checked” the other’s apples. This was a great way to have them use one-to-one correspondence and hold them accountable for their work. Plus, they loved being the teacher!

I also have apple manipulatives in the pack. We used these along with the play dough. I hot glued foam to the back of the apples. This makes them easier for kids to manipulate.

One child would make the numeral with play dough. The other would trace it and count out the same number of apples.

We talked about how many apples were in the tree and how many fell down. The kids seemed to get a kick out of this!

I also have some blank tree mats. These are so useful! We used them to tell story problems. The kids used the different colored play dough to “show” the story.

Josh saw 5 green apples in the tree. Jeremy saw 5 red, ripe apples in the same tree. How many apples were there all together?

Here is another mat. The apples aren’t quite in the tree, but they are on the mat!

They wanted to make the answer in play dough after they counted the apples.

Above, you saw the basic play dough mats. Now, I want to show you the exciting part of these interactive play dough mats! I have included 3 different types of cards: numerals, ten frames, and addition sentences. It makes it very easy to differentiate for different students and ages. I am able to use the same mats and games with my four year old and a 6 year old, by simply substituting different skill cards.

Here is an example of the numeral cards. The cards are placed in a pile and the student will choose a card and represent the numeral with apples on the tree. Fun, hands-on practice for a necessary skill.

There are numeral cards to 20.

Next, are the ten frames. There are ten frames to 20. Students will choose a card and create the same number of apples on the tree. This is good for getting students comfortable with the ten frame format AND to show them that the same number can be represented in a different way.

A student created 15 apples on the tree.

There are addition cards included in the pack. There are sums to 10.

We used two different colors of play dough to represent the two numbers in the addition sentences. This can be used as a partner game. One partner can draw a card and create the number sentence with play dough.

The other partner can count up all the apples and create the number with play doh. Then, they will switch jobs.

The numeral, ten frame, and addition cards can be used for:

Memory

Go Fish

War

The numeral, ten frame, and addition cards can also be used for a memory game. Just select the specific numbers/sums that you would like your students to work on. Place the selected cards face down and have students try and match a numeral to a ten frame, numeral to addition sentence, or any combination that works for your students.

In “Go Fish”, you would use two sets of cards. Either print two sets of numerals, or use a combination of numerals/ten frames/addition. Use the skills that your students need to practice. Pass out 5 cards to each student and put the remaining cards in the fish pond. Each student will ask another for the card that represents a number in their hand. If the other student doesn’t have the card, they say “Go Fish”! The original student will choose a card from the fish pond. Play will continue until all the matches are found.

War is another fun game for children to play. You can call it “SMASH!”. This is played just like the original “War”. Choose the combination of cards that you would like to use. I often use ten frames and numerals together. Students slap down their cards and whoever has the largest amount of “apples” wins! If the students get the same number, they will put out cards for the letters in SMASH. When they flip over the last card, they will see who has the largest amount of “apples”. That number SMASHES the other!! It’s a fun spin on War.

I have a free “SMASH” poster that you can use with the game. This will allow students to reference the poster for the spelling of SMASH and give them a visual that the larger number wins. Click here to get your free poster.

The fun doesn’t stop there! I have included extension worksheets for students to work on the specific skills. There are worksheets where students count the apples and write the matching numeral.

I was able to differentiate in a really cool way for students that need to trace the numbers. I found these cool markers at Target. They have regular markers that write in a normal color. They include markers that are white. When the students trace over the first marker, the color changes. It’s so exciting and fun to kids. I have 8 year old children that ask to use these markers for different activities!

I wrote the numerals on the paper and my daughter traced them. I had her count the apples first, so she was able to demonstrate her one-to-one correspondence to me and then wrote the numerals.

Another way to really have kids focus in on one-to-one correspondence is to have them count each apple as they dot with the bingo dabber. This adds a very visual and kinesthetic component to the one-to-one correspondence.

There are ten frame extension sheets. You can have students draw the apples, but why not use a bingo dabber. It’s easy to see the separate apples and so much fun!

We also used bingo dabbers to represent the matching number of apples.

There are also addition worksheets for students to complete. You can have them color or dot the apples in two different colors.

Hope you found some useful ideas to use with your kids and students! Enjoy fall 🙂

If you would like to purchase Apples: Interactive Play Dough Mats click here.

I’ve linked up with Teaching Momster for Math Madness Wednesdays!

Back-To-School Freebies Until Sept. 15th!

August 4, 2014 by lauraschachter@gmail.com 4 Comments

Back to school time is already here for some of you! I thought that I would treat you to a few freebies to make that hectic time a little easier!

I have to math back-to-school freebies that are only available from my blog. These will only be free until September 15th, so scoop them up!

First up, addition! I have a quick and easy game to prepare to help kids practice addition sums to 15. I have students use manipulatives to solve the addition problems. You can play memory with the cards or just have students match the numeral to the sum. There are two different recording sheets where you can assess each student. Click here to get the product on TPT!

The second freebie is a game with the same format, but students will be working with tens and ones. They will match the numeral to the correct set of tens and ones. There are 3 different extension worksheets. In the first, students will find the matching school supply and write the numeral that represents the tens and ones.

In the second extension worksheet, students will record the number of tens and the number of ones under the matching school supply.

In the third extension worksheet, students will express the number in expanded form.

I like this center, because you can really use it in so many ways! Click here to get the product on TPT!

Now is the time for the HUGE Back-To-School sale at Teachers Pay Teachers! I have everything in my store 20% off, but you can get an extra 10% off by putting in the code BTS14. Don’t miss out on all the amazing deals!

Now for the really exciting stuff! The Diggin’ Series Huge Giveaway is coming on August 11th-17th!! This is one giveaway that you are not going to want to miss!!!

So many prizes and chances to win!!

My favorite is that EACH winner gets this amazing bundle of products!!!

Don’t miss this amazing event!

As always, I am linking up with the amazing Laura Graham, of Where the Magic Happens Daily! Hop over to her blog to see some more amazing ideas from the linky party!