Here is a fun way you can practice more with part, part, whole. Being able to identify the whole and its parts is essential for developing a solid foundation in number sense.
First, get a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper and fold it in half. (If you don't have this, you can find an easy substitute: a paper plate with a line drawn down the middle is great, too. The main objective is to have a workspace that is clearly divided into 2 separate areas.)
Next, find a set of 10 objects that can be gently tossed and fit within the workspace. Pennies, PollyPocket dolls, plastic animals, plastic people, cereal, M&M's or other small candy (kids like this option so they can eat afterwards)...whatever you have on hand.
Decide on what number is going to be the whole and put the rest of the objects aside. Refer to this group as the whole throughout the remainder of the activity.
Have your child toss the whole set of objects onto the workmat. Have him observe what part of the whole is on the left side of the workmat and what part is on the right. Ask what two parts make up the whole. See if he can write or state a number sentence (eg. 2+4=6) that matches the workmat. Rotate the mat so that the left part is now on the right. Can he come up with a new number sentence? Using the same whole, have your child toss the objects again. Have the same discussion about the new parts. Continue until many or all of the combinations have been found. For the comment box bonus activity, you may want to have your child keep a list of the combinations he makes as well as the matching number sentences.
Select a new whole and follow the procedure again.
COMMENT BOX BONUS: For 3 'caught being good' coupons, have your child post one of the wholes she explored and list the parts that she found using number sentences.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
HOMEWORK 10-26-11
Now that you are familiar with adding, it's time to start practicing addition facts to build fluency. Building fluency means that you can easily recall the addition facts without having to count. It's okay to use your fingers or other tools to begin, but our goal is to know them well. Being able to recall the facts without much thought makes it easier to solve math problems. The more you practice, the better you get. Play each of these games at least once, then head to the comment box to get credit for doing homework.
First up is Marble Math Addition. This one will increase in difficulty as children are successful. There are marbles that the students can use if they still need manipulatives.
Next is Addition Concentration . In this game, students are shown sums and addition facts and must match the sum to the correct fact.
Our last game for tonight is Math Baseball. In this game students must find a missing addend. When you get to the page from this link, make sure you select 'addition'. Also, select 'yes' for the question 'algebra style'. Start out at the 'easy' level and progress to a harder level if your child is proficient. We have been working on finding the missing part in class. You may need to have some manipulatives on hand (pennies, cereal pieces, etc.). Ask your child to identify the sum and talk about how that is the whole. Then ask them the part they know (it is one of the addends). Have them show the whole with the manipulatives. Then have them separate the part they know from the whole. That is the missing part.
COMMENT BOX ASSIGNMENT: Remember to include your name so we know you did your homework. What game did you like best? Why?
First up is Marble Math Addition. This one will increase in difficulty as children are successful. There are marbles that the students can use if they still need manipulatives.
Next is Addition Concentration . In this game, students are shown sums and addition facts and must match the sum to the correct fact.
Our last game for tonight is Math Baseball. In this game students must find a missing addend. When you get to the page from this link, make sure you select 'addition'. Also, select 'yes' for the question 'algebra style'. Start out at the 'easy' level and progress to a harder level if your child is proficient. We have been working on finding the missing part in class. You may need to have some manipulatives on hand (pennies, cereal pieces, etc.). Ask your child to identify the sum and talk about how that is the whole. Then ask them the part they know (it is one of the addends). Have them show the whole with the manipulatives. Then have them separate the part they know from the whole. That is the missing part.
COMMENT BOX ASSIGNMENT: Remember to include your name so we know you did your homework. What game did you like best? Why?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
HOMEWORK 10-20-11
We have been learning about animals. We know that animals are LIVING. Living things grow, move, eat, need oxygen, produce waste (yes, this means they poop), and reproduce (have offspring/babies). To begin tonight's homework, sort the items into two groups Living vs. Non-Living.
Habitats are where living things live and grow. They can get the things they need to stay alive. Play Get Me Home! to sort the animals into their habitats.
Last, with an adult, go to National Geographic for Kids. Together, read about at least three different animals. Find out what the animals eat and how they move. What do you know about their babies? Find out about the habitat where they live. You will need this information for the assignment in the COMMENT BOX.
COMMENT BOX: To get credit for doing the homework, you MUST post in the comment box or write this assignment on a piece of paper and bring it to school. If you choose to use the comment box, remember that the comments will not appear immediately. They will appear after I release them. Make sure your child's name appears in the comment box so s/he gets credit for doing the assignment. Select one of the animals you read about on the National Geographic site. Write the name of the animal in the comment box. Then do the following (adults can enter the information, but discuss the ideas together):
* Tell about the animal's habitat.
* Tell about what the animal eats.
* Tell about its babies.
* Share an interesting fact about the animal.
Habitats are where living things live and grow. They can get the things they need to stay alive. Play Get Me Home! to sort the animals into their habitats.
Last, with an adult, go to National Geographic for Kids. Together, read about at least three different animals. Find out what the animals eat and how they move. What do you know about their babies? Find out about the habitat where they live. You will need this information for the assignment in the COMMENT BOX.
COMMENT BOX: To get credit for doing the homework, you MUST post in the comment box or write this assignment on a piece of paper and bring it to school. If you choose to use the comment box, remember that the comments will not appear immediately. They will appear after I release them. Make sure your child's name appears in the comment box so s/he gets credit for doing the assignment. Select one of the animals you read about on the National Geographic site. Write the name of the animal in the comment box. Then do the following (adults can enter the information, but discuss the ideas together):
* Tell about the animal's habitat.
* Tell about what the animal eats.
* Tell about its babies.
* Share an interesting fact about the animal.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
HOMEWORK 10-12-11
Solving and explaining problems and developing number sense is a large part of the first grade math curriculum. For tonight's math homework, there are two games that practice this skill. Both have timers and show the score. You may want to write down the scores and set goals for personal improvement.
First, your child should play Addition Sentences/Sums to 10. While playing this game, your child should find the correct number sentence to go with the picture shown. We have been working on the commutative property in math (eg. 3+4=7 has the same value of 4+3=7), but have not used the name to describe it at this time. Before moving on to the next question, verbally ask your child what the number sentence would be if the puzzle pieces were flipped. We are emphasizing that the order of the addends (the parts we add together to get the sum) does not matter; the sum will be the same. Play this game for 2 minutes (or more if your child likes it), then play the next game.
Next, your child should play Write the Addition Sentence. For this activity your child will be given a word problem. You can choose to hear the word program with the proper download. However, it is read quite rapidly. You can read them with your child and have her read the trick words. Sometimes students will determine an answer, but explain the answer by using a number sentence that does not represent the story. You may want to have some scrap paper and a pencil nearby in case your child needs to work it out before entering it. Play this game for 5 minutes.
In Fundations we have introduced digraphs (sh, th, ch, wh, ck). Digraphs are two consonants put together to make a sound. Neither consonant makes its regular sound. After these directions, I will list the "phrases" we use in class to remember these sounds. You may want to use them to help your child decide which digraph to use for each picture. For this game, there is not a timer. You will need to time it yourself. Also, make sure your child clicks on CHECK after selecting each digraph. Without clicking CHECK, the correct answer will not be given which may reinforce wrong answers. Please play Digraph Phonics Game for about 1 to 2 minutes. After playing the games, don't forget to read the COMMENTS directions and put a comment in the box so your child gets credit for doing online homework. :-)
CALL PHRASES FOR DIGRAPHS:
sh - ship - /sh/
ch - chin - /ch/
th - thumb - /th/
wh - whistle - /wh/
ck - sock - /ck/ [You may notice that this sound is at the end of the word, unlike the others. This is so that students can associate the digraph ck being found at the end of the word.]
COMMENT: For tonight's comment, have your child tell you a story that joins two groups of things. Use the word problems from the second game as an example. These only need to be a few sentences long (see the example below). Each should end with a question. Include the number sentence that solves the problem. You may type in the story. Please use your name or your child's name (you may use your first name if you'd like) in the comment box so we can give your child credit. Comments will not automatically appear; I will release them. For practice later, come back and visit the comment section and have your child solve other students' questions.
EXAMPLE: Meg had 7 blocks. She found 2 more under the bed. How many does she have in all? 7+2=9
First, your child should play Addition Sentences/Sums to 10. While playing this game, your child should find the correct number sentence to go with the picture shown. We have been working on the commutative property in math (eg. 3+4=7 has the same value of 4+3=7), but have not used the name to describe it at this time. Before moving on to the next question, verbally ask your child what the number sentence would be if the puzzle pieces were flipped. We are emphasizing that the order of the addends (the parts we add together to get the sum) does not matter; the sum will be the same. Play this game for 2 minutes (or more if your child likes it), then play the next game.
Next, your child should play Write the Addition Sentence. For this activity your child will be given a word problem. You can choose to hear the word program with the proper download. However, it is read quite rapidly. You can read them with your child and have her read the trick words. Sometimes students will determine an answer, but explain the answer by using a number sentence that does not represent the story. You may want to have some scrap paper and a pencil nearby in case your child needs to work it out before entering it. Play this game for 5 minutes.
In Fundations we have introduced digraphs (sh, th, ch, wh, ck). Digraphs are two consonants put together to make a sound. Neither consonant makes its regular sound. After these directions, I will list the "phrases" we use in class to remember these sounds. You may want to use them to help your child decide which digraph to use for each picture. For this game, there is not a timer. You will need to time it yourself. Also, make sure your child clicks on CHECK after selecting each digraph. Without clicking CHECK, the correct answer will not be given which may reinforce wrong answers. Please play Digraph Phonics Game for about 1 to 2 minutes. After playing the games, don't forget to read the COMMENTS directions and put a comment in the box so your child gets credit for doing online homework. :-)
CALL PHRASES FOR DIGRAPHS:
sh - ship - /sh/
ch - chin - /ch/
th - thumb - /th/
wh - whistle - /wh/
ck - sock - /ck/ [You may notice that this sound is at the end of the word, unlike the others. This is so that students can associate the digraph ck being found at the end of the word.]
COMMENT: For tonight's comment, have your child tell you a story that joins two groups of things. Use the word problems from the second game as an example. These only need to be a few sentences long (see the example below). Each should end with a question. Include the number sentence that solves the problem. You may type in the story. Please use your name or your child's name (you may use your first name if you'd like) in the comment box so we can give your child credit. Comments will not automatically appear; I will release them. For practice later, come back and visit the comment section and have your child solve other students' questions.
EXAMPLE: Meg had 7 blocks. She found 2 more under the bed. How many does she have in all? 7+2=9
Monday, October 10, 2011
New Links!
As you have seen by the work that has gone home and by last week's Weekly Math Review, we are exploring addition sentences and working on joining groups. One game we suggested on our weekly letter is called Addition With Pictures.
Another site I have stumbled upon is called Children's Stories Online. There are a variety of stories you can listen to with your child. The story is read aloud to your child with the words highlighted as they are read. You can have your child follow along and read the trick words aloud with the narrator. At the end, ask some questions about the story. Here are some suggestions for questions:
* Who are the characters in the story?
* What is the setting of the story?
* What was the problem in the story?
* How did the problem get solved?
* Make a text-to-self connection. What in your life does the story remind you of? Why?
* Make a text-to-text connection. What book does this story remind you of? Why?
Feel free to leave a comment in the comment box. Let me know what book you liked best or if you find another place to find stories online! :0)
Another site I have stumbled upon is called Children's Stories Online. There are a variety of stories you can listen to with your child. The story is read aloud to your child with the words highlighted as they are read. You can have your child follow along and read the trick words aloud with the narrator. At the end, ask some questions about the story. Here are some suggestions for questions:
* Who are the characters in the story?
* What is the setting of the story?
* What was the problem in the story?
* How did the problem get solved?
* Make a text-to-self connection. What in your life does the story remind you of? Why?
* Make a text-to-text connection. What book does this story remind you of? Why?
Feel free to leave a comment in the comment box. Let me know what book you liked best or if you find another place to find stories online! :0)
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
HOMEWORK 10-5-11
Welcome to our first online homework assignment! For tonight's homework, we will focus on math skills. The required activities are bold. After doing the assignment, please answer the 'comment assignment' (at the bottom of this post) in the "comment" area. You do not need to join to do it. Put your comment in the box, sign your name, and choose to post as "anonymous". This way, we will see that you did the assignment, but you will not have to register with the blog site. I moderate the site and have it set so that the comments must be approved by me before they will appear. Therefore, your comments will not appear immediately. I will approve them at some point this week. Include your child's ideas in the comment, but feel free to enter the text yourself (for now). A great way to have your child help is to ask him/her to spell the trick words that you use in your entry. As we said in the letter, this is a new experience for all of us, so we hope to work together to develop an online homework system that is beneficial for everyone involved.
The first activity is to play Busy Bees. This game gives your child the total number of bees (the whole), shows some buzzing around, and then asks for how many in the hive. Your child is asked to enter that number and check it. If your child is having trouble with this, slow down the pace and use manipulatives to help. For instance, get 10 pennies. If the question says, "There are 8 bees." and then shows three flying, talk her through the process. Ask her how many bees are in the whole (answer 8). Have her get 8 pennies and remove the others from the table. Ask her how many she can see on the screen. Explain that those bees are one part. Have her move those pennies to a pile on the left side of the table. Ask her what she can do to find out the part that is in the hive. Guide her into discovering that there are 5 in the hive and that she can figure it out by counting the other pile of pennies. Play this game two times (at least...feel free to come back as often as you like).
After playing Busy Bees, play Ten Frame. Although this may seem easy, it is a great skill to practice. The goal is to get children to "see" groups of objects and be able to identify how many there are without having to count each one. This activity enables students to build a solid foundation for the place value skills we will develop this year. Games 1, 2, and 3 will be the most beneficial at this time and correlate more to the skills we are working on now. Game 4 delves further into addition and has multiple steps for adding two addends. This activity is optional. The homework requirement is to play Games 1, 2, and 3 for a total of 10 minutes. Please sit with your child while he does these activities. You will need to make sure he understands the questions as they change from time to time. Be sure to ask him how he knew the answer. Being able to explain HOW an answer is found is equally important as finding the right answer.
COMMENT ASSIGNMENT: Let us know what you think about our first online homework assignment. Did you like having online homework versus the traditional pencil and paper? What worked? What would be better for next time? If you have difficulty with the comment box, email your comment to your child's teacher (KEE: keeli@daretolearn.org; GRAY: graykr@daretolearn.org). THANKS!
The first activity is to play Busy Bees. This game gives your child the total number of bees (the whole), shows some buzzing around, and then asks for how many in the hive. Your child is asked to enter that number and check it. If your child is having trouble with this, slow down the pace and use manipulatives to help. For instance, get 10 pennies. If the question says, "There are 8 bees." and then shows three flying, talk her through the process. Ask her how many bees are in the whole (answer 8). Have her get 8 pennies and remove the others from the table. Ask her how many she can see on the screen. Explain that those bees are one part. Have her move those pennies to a pile on the left side of the table. Ask her what she can do to find out the part that is in the hive. Guide her into discovering that there are 5 in the hive and that she can figure it out by counting the other pile of pennies. Play this game two times (at least...feel free to come back as often as you like).
After playing Busy Bees, play Ten Frame. Although this may seem easy, it is a great skill to practice. The goal is to get children to "see" groups of objects and be able to identify how many there are without having to count each one. This activity enables students to build a solid foundation for the place value skills we will develop this year. Games 1, 2, and 3 will be the most beneficial at this time and correlate more to the skills we are working on now. Game 4 delves further into addition and has multiple steps for adding two addends. This activity is optional. The homework requirement is to play Games 1, 2, and 3 for a total of 10 minutes. Please sit with your child while he does these activities. You will need to make sure he understands the questions as they change from time to time. Be sure to ask him how he knew the answer. Being able to explain HOW an answer is found is equally important as finding the right answer.
COMMENT ASSIGNMENT: Let us know what you think about our first online homework assignment. Did you like having online homework versus the traditional pencil and paper? What worked? What would be better for next time? If you have difficulty with the comment box, email your comment to your child's teacher (KEE: keeli@daretolearn.org; GRAY: graykr@daretolearn.org). THANKS!
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