Math Bowl

Engage your students with math practice by making it a game -- and instead of buying it, use what you already have!



I love repurposing items to make something new, and that is exactly what
inspired this activity and my product that is ready made for you!

For several years I used small, plastic juice bottles, but recently, I discovered that Pediasure bottles are perfect for this activity. I am so excited!
Wrap two bands of red electrical tape around the top of the all white bottle, and you
have perfect bowling pins!  If you don't have a resource for Pediasure bottles, small juice bottles work great, too!

My product, Math Bowl includes: record sheets for the game, graph sheets and word problems for follow up activities.  The focus is subtraction problems 8, 9, 10, 11,12, and a blank so you can choose your own number. For early learning you could easily start with 5 'bowling pins'. 

Getting ready is easy to do!

Make an aisle in your classroom. Students line up on both sides with a pencil and recording booklet. 'Bowling pins' are set up at one end in a traditional triangle shape or be creative.  

Each student gets a turn to knock down the pins. (You decide the number of pins).  I suggest picking one number and staying with that number the entire game. There's always another time for a new number!

After pins are knocked down the equation is recorded by all students on their record sheet, AND the reverse ( i.e.   10 - 3 = 7  and 10 - 3 = 7).    

I don't know about you, but I have 30 first graders and by the time we are done, they have recorded 60 problems (and don't even realize it!). It's a great way to reinforce learning a particular set of facts...and with FUN!!  (Warning: there will be excitement and cheering! -So worth it!)

My students love this activity! I think yours will, too.  If you're ready, click on this MATH BOWL link and check it out at my TeachersPayTeachers store. 

I'd love your feedback, too. 

The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, is a favorite story to read at the beginning of the school year.  It may seem like a young story to read to first graders, but they take it to heart and respond so tenderly.

 I usually read it the first day, then spend the next couple days with follow up activities. 

I was so delighted when one of my first grade boy's mother shared with me something that happened that night.  As she tucked her little guy into bed and they had their 'goodnight', he took her hand and kissed the middle of her palm and then folded her hand.  She asked him what that was for. He said, "So you could take my love with you."    

Treasured moment that will last a lifetime...even for me.   

Another first grader came to school the next day and was in tears clinging to her mother. After a few moments I thought of this story, knowing they had read it in their class, too.  We talked about the story. I prompted her a little, but she then gave her mama a kiss on the hand, and mama gave her one back.  It was so sweet.

After vocabulary and reading a couple passages from the story with a partner, we decided on a terrific sentence to go on the first page of our reading journal (I love journals).  This was guided, but they sure WOWed me with their penmanship!

The kids trace each other's hand,, and then glue a heart in the middle. 

This is the mask I have used in the past, but it so goes against my 'anti-everything looks the same' mind. So, I went searching, and just love this one I found on Pinterest.

I love the paper plate idea, but didn't quite have it all together to paint them, so we did cut out circles from gray card stock.   I showed them how to make the black mask, but did not give them a pattern, so they would all look different...and that makes me smile!

 

Yes, they look different!! 

And I'm okay with that. I love how they each decided to do their mask so uniquely. 

Back to School!

It's that time... BACK TO SCHOOL , which means organizing, organizing, organizing!!  The room, materials, record keeping, activities, technology, and so much more!
  

To give a boost to my students for organizing resources, I provide this quick reference folder.  We use it every day. I love it when they get it out on their own to find the words needed. Sweet!    And it's free!

Look what teachers say....

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

I love Charlie Brown.

My co-worker introduced me to this idea to do a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving last year.

It was so fun, it is now a new tradition during this holiday time.

We follow the menu:

toast (buttered)

popcorn

pretzels

jelly beans

We watch the youtube video, then enjoy our 'feast'.

I love the giggles of the kids. 

"This is Thanksgiving food?"  "Yummy!"  

"Can I have seconds?"

The cookies made by one of my fabulous moms, were a fun addition!

Christopher Columbus - History Lessons

We started our history lessons about Christopher Columbus charting what we know....wasn't much (which is always exciting for the teacher, as you know there will be new learning happening!)

So we read books, learned poems, songs, chants, jingles, and had discussions.

While we're at it, we learned the Oceans and Continents songs

 from Dr. Jean cds (that I've used for years!). 

It's fun when you put up a poem and ask the kids, "What could we do to make our poem look a little more interesting?"  They took it from there! 

We used a map and our very simple Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria ships to learn more about the journey route.   Hurricane, Joaquin, was approaching the Bahamas just at this time, too, 

so we had a double lesson on that one!

Part of our enthusiastic crew.

Some of our activities.

Our study ended with focused note-taking, a pre-writing, and then final writing. 

The kids did a fabulous job!

GoNoodle in Phoenix!

GoNoodle fun in Phoenix!

My friend, Janae, who introduced me to GoNoodle this summer. 

Little did I realize the fun that was ahead!

AZ Bloggers' group (They know how to have fun!)

Here they go!  POP SEE KO!

That song has a way of 

STAYING

 in one's head!!! 

 Pop See Ko, Pop, pop, see ko....see what I mean? 

It was so fun to meet Cameron and Taylor from GoNoodle, and Jennifer from AZ 

who helped a lot with this event. 

I am already looking forward to next time!

Now, back to ......

Apples to Applesauce

It can't be September 

without an applesauce making day.   

We ended our fun week of learning about Johnny Appleseed, and his story -- the REAL man, John Chapman  by tasting different apples, and then making applesauce.

Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Galas were in our recipe. 

The kids had a great time working the apple-peeler-slicer-corer.   We had apples ready in no time.

We added sugar, lemon juice, and a little cinnamon.

Mixed it up and in the crock pot it went for the day.  

Ahhhhh, the smell of cinnamon all-day-long.

Whip it up to leave it just a little chunky. 

I think it's ready!

YUMMY !

More please?