math centers

1-2-3 Come Sort Pumpkins With Me

If you're looking for some seasonal math centers, you've come to the right place.  Two scarecrows, with the ever-popular names Even Steven and Odd Todd, each have an empty field waiting to be filled up with pumpkins.  There's a catch though.  Todd only wants odd numbered pumpkins, while Steven wants only even numbered ones. 

scarecrow activities, pumpkin activities, common core scarecrows, common core pumpkins, odd and even number activities, math games, math centers, fall math games, fall math centers, sorting activities, odd and even sorting activities, To make the game, print and laminate the scarecrow sorting mats, along with pumpkins numbered from 1-120 and then trim. Children grab a fist-full of pumpkins and place them in the appropriate pumpkin patch.  The numbered pumpkin tiles can also be used for sequencing activities, or to play an "I Have; Who Has?" game.

scarecrow activities, pumpkin activities, common core scarecrows, common core pumpkins, odd and even number activities, math games, math centers, fall math games, fall math centers, sorting activities, odd and even sorting activities, I've also included 2, trace and write the number worksheets. The 1st one goes from 1-50; the 2nd one from 51-100.

scarecrow activities, pumpkin activities, common core scarecrows, common core pumpkins, odd and even number activities, math games, math centers, fall math games, fall math centers, sorting activities, odd and even sorting activities, Click on the link to view/download the Odd and Even Pumpkin Patch game.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything from my site.  I LOVE Pinterest; it's such a wonderful way to share.

scarecrow activities, pumpkin activities, common core scarecrows, common core pumpkins, odd and even number activities, math games, math centers, fall math games, fall math centers, sorting activities, odd and even sorting activities, To ensure that pinners return to THIS blog article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black, now click on the "Pin it" button on the burgundy menu bar.  If you'd like to take a look at all of the wonderful educational items that I pin, click on the heart button to the right of the blog.

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." -Sydney J. Harris

1-2-3 Come Play Some Pumpkin Games With Me!


Games are a wonderful way for students to practice important life skills.  They are also a quick & easy way to grab and hold children's interest, while they review and reinforce a variety of standards.   One of my little ones summed it up: "We didn't even know we was learnin' cuz we was havin' so much fun!" 

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, Because subitizing (being able to "know" how many there are, without counting) is extremely important; playing with dominoes and dice, are a great way to help students recognize these groupings at a glance.  Before too long, I could flash 6 dots (in the pattern on a dice/domino) and my students would call out the number 6, without having to stop and count the dots.

Keeping this in mind, I designed 6 pumpkin-themed dice games + a listening and following direction activity, that will help review ordinal numbers. They are all in one Pumpkin Games packet.  To view/download it, click on the link.  Because the rules are pretty much the same, students feel empowered, as they know what to do, and can get down to business, and you aren't using up valuable minutes explaining things for the umpteenth time.

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, Because the apple basket counting game, was a popular download, I decided to revisit that concept using pumpkins.  Print off the farmer's wagon on brown construction paper, laminate and trim.  Do the same thing with the pumpkin tile master.  Have each child take 20 pumpkin tiles, (or to expedite things, have 20 pre-counted and put in Snack Baggies. After children have played the game, to make sure that they have 20 pumpkins, have students count them one at a time into their bag.) This is great counting practice for little ones, and also ensures that you don't have incomplete games, because pumpkins fell on the floor. 

Children choose a partner and share the wagon.  The object of the game is to get all of your pumpkins into the wagon, by taking turns rolling the dice.  Whatever number a child rolls, is how many pumpkins they pick up from their pile and place in the wagon.  You can make the game more difficult, by having students roll an exact number towards the end of the game.  i.e. if they have only 1 pumpkin left, they need to roll a one.

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, In the game "Roll and Color," children roll a dice.  Whatever number they roll, is the matching numbered section on their pumpkin, that they color.  The first child with a completly colored-in pumpkin is the winner. 

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, "Roll and Draw" works with the same rules, only children draw a shape on their pumpkin to make a Jack-O-Lantern.  This is a great opportunity to review a square, triangle, circle and rectangle, and possibly introduce the crescent shape as well.

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, 5 little pumpkin activities, 5 little pumpkins game,halloween activities, Because 5 Little Pumpkins Sitting On a Gate, is such a popular rhyme/story in October, I thought it would be fun to follow it up with a game.  To conserve paper, you can print, laminate and trim the gates.  If copying is not an issue for your school, it's nice if each child can have their own "gate" so they can continue to practice at home.

Run off the pumpkin master.  Students color and cut out their pumpkins and place them on the gate.  When you are explaining the game, you have a great opportunity to review ordinal numbers as well.  Children take turns rolling a dice with their partner.  Whatever number they roll, they take the matching numbered pumpkin off the gate and have it go "rolling into the night..."  The first child who gets all of their pumpkins off the gate is the winner.

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, Pumpkins in a Row on a Roll is similar.  Children color the numbered pumpkin that matches the number that they roll.  I also made an ordinal number activity with this same template.  This is wonderful practice for listening and following directions too, as the teacher reads what (s)he wants students to do.

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, Finally, children trace the numbers and color their pumpkins as they take turns rolling the dice in Pumpkins On A Roll . Simply run off the template, trim and give each student a strip of pumpkins.  Click on the link to view/download the Pumpkin Games packet.

pumpkin activities, pumpkin games, pumpkin math, math games, pumpkin centers, math centers, counting games, counting pumpkins, common core pumpkins, dice games, october games, halloween games, halloween activities, Thanks for visiting today.  I blog daily, so I hope you can pop back tomorrow for the latest FREEBIES hot off the press. Feel free to PIN anything from my site.  I think sharing is so important, and truly appreciate everyone's creative abilities, that help us roll with it"  rather than spend time, we don't have, reinventing the wheel.  To ensure that "pinners" return to THIS blog article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black, now click on the "Pin it" button, located on the menu.  If you'd like to take a peek at my awesome educational boards, click on the heart to the right of the blog.

"A college degree and a teaching certificate, may define a person as a teacher, but it takes hard word and dedication to truly be one." -Evan Esar

8 pages.  Common Core State Standard: 1.G.3

This craftivity is a quick and easy way to show fractions, and build that math vocabulary.

1-2-3 Come Play Some Interesting and Fun Math Games With Me!

Are you looking for some quick and easy ideas to do for the 1st day of school? Then I think you'll enjoy these simple bubble activities.

bookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersStart things off, by leaving the "I'm bubbling with excitement that you are in my class." bookmarks, as a cute surprise left on your students' desks.  I found this sweet saying on Pinterest as valentine cards with heart bubbles. Click on the link to check out this creative teacher's original post. 

Adding a small bottle of bubbles is an inexpensive way to help make children feel especially welcome.  (The Dollar Store sells 3 to 6 in a pack.  You can also buy a box of 20 mini wedding bubbles at most craft stores.)

blowing bubbles math activityLet students know that they will be allowed to blow bubbles at recess or at the end of the day.  Have them count how many bubbles they blew in 1 breath and then graph the results. (Template included.) What a simple icebreaker sure to get your kiddos excited about being in school.

bookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersbookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersTo incorporate more math, print off the bubble picture cards, laminate and trim. 

I've included cards from 1 to 20.

To help strengthen upper body muscles, students lie on they tummies and sequence the cards in the proper order.  Using opalescent flat-backed glass "marbles" as manipulatives, (they look like "real" bubbles) they make a group/set above the number card to show "how many".  

So things don't get cluttered, use the larger glass "bubbles" for numbers less than 10 and the smaller ones for numbers 11-20. The "marbles" provide hands-on fun, and make counting more interesting. They are an inexpensive manipulative. 

bookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersWhere did I get this idea? While in Hobby Lobby, I overheard a little girl ask her mom if she could buy a bag of them. 

When her mom asked her why she wanted them, "Kara" replied: "Because they are flat bubbles that won't pop!" I thought, "Wow! What can I make with 'flat bubbles'?" and the rest is history...

I've also included a set of number-word bubbles.  Run the templates off on blue construction paper, laminate & trim. Older students can match the number word bubble, to the picture cards.

bookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersFor more fun, run off the "bubble wand" on a variety of colors of construction paper, cut out the centers and laminate so they can double as a "magnifying glass" for students to "spy" and cover numbers or whatever.  

bookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersFor a "get the wiggles" out game, have students use their paper bubble wands, to find hidden bubbles around the room, or use them as an assessment tool for a whole group identification activity.  i.e. you display a bubble card and students raise their wand if they know the answer, providing a quick way to whole group assess comprehension.  Play "Swish."  After the number is correctly identified, have students swish their wand that many times. (Swish left-right-left for a number 3 bubble card.)

Click on the link to view/download the Back To School Bubble Math Activity Packet.

bookmarks, 1st day of school ideas, ideas for the first day of school, gifts for students, 1st day treat ideas, treat bag alternatives, treat bags, bubble activities, bubble lessons, common core bubbles, free common core lessons for kindergarten and first grade, CCSS math for kindergarten, back to school ideas, back to school activities, counting activities, one-to-one correspondence activities, free bookmarks for back to school, bookmarks for back to school, math games, math centers, math games for kindergarten, math centers for kindergarten, games for the 1st week of school, icebreakersThanks for visiting.  As always, feel free to PIN away.  If you'd like to see all of he excellent educational things I spend too much time Pinning, simply click on the "Follow Me" heart to the right of the blog.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world." -Einstein

Let's Keep Things Rolling! More Math Games With A Dice Theme

math games, dice games, math centers, addition and subtraction games, addition and subtraction centers, counting by 2's 3's 5's, skip counting activities, skip counting ideas, skip counting lessons, traceable number cards, traceable skip counting cards, number flashcards,I made Dice Game Stuff to go with the addition, subtraction, greater & less than dice games featured in the last 2 articles.

Click on the link to view/download the packet.

Whenever I taught a concept to my Y5’s I liked to stick with a theme.

It kept things simple, organized and less complicated for them.

I also had everything I needed handy and things just seem to flow from one transition into the next.

I could also overlap the various subjects too.

Here are some things you can do with these items:

The Make your own dice is a nice home-school connection where students can practice their cutting skills, something for a sub folder, or that extra activity students can do when they’ve finished everything else.

Run it off on cardstock. Give students a jingle bell to glue inside for added fun.

The large red dice make perfect flashcards when young students are learning to identify groups with a number.

Print them off, laminate, cut them out and keep them with your calendar or story time “stuff”.

math games, dice games, math centers, addition and subtraction games, addition and subtraction centers, counting by 2's 3's 5's, skip counting activities, skip counting ideas, skip counting lessons, traceable number cards, traceable skip counting cards, number flashcards,You can also punch a hole in one corner and put them on a split ring.

Run off the smaller copies for students to make a split ring flipbook as well.  You flash your large number and they flip through their little ones to see who can find it the fastest.

Run off the Smaller Red-Dot Dice, laminate and cut out and make Memory Match Concentration games. Students can match them dice to dice or dice to number.

Laminate the number and symbol cards as well.  These too, can be used as Memory Match games or have students make equations with them.

Students can roll real dice, make an equation with the laminated paper dice, and then write down the equation on a sheet of scratch paper.

Set the timer to ring after 5 minutes.  Students can play individually or with a partner.

The person with the most equations completed when the timer rings, is the winner.

math games, dice games, math centers, addition and subtraction games, addition and subtraction centers, counting by 2's 3's 5's, skip counting activities, skip counting ideas, skip counting lessons, traceable number cards, traceable skip counting cards, number flashcards,The traceable number flashcards offer a nice way to review skip counting by 2’s, 3’s and 5’s.

I’m always looking for easy and interesting ways to plug that concept in, for a quick review my kiddo’s would think was fun, so they’d want to continue practicing.

I made covers for the traceable flashcards so they can be turned into Itty Bitty booklets.

Run off extra sets on different colors to make Memory Match Concentration games.  You can also play I Have; Who Has? with them as well.

I hope you enjoy getting things rolling with your little ones and they have fun with these activities.

math games, dice games, math centers, addition and subtraction games, addition and subtraction centers, counting by 2's 3's 5's, skip counting activities, skip counting ideas, skip counting lessons, traceable number cards, traceable skip counting cards, number flashcards,Feel free to PIN anything you think others might find useful.

Thanks for visiting!

"Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint you can on it."  -Danny Kaye

Stripe It Up With Seuss And Show Me A Pattern!

Let’s face it, when you have a lot of little munchkins and not a whole lot of time to get assessments done, it’s nice to be able to do some whole-group activities with your students, so that you can see at a glance who has the concept and who is still struggling.

An effective, as well as fun way to do this, is by making the assessment into a hands-on activity.  Dr. Seuss Activities, Activities for Dr. Seuss day, Cat in the hat activities, activities for cat in the hat day, Dr. seuss activities for kindergarten and first grade, cat in the hat activities for kindergarten and first grade, math activities for Dr. seuss, math activities for cat in the hat, patterning activities, Dr. seuss hat, cat in the hat, crafts for dr. seuss day, crafts for cat in the hat day, math centers for kindergarten and first grade, To assess patterning, run off my stripe template on a variety of colored construction paper and then laminate.

There are 20 stripes per sheet, so if you have 25 students in your class, you will need 5 pieces of each color, so they can make an ABAB pattern and fill their hat.

I like to use every color, as being able to recognize colors is a report card standard for the Y5’s. I can use this game as a “teachable moment” to hold up different colored stripes and have students say the colors in English, Sign Language, as well as Spanish.

Laminate the construction paper and then cut out the strips using a paper cutter.  If you want to keep colors organized keep them in plastic baskets.

This also helps students practice sorting and several life skills, or you can opt to dump them all into plastic shoe boxes and set one on each table.

Run off the Seuss hat on white construction paper, laminate and cut out.  Tell students that you want them to show you various patterns using the stripes.

Explain to them that the white stripe will always be one of the color stripes.  This will help expedite the game.  Call out a pattern that you want the children to show you such as ABAB.

The students pick up 4 stripes of one color and place them on their hat: red-white-red-white etc. Other patterns I assess:  ABCABC -  ABBA  &  AABBAABB. Dr. Seuss Activities, Activities for Dr. Seuss day, Cat in the hat activities, activities for cat in the hat day, Dr. seuss activities for kindergarten and first grade, cat in the hat activities for kindergarten and first grade, math activities for Dr. seuss, math activities for cat in the hat, patterning activities, Dr. seuss hat, cat in the hat, crafts for dr. seuss day, crafts for cat in the hat day, math centers for kindergarten and first grade, You look around the room and see that everyone has it correct and help strugglers.

If you want to have a sample to show students one that is done correctly, run off extra copies of the hat and color in the various patterns, or put magnet strip on the back of the hat and strips and demonstrate on the white board.  I've also included a spinner and tally sheet if you want to make this into an independent game.

Children play with 2-4 players taking turns spinning the Cat In The Hat spinner.  Whatever pattern they land on they stripe their hat and make a tally on their "I Can Pattern How About That!" sheet.  Play continues 'tl the timer rings.  Teacher walks around to check and see how everyone is doing.

Dr. Seuss Activities, Activities for Dr. Seuss day, Cat in the hat activities, activities for cat in the hat day, Dr. seuss activities for kindergarten and first grade, cat in the hat activities for kindergarten and first grade, math activities for Dr. seuss, math activities for cat in the hat, patterning activities, Dr. seuss hat, cat in the hat, dr. seuss crafts, cat in the hat crafts, math centers for kindergarten and first grade, After the game, pass out copies of the hat for students to cut out and color whatever pattern and colors that are their favorites.

Remind them that the stripes no longer have to be white and could even be rainbow-colored.  Students write their name on the brim.

Dr. Seuss Activities, Activities for Dr. Seuss day, Cat in the hat activities, activities for cat in the hat day, Dr. seuss activities for kindergarten and first grade, cat in the hat activities for kindergarten and first grade, math activities for Dr. seuss, math activities for cat in the hat, patterning activities, Dr. seuss hat, cat in the hat, dr. seuss crafts, cat in the hat crafts, math centers for kindergarten and first grade, To help strengthen finger muscles, students can also do a rip & tear Dr. Seuss Hat. For a nice variety, allow students to choose whatever colored construction paper stripes they want.

Dr. Seuss Activities, Activities for Dr. Seuss day, Cat in the hat activities, activities for cat in the hat day, Dr. seuss activities for kindergarten and first grade, cat in the hat activities for kindergarten and first grade, math activities for Dr. seuss, math activities for cat in the hat, patterning activities, Dr. seuss hat, cat in the hat, dr. seuss bookmark, math centers for kindergarten and first grade, Click on the link to view/download Dr. Seuss Hat Patterning Activity

When everyone is done, give them a "Hats Off To You!" Cat in the Hat bookmark.  Click on the link to view/download the Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat bookmark.

Do you have a patterning tip you’d like to share?  I’d enjoy hearing from you.  diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to comment here especially if you use one of my ideas.   Thanks in advance.

Let's Play A Math Game!

Dominoes are an inexpensive and fun math manipulative to help your students practice simple addition and subtraction facts.  Dominic the Domino Snowman makes it even more interesting.  He needs buttons for his belly! 

Here's how to help him:

  • dominoes, math game, snowman activities, math centers, centers, games with dominoes, math games with dominoes,snowman ideas, math facts, addition and subtraction activities, addition and subtraction games, If you want all of your students to play as a whole group, run off a class set of snowmen. Have students play in groups of 2-4 so they can share dominoes.  They sell them at The Dollar Store.
  •  If you don’t have dominoes, use my template and print off a class set, or some for your students so they can have a Dominic and dominoes to practice at home.
  •  You can color the snowmen, or have students color them and then laminate the playing boards so you can use them every year.
  •  Children will use dry erase markers to record their answers and then wipe them off with a wet wipe.
  • Write the directions: Roll, Find, Place, Write, Solve on the board.
  • Demonstrate how to play the game.
  • Students obtain the dominoes by rolling 2 dice twice and finding the appropriate dominoes.
  • i.e, If they roll a 1 and a 5, they find the domino with one dot and five dots and place that to the side.
  •  The student then rolls the second time and rolls a 2 and a 3.
  • They find that domino.
  • dominoes, math games, math games with dominoes, snowman activities, snowman ideas, snowmen, games, math centers, center ideas,Since the first domino has larger numbers, they put that domino on top so that they can subtract. They put the smaller numbered domino on the bottom.
  • Students add the “buttons” of the domino to get the first number to add and and then later subtract and then add the “buttons” of the second domino to get the second number to add and later subtract. 
  •  Students write these equations vertically on their snowman and solve the problem.
  • On a sheet of  paper, students write the equations horizontally and solve the problem.
  • Set a timer to ring after about 10 minutes.
  • The student with the most correct answers wins the game.

Do you have a math game that you play with your students? I'd enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com and if you use one of my freebies I'd really enjoy a comment.  Thanks in advance.

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more creative teaching tips.

    Gabby The Number Apple Slider: A Fun Way To Count On 100 Day
    • 100 day ideas, 100 day activities, 100 day charts, 100 day traceable number grids, 100 day counting activities, 100 day math activities, 100 day apple slider, apples, apple activities, counting by 5's, counting by 10's, I specifically set up this 100-grid with the numbers starting with 10-20-30-40 etc. instead of ending with those numbers like most of the 100 number grids you’ll find.
    •  traceable numbers, 100 day activities 100 day ideas, 100 day centers, 100 day math ideas, 100 day math activities, apple activities, apple ideas, apple number slider, counting by 5's, counting by 10's, I don't want students to be able to see that number coming at the end, so they are indeed memorizing it.  This is a difficult concept for some.
      •  I also wanted to be able to take one strip at a time and focus on that complete set of numbers if I wanted to.
        •  Another reason is that my students are learning to read from left to right so if I want to count by 10’s to 100 it’s easier for them to “see” that if the numbers are on the left going to the right.
        •  I made this number grid horizontal so that I could make the squares bigger so that my traceable numbers could also be larger.
        • traceable 100's chart, 100 day activities, 100 day ideas, 100 day math centers, 100 day counting activities, 100 day art project, apple slider, apple activities, counting by 5's, counting by 10's, apples, I've also included a traceable 100's chart, which is often hard to find.
        • After I got these grids designed I thought they’d be perfect for a slider.  So I made “Gabby Apple” with wiggle eyes.

        I hope your students enjoy making and learning with her. Click on the link to view/print the pix, patterns and directions. 100 Day Apple Slider and 100 charts. Thanks for visiting.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find useful.

        "What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens." -Thadddeus Golas

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