1-2-3 Come Do Some Spider Math With Me

Since we study spiders in October, I thought it would be fun to design a craftivity, that would not only help reinforce the science fact that spiders are not insects, but arachnids because they have 8 legs, but also practice several of the math standards that we’re also working on.

Thus “Midnight”, the “8 is Great!” math spider was born, where children show you various ways to represent the number 8

Since a spider has two body segments (cephalothorax & abdomen) which look like the number 8, I created a number template. (Remember to grab that “teachable moment” to build vocabulary with these science terms.)

Students fold the pattern in half, cut on the bold lines, then open to reveal the spider’s number 8 body, which they glue 8 legs to.
Because the number is cut on a fold it’s easy-peasy even for PK children!

The craft is versatile, as you can differentiate the “leg labels” (math skills) you want to practice.

Younger kiddos can simply make the spider, while kinder and 1st graders can practice tally marks, addition, subtraction, as well as greater & less than.

There's also a blank template, so older students can subtract larger numbers or show 8 with multiplication & division.

Are you learning time to the hour? You also have the option to include a clock face where students draw hands to show 8 O’Clock.

Since my students are also learning about fractions (whole, half, and quarters) I included a fraction pie too. 

Use the pie pattern that’s cut into fourths then have students turn it into eighths by making an X in the center, or simply use the 8-piece pie pattern.

There's also a fraction poster that shows the various fractions, which will help you explain what you want your students to do.

Legs can lay flat, or they can be folded to add some 3D pop.
Add a bit more pizzazz by suspending the spiders from the web pattern.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board or dangle them from the ceiling as a hallway-wall border.

I’ve included two “8 is Great!” posters to use for the center of your display, as well as a “Show Me Eight!” worksheet. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is "Peek-a-Eeek!"  a 2D, spider-themed shape booklet.

You can make just a copy for yourself and use it to review the basic 2D flat shapes with your students, or run off copies of the shapes and have students cut and glue them into a booklet of their own. 

Well that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by.

I'm reading a pumpkin story for "orange day" at my grandson's preschool today, so time to add the finishing touches to my "splash of orange" outfit. (Orange nail polish and all!)

Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"We lose ourselves in books.  We find ourselves there too." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Spider-ific Activities With Me!

I guess a lot of people must be doing a spider theme this month, as spider activities have been my #1 download this past week.  It's certainly a nice alternative if your school doesn't celebrate Halloween.

I have some quicky spider activities for you today. The Spider Web Roll & Color game will help students review math skills in a fun way.  Younger students choose a partner and take turns rolling a dice.  Whatever number they roll, they color in a section of their web.  I made the spider webs small, so coloring won't be so time consuming.

Older students roll 2 dice and add them together.  I've also included a web worksheet where children write down their equations.  There's also a prediction sheet.  Students take a guess of how many individual sections there are on the web, and then figure out the correct answer.  Click on the link to view/download the Spider Web game. 

Since the October Pumpkin and Fire Safety Bibliographies have been popular, I decided to make one for my all-time favorite Spider books too. Click on the link to view/print the Spider Bibliography. 

Finally, the Speaking of Spiders packet is chock full of writing activities and includes a venn diagram for comparing spiders and bats. 

Since many of my Y5's think that a spider is an insect, I also made a Venn diagram where students compare spiders with insects. Venn diagrams are a terrific way to practice comparison & contrast.

There's a Spiders can... worksheet, as well as a spider KWL and several fact versus opinion activities. 

Involve some science and have students label their spider.  I've included a fact sheet that will help explain the parts of a spider. 

Also included is a mini spider report - graphic organizer, as well as a spider acrostic poem page + 2 adjective and verb practice pages.

Click on the link to view/download the Speaking of Spiders packet.

I know a lot of my visitors collect the themed 10 frames to switch things up each month. 

If that's you, click on the link for the spider-themed 10 frames packet.  

If you also do the 1-2-3 Count With Me easy reader booklets, based on a 10 frame, click on the link for the 1-2-3 Count Spiders With Me  FREEBIE. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  I hope you can drop by tomorrow to grab some more FREEBIES.   I'm off to help my daughter with a children's sale.  Wishing you a fun-filled fall day too. 

"Good things are attracted to a good heart." -Kobi Yamada

1-2-3 Come Do Some Spider Stuff With Me!

Even though I am absolutely creeped out by spiders, I LOVED teaching our spider unit to my Y5's.  These spiders were cute and not creepy. The reason I hate real ones, is a huge pine spider dropped from the ceiling onto my shoulder, when I was lying on a cot at our cottage.  I was only 5, but I still remember it. Yikes!

Anything I design with shapes seems to be downloaded quite often, so I decided to whip together some 2D flat shape activities, featuring some sweet spiders. 

These lessons are quite versatile.  Use them for independent math centers, table top lessons, a Daily 5 option, review, game, or even a whole-group assessment!

Inky is a quick and easy "craftivity."  Students trace, cut and glue their spider slider together.  Add some wiggle eyes for extra pizzazz and have students trace and color the shapes.  Cut slits and insert the shape slider. 

Teacher calls out a shape and children slide their strip up and down 'til they locate Inky's "tongue."  If you want to whole-group assess, have students show you their answer. 

Click on the link to view/download the spider slider shape craftivity.

Peek-A-Eek is another "craftivity" that you can simply make for yourself and share as a read-aloud to review the basic 2D-flat shapes.  

I used a file folder to make my easy-reader sturdier. 

If you want your kiddo's to have their own, simply trim some folders and have them glue the cover (circle web page) to the front, and the hexagon web page to the inside. 

Make a fluffy spider, by gluing a black pom pom to the center of the hexagon shape.  This is the last page.  

Trim and assemble the rest of the pages.  Cut the "web window" shapes out so that the spider will peek through all of the pages.  Click on the link to view/download Peek-A-Eek the spider shape booklet.

Spin A Spider is also quick and easy.  Your little ones will enjoy taking turns spinning.  Whatever shape they spin, they color or bingo dot the matching  spider on their web. 

I've included spider cards with the shapes as well as the shape words on them.  Laminate and trim into puzzles. 

Besides putting together a puzzle, use the cards for a Memory Match, or "I Have; Who Has?" game.  There's also a "Match the spider shape to the shape word" activity.  Students can use the spinner to fill in this worksheet as well.   Click on the link to view/download the Spin A Spider game packet.

Finally, I made a Spider Shape game, that matches the other themed ones that have been so popular. 

Run off the shape tiles on a variety of colors of construction paper; laminate and trim.  Students place the tile onto the matching spider card. Click on the above link to view/download. 

Thanks for visiting today.  I design and try to blog daily, so I hope you can pop  by tomorrow to grab a few more FREEBIES. If there's something you need, drop me an e-mail with your request and I'll see what I can do: diane@teachwithme.com

  "To LOVE what you do and feel that it matters-what could be more fun?" -Katherine Graham.  (I am so blessed to be doing what I so enjoy! I hope my endeavors make your life a little easier and teaching even more fun. )

1-2-3 Do Some Fall Games With Me

Since the apple and pumpkin shape games, as well as the apple and pumpkin number games, were such a huge hit, I decided to design some for the rest of the popular fall themes.  There are sets for leaves, spiders, bats, owls and turkeys.  If I've missed a theme that you do, and would like games for, simply shoot me an e-mail: diane@teachwithme.com and I'll see what I can do.

Number words were always part of my word wall.  I found that the more contact my students had with these words, the easier it became for them to automatically recognize and read them.  Playing word games made learning them interesting and fun.  To make the games, print off the cards, laminate them and then trim. 

Students clip a clothespin to the number that matches the number word on the themed-card.  So that students can self-check, put an X on the back of the card in the location of the correct answer.  I kept clothespins in a tub and games in their own separate Baggy. 

There's a blank set of cards for each theme, so that you can program higher numbers, or use for whatever.  Click on the link to view/download the Fall Themed Number Word Clothespin Games.

To go along with the apple and pumpkin shape games, I also made 5 more fall-themed shape matching games.   They too include the above sets: leaves, spiders, bats, owls and turkeys. 

Run off the shape template on a variety of colors of construction paper; laminate and trim.  Students place the colored shape tile onto the matching shape on the themed card.   The shapes on the cards also include the shape word, to help reinforce word recognition as well. 

I've included a blank set of cards with these sets too, so that you can program them with more shapes or whatever.  Click on the link to view/download the Fall Shape Matching Game packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  I design and blog every day, so I hope you can stop by again tomorrow, for the newest FREEBIES.  Feel free to PIN away.  I think sharing makes everyone's life easier.    If you'd like to see all of the educational items that I pin, click on the heart to the right of the blog. 

"This above all else: to thine own self be true." -William Shakespeare