A lot has happened since we went on fall break. We have started using number lines, changed our writing from writing informative pieces to now writing narratives (writing to tell a story) and finished our pop rocks writing project. Thank you pinterest for this idea, the kids loved it!
With the new Common Core standards for math it is important that first graders know a variety of strategies to use for addition. Over the past few weeks we have worked with the strategies of counting on by 1,2, or 3 and usinga number line to add. We played Number Line SCOOT to help us get familiar with a number line and how to fill in a number line. Scoot is a game where everyone sits in a circle and has a problem card in front of them, each card has a number that corresponds to an answer recording page. The students sit down at a problem card and write the answer on their recording page. After everyone has answered they all "scoot" to the next problem. (The picture is blurry because I tried to catch them "scooting" and it is an activity with a lot of moving around).
After we mastered the number line we played a game on the computer and used our number lines to practice adding.
The next step was to start learning about the counting on by 1,2, or 3 strategy. For this strategy we needed to use all our number line skills and apply them (our goal for first grade is to not rely on counting using our fingers so we are learning to use tools to help us as we build up our math fluency). We played Counting On Mingle where we were each given a flashcard and had to find other people with cards that had the same strategy as ours (for example: 1 + 5 and 6+1 are botht eh counting on by 1 strategy so they could group together). We also played a game called Spin a Strategy (another amazing pinterest find:) ). The kids loved getting to work with a partner to show off everything they learned about the strategy.
We also wrote about if we were bats, but since those are still drying I'll just let you wait for those eagerly over the weekend and will share them next week with you. :)
Have a great weekend!
Have a great weekend!