Teaching Money

Two blog posts in the same month--WHOA! What is going on?! ;)

So one main thing we have been learning about in my classroom lately has been MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

We have been looking at money for a few weeks now, studying the features of each coin and its value:

Here is a money chart I made with a previous class:

We have also done many activities to make equivalent sets of coins:

I have some kids that can count coin collections by 2s, 5s, 10s, 20s--and then I have kids who cannot point out a nickel. With such a wide range of knowledge, I have to make sure that I have good, quality activities that meet the needs of all levels of my learners. Since I teach math in small groups, I am able to easily differentiate for the different levels.

In the Math with Technology station, my students have been playing these games:

Here are our FAVORITE money videos to watch:

And today I created this fun little station activity to use next week!!

In SWAP!, students will match cards that have the same value. There are 5 sets of cards that include 3 levels of play.

 *BONUS* Each set of cards also includes a QR code version!

Check out SWAP! here:

And since St. Patty's Day is coming up, now is a good time to check out this fun, little activity:

It is part of this pack, which includes MORE money activities:

Adios! :)

Building Number Sense on a 100 Chart

Yes, yes, yes, it has been a while since my last blog post. I'd like to not have so much time in between them but life kind of gets in the way of that!! :)

I am here today to bring you a number sense game that I use as a daily warm-up, but can also be used as a whole group, small group or math center/station activity.

Building number sense is something that all grade levels should must have to, have to can do. ;) It is especially important for K-2 to build number sense in order to lay the foundation for higher level math. (Not to mention that number sense is needed to do everyday activities such as cooking, games and playing sports!)

One tool you can use to help build number sense is the 100 chart:

The activity I want to share is called "Arrow Arithmetic" in It Makes Sense! Using the Hundreds Chart to Build Number Sense (click below to view the book).

In this activity, students will receive a clue such as:

and will use the 100 chart to figure out the answer. So how do they figure out the missing number??? They have to use the arrows and some number sense! 

Each arrow represents a direction you can go on the 100 chart: left (-1), right (+1), down (+10) and up (-10). Students can use a 100 chart to determine that the missing number is 45. Eventually, students will be able to determine the answer using mental math and even be able to solve problems that include diagonal arrows. And what does that eventually lead to?? Being able to add and subtract two-digit numbers using mental math!

Pretty cool, huh?!

I urge you to give this activity a try. My students LOVE it and beg to play it every day (which lately, we have been doing)! And they are REALLY good at it. :)

I made a little activity pack to go with the Arrow Game activity from the book:

The pack includes two sets of arrow cards, 1 easy and 1 challenging. Also, allow students to self-check with QR codes:

I have also included a few practice pages:

It's even on sale for SuperBowl Sunday!

Check out the activity here:

P.S. Need some 100 charts for your class? I've got a set for your FOR FREE! Click below!

Duct Tape Number Line

I am linking up to Tara's Monday Made It!

I am a HUGE proponent of using manipulatives and hands-on activities to teach math (and other subjects) in ALL grade levels! Just because students are older does not mean that abstract thinking and understanding is automatic. Sometimes, they just need to put their hands on it in order to fully grasp it.

So today, I made a duct tape number line!

The number line is about 6 feet long. I wanted it big enough for a small group of students to all use at once. During math stations, students will choose the cards out of a baggie one at a time and then place them on a number line. To assist in the ordering process, students have access to base-ten blocks to model the numbers.

Like it? Make your own duct tape number line and use the number cards from this freebie:

Enjoy!!

AARRRRGH! Pirate Place Value!

A few years ago, I created this little guy:

...which came from this pack:

Well, that was 3 years ago, so it was time for an UPDATE! Ta-da!!:

I gave EVERY page a facelift, changed up some of the activities and added a few new things.

I am SO excited about the changes--I hope you enjoy as well! If you already have it, be sure to download it again! If you don't have it already, click below to check it out! I have it on sale through Monday! :)

Decimal Place Value Notebook BUNDLE!

Upper elementary friends, I have another update for you! Last week I updated my Place Value Notebook Package and this week I updated:

Every page got an update on fonts and format (and are more printer-friendly):

I also added some new picture examples:

There are some NEW activities and interactive pages:

Also, I updated these little pages:

AANNNNNDDDD, I added the above-mentioned pages (with some bonus content) to the decimal notebook package, now making it a BUNDLE!

If you own it, download it again to see the new content! If you do not own it, you can purchase it from one of my stores--and you may want to wait until the Back to School Sale kicks off on TPT to save up to 28%!

Starts TOMORROW!!!