This Math lesson is ideal for Grade One students.

Objective:
Students will learn how to count backwards from 5 and to subtract one from any number from 1 to 5.

Activating:
This activating activity gets the students excited and thinking about numbers! Gather the students together on the carpet area. Sing the song, “Five Little Ducks” with the students. Sing through the song several times. Then have students dramatize it by choosing five students to be the little ducks and one student to be the mother duck. Grade One students usually like to crawl to act out the little ducks.
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Math can be daunting to many students and to some teachers as well. Many math concepts seem to confuse younger children, and a substantial number of adults grow up feeling less than confident about their mathematic skills. The way that numbers and mathematic operations are taught in North America is really quite different than in other parts of the world. In Asia, students are taught division first and then subtracting, as ‘sharing’ items with others is a logical way to begin. (4 cookies shared between 2 students is really 4 ÷ 2.) In some languages, the names of numbers also make more sense. For instance, in Chinese, 13 is said 10 + 3, which is really beneficial when it comes to learning addition. If you think about it, the way the numbers from 10-19 are named in English is quite confusing.
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We are please to announced our first Board Game – this is a downloadable board game like snakes and ladders where students roll a dice and advance according to their answers on the 40 full color game cards!

Our first game is Grade 4 Decimals — lots more to come soon!

Grade 4 Decimals Printable Board Game

In Early Years classrooms, from Kindergarten to Grade Three, a great way to begin the day is with calendar time. During calendar time, students learn about time (days of the week, months of the year, and seasons) and about numbers. Routine in learning is very important, especially for younger students, as it helps the students be prepared for what they will learn. Repetition is also important as it solidifies concepts and facts in the students’ minds. Calendar Math should be presented in a similar way each school morning. Having students sit in a carpeted area near the calendar works well.
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The Power of Ten approach to teaching Elementary Math, originated by Trevor Calkins, is designed to help students really understand number concepts and operations. The following activities and games can be used to support teaching that uses the Power of Ten. (more...)