Math Tubs #3

Here is another little math tub idea that again focuses on addition. Back during December, I purchased some cute name tags from Target (the hang-y ones for gifts). The kids used these cute sparkly name tags to make patterns.

I was putting them away for next year when I realized we could use the snowmen tags for something new! I took the tags and wrote numbers on the backs (1-10).

To Play: The kids spread the cards (tags) face up where they cannot see the numbers on back. Choose 2 cards over and use cotton balls to add. For example: in the photo I turned over 9 and 3. So, I would then take 9 cotton balls and 3 cotton balls. Then, I "touch and count" all the cotton balls back into the math tubs container. You could also allow kids to use the total number of cotton balls to build a snowman. I bet there would be some interesting snowmen!!

Math Tub #2

Ok, here is another new math tub I am implementing. Again the purpose is for the kids to begin practicing addition independently.

Materials Needed:

egg carton

marker

plastic colored snowflake confetti(or other manipulative)

Here you use an empty egg cartoon and write numerals 1-10 (you will have to repeat a couple numbers) in the bottom of the individual sections.

You can use any manipulatives (teddy bears, unifix cubes, counters, etc.) but I found some cute plastic snowflakes at Walmart in the seasonal section that come in 3 colors - silver, white, and blue.

To begin, I am using the white and blue snowflakes (later on they will be able to add 3 digits and I will use the third color).

To Play:

Place 2 snowflakes (or other manipulatives) in the egg carton and close. Shake the carton (kids love this) and then open. The 2 snowflakes will land on a number inside the egg carton. Kids will use those 2 numbers to add.

For example, if the blue snowflake landed on 3 and the white snowflake landed on 6 - children will "act out" this problem by lining up 3 blue snowflakes and then lining up white snowflakes below. Then, they will touch and count to find the total.

Again, I am not using recording sheets just yet because I want to keep the focus on the process and not a product!

Math Tub #1

Here is the first math tub I will be teaching when we return next week. The kids have used these sticks to practice counting since the beginning of the year. I used 5 gallon paint stir sticks (big ones from Home Depot - like 50cents). I have 20 colored stickers in increments of five. Kids have been using them to clip a clothespin on each dot to count all the way to 20.

Now they will extend their use by using clothespins with a colored star (just the colored foil stars) to add. In the example above, 3 blue stars + 2 red stars = 5 stars!! Partners can work together. One child can "make" a problem and the other child "reads" the problem. I do NOT use a recording sheet for this tub because the point is for them to "make" and "read" a simple addition problem. They enjoy doing this and become very proficient in "making" and "reading" adding problems.