MAKE IT A MATHEMATICAL MARCH

I don't know about you, but spring math in first grade is so much fun. You have introduced most of the standards and now you can take your babes to the next level.  Over the years, I have learned to sneak these higher-level thinking skills into the mix.  If you add cute graphics, manipulatives (dice, dominoes, or cards), and call it a game . . . you've got 'em eating out of the palm of your hand.  Heaven knows this is a LIVE SAVER during those LONG as all get out afternoons with the little guys.  

Well, I attempted to create a collection that does just this for firsties. On that note, I'd like to introduce you to my March Math Station Activities, Games, & More Packet :)  It's a doozie and you don't have to buy it to run with many of the ideas.  Keep reading . . . I promise to make it worth your while.  

Let me back up for a moment . . . I am kinda OCD about the games that I create.  I like to make sure that the games actually work with kids.  So, I jumped the March gun just a bit this week and tested a few of my games out with our crew.  I got thumbs up on all of them :)

We have been really trying to work in more PE . . . so, I extended our in class skip counting review lesson into the great outdoors.  This one is called Puddle Jumpin' and the kids were delighted.  One babe even said, "Thanks for letting us play this, Mrs. Dolling!!"  Um . . . talk about fillin' this teacher's bucket! You can do this with your own class any time this spring.  Simply set up a course of "puddles" (cones or hula hoops) and host a skip counting relay race. Place your kiddos into teams of 4-5 and have them hop or dodge the "puddles" as they skip count. When we finished, we came in and colored a hundreds chart to help "see" the actual number patterns.  Finally, we completed a skip counting practice sheet.  It was a glorious way to break up the post-lunch period.  

Skip counting by 10s from any number has been a HUGE challenge for us.  So, it came back this month with a sweet treat attached.  Sure, you can snag my packet and get all of this stuff pre-made for you, but you can also roll with this one without me.  To play Chasing Rainbows, each kiddo will need two 6-sided dice or a spinner to 8, a recording sheet, a hundreds chart, and a handful of SKITTLES.  Easy, right??  Kids roll or spin to get a 2-digit number.  The first Skittle is placed over this number on the hundreds chart.  Kids then use three additional candies to count down the chart by 10s.  This number sequence is then recorded on a game sheet. Is this too hard for some of your crew??  No worries.  I have a quick fix for you. Simply count on by ones instead of tens. BOOM . . . not too shabby, huh??!! My class loved this one and we will definitely be playing it again next week.  (SIDE NOTE . . . just so we get the connection here . . . Chasing Rainbows is based upon the old slogan "Taste The Rainbow" from the Skittles peeps.)

We also tried out The End of the Rainbow game.  It works on comparing numbers and place value . . . it makes them think outside of the box a bit too. The kids need a laminated (or "sleeved") game board, two 10-sided die (or one double 10-sided die), and a white board marker.  You may also want to give them a hundreds chart to reference if need be.  The game board has 9 slots between 0-100 that need to be filled.  Kids roll the die/dice to make a 2-digit number.  They then decide where they should write it on the game board. If the number is closer to 0, they want to write it in one of slots on the left.  If the number is closer to 100 they want to write it in a circle closer to the right. Make sense??  It's easy at first, but depending on how they placed their numbers, they may have gotten themselves into a bit of a leprechaun trap. You see, the numbers must be recorded from least to greatest.  SO . . . if they roll a number that does NOT keep this pattern, they have to keep rolling until they hit a number that fits the sequence. They really loved this game and it provided the best informal assessment.  I definitely know who we need to scoop up for a little small group re-teach. Again, I have this game ready to rock for you in my packet, but this is a fairy easy "make" as well.  

This packet contains 13 games/activities that align to the CCSS for first grade. They have a fun March flavor as well.  Anything to keep the kids hooked into what you're dishin' . . . right??!  It even comes with a free time song from Ron Brown's Intelli-Tunes.  Here's the line up . . . 

Puddle Jumpin’ (Counting/Skip Counting - Math.1.NBT.1 + Math.1.NBT.5)
Chasing Rainbows (Counting/Skip Counting - Math.1.NBT.1 + Math.1.NBT.5)
The End of the Rainbow (Place Value Game - Math.1.NBT.3)
Sham-“ROCKIN” Addition (Associative Property - Math.1.OA.3)
Get Your Luck On (Missing Addend Game - Math.1.OA.8)
Shamrock Subtraction (Subtraction - Math.1.OA.6 + Math.1.OA.7)
Shamrock Shuffle (Add/Sub Game - Math.1.OA.6)
You’re So “Clover” (Fact Family Game - Math.1.OA.3 + Math.1.OA.6)

You’re So “Clover” (Fact Family Craft - Math.1.OA.3 + Math.1.OA.6)
Springing Into Time (Time to the Hour - Math.1.MD.3)
Half Past (MP3 + Lyrics from Ron Brown - Math.1.MD.3)
It’s Game Time (Time to the ½ Hour - Math.1.MD.3)
Great Graphs (March Flavored Graphs - Math.1.MD.4)
Draw and Solve (Word Problem Mini Book - Math.1.OA.1)

Alright, so there you be.  A ton of ways to make March much more mathematical.  I can't wait to hit the babes with the rest of these.  The March Math Stations & More Packet is on SALE today and it's part of a Math Station Growing Bundle.  Are you interested in checking 'em out a bit more?  Click the picts below to read up on them.  Thanks so much for taking the time to visit me. I'll see you soon. I'm off to finish packing for the Southern California Kinder Conference.  I cannot wait to host my math session and hang with all of my favorite SoCal gals.  #SCKCorbust