First Grade Love
All Things First Grade Math!
Unit 4- Foundations of Numbers up to 20
First Graders build on kindergarten work and begin to think of ten ones as a unit called a ten. Students continue to form initial understanding using a variety of materials then move to drawing and then to symbolic notation, including <,>, and =.
In this Smore I just wanted to highlight a couple of things about this unit!
Linking Cubes, Base Ten Blocks, Place Value Disks, OH MY!
1.2B states that students will use concrete and pictorial models to compose and decompose numbers up to 120(which in this unit we are ONLY going to 20) in more than one way as so many hundreds, so many tens, and so many ones. In the specificity it says to use concrete proportional models (linking cubes, base ten, and bundles of sticks).
Knowing all of this research says that developmentally 1st graders are not ready for base ten blocks so linking cubes are the best way to do place value. Van de Walle recommends groupable manipulatives prior to using traditional base-10 blocks, because they can physically be joined together and broken apart. Traditional base-10 blocks are actually a little more abstract because, for example, you can’t break the tens rod apart into ones–you have to trade it for ones.
That being said we have to also get kids ready for 2nd grade and the expectation that they will have to go from only doing numbers to 120 to 1,200. So if we never expose them to base ten is that the best?
So here is what I recommend, for this first place value unit only use linking cubes, bundles of sticks, and beans and ten frames to compose and decompose numbers to 20. This will help to develop the construction of the group of ten and allows for them to put that group of 10 together and take it apart. In the next place value unit we will start with linking cubes and begin to move them toward base ten blocks.
Fundamental 5 Ideas
Mingle-Pair-Share: FSGPT Idea
This is great way to get kids up and moving while talking about their learning!
•Students mix around the room silently as music plays in the background.
•When the music stops, each student finds a partner closest to them (no running across the room to find your best friend!) and puts their hand together with their partner’s in a high five.
•When all students have found a partner, teacher poses a question and allows for “think time” For example “Give three examples of an insect” or “Name five prime numbers.”
•One teacher’s go, one partner shares and the other listens.
•Partners switch roles.
•After both partners have had a chance to speak (teacher will have to monitor this, based on the depth of the question), music starts again, students mingle, when music stops they find a new partner, teacher poses new question, etc.
•Repeat for each question.
Sticky Note Storm-Critical Writing and FSGPT
Teacher poses a question, sets a time limit and gives students a moment to think before writing. For example, “In two minutes, how many math problems can you write down that have the solution 23?” Or “In 45 seconds, write down as many adjectives as you can.”
Each student writes down as many answers as they can think of—one idea per sticky note—and sticks it to the center of the table.
The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible and cover the table with sticky notes! At the end of each round, students review one another’s ideas.
Jacque Prater
Email: jacque.prater@wylieisd.net
Phone: 972-429-3071
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacque.cope
Twitter: @jkprater13