Number Sense Sampler

Summary

While reading story books, such as Margie Burton's Add the Animals, students are invited to illustrate the math problem with counters.

Materials

• Counters (two different colors)
• Bead counter (that participants will make)
• Overhead dice spinner

Additional Resources

• Add the Animals, by Margie Burton, Cathy French, and Tammy Jones; ISBN 1-58344-188-3
• Adding It Up at the Zoo, by Judy Nayer; ISBN 0-7368-7029-6
• Icky Sticky Spider, by Calvin Irons and Margory Gardner; ISBN 1-5769-9389-2

Background for Teachers

Children need a variety of experiences with manipulatives to help develop number sense. Children need their hands on manipulatives. They need to touch and see the number over and over again. We should not jump to symbolic representation of numbers too quickly. Let children have time to explore numbers freely.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a positive learning attitude toward mathematics.
6. Communicate clearly in oral, artistic, written, and nonverbal form.

Instructional Procedures

Invitation to Learn
Read Add the Animals to the class. Share your excitement about the book with the students.

Instructional Procedures
On the third or fourth reading say to the children "As I read the book I would like you to show me the math problem with your counters. Remember to use two colors of counters--one for the first amount and a different color for the second amount. Also, have the two amounts separated on your desk."

Extensions

• Have the children write their own page (or book) using the format from Add the Animals. Kid Pix Delux, a computer program, can be used to facilitate the creation of the book.
• Put Add the Animals in a literacy center and have the children cooperatively create a classroom book.
• Compare Icky Sticky Spider to Add the Animals.
• Act out Icky Sticky Spider.

Family Connections
Choose some books to send home with the children to buddy read with their parents that focus on number sense. An example, Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. As they read they should stop and say the number sentence (e.g., five minus one equals four). You will need to model this in your classroom before the children try it at home.

Assessment Plan

• As you read to students, do not show them the pages of the book. Observe how the children model the math problems with their counters.
• When the children illustrate their books have them include the number sentence below the illustration. Check to see how easily they are able to place symbols to the picture.