In my last blog post, I suggested a vertical number line as one way to help your students connect numerals to number words.

Unfortunately, the only ones I had handy to show you were ones to 12 or 20 that I used to teach addition and subtraction strategies.

Eventually, I located the 0 to 100, floor to ceiling, vertical number line I made for my classroom on an old thumb drive. Then it was easy to create a new and improved free version for you based on the old template.

Still wondering about the benefits…

Vertical number lines can help your kindergarten, first, and second-grade students:

1. visualize the pattern of increasing tens and ones in two-digit numbers. They can easily see the sequence and repetition of the digits.
2. understand the value of numbers faster and easier. They are able to see the numbers increasing or decreasing in value. 24 is lower or less than 25 and 48 is higher or more than 38.
3. grasp the concepts of counting up and counting down when adding or subtracting. It is evident that sums increase and differences decrease in value.
4. make a connection between the terms rounding up and rounding down to the nearest ten to what they see.

While I taught rounding with a number line, I never thought to use a vertical one, even with it right there on the wall!

You can also create empty and interactive vertical number lines.

How to Prepare Your Vertical Number Line

Of course, this is technically a number path and not a number line. A number path is an effective counting model as opposed to a length model. Each number is clearly marked with a rectangle. Each rectangle can be counted.

I added stars in rectangles to make counting even easier. The stars are also color-coded for counting by 5’s and 10’s.

This number path is approximately 93 3/8 inches or 7 foot 9 3/8 inches tall.

• Start by choosing color or black/ gray/ white.
• Print the selected pages. Use cardstock and laminate (consider glare) for durability.
• Cut each strip carefully along the outside edge of the solid and dotted black lines.
• Put the strips together with tape. Start with zero and one. Place tape in the blank spaces. Align and overlap the ends of each strip, covering up each blank box.
• Or you can create one that folds up accordion-style for storage. To do this, cut off the empty boxes. Lay the strips face down so the ends abut. Then, tape across the edges.

Now you’re all set to post it on your wall!

More Ideas for Vertical Number Lines

Find ideas and resources for using an interactive vertical number line to develop number sense (Mr. Elementary Math) and using vertical number lines for adding multiples of tens (What I Have Learned).

Looking for More Resources…

• Frog Hopping Count Down (blog post with a freebie that includes a vertical number line to 12)
• Piggy Bank Count Up (a resource to purchase with a vertical number line to 20)
• Candy Bag Count Up (same as above with a different theme)

Click the highlighted words to download your free copy of the vertical number line 0-100.

I’d love to hear your ideas for using vertical number lines in the comments below!

Photo in title image by Coffee Beans and Children’s Dreams.

The post 4 Beneficial Reasons for Using a Vertical Number Line appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Do you have kindergarten students who would benefit from more opportunities to develop an understanding of the concepts of one less and one more than a given quantity? Here’s a flexible one less and one more candy corn themed freebie to engage your students while fostering this concept.

Candy Corn Jars One Less One More

I created two sets of nine candy corn jar number cards, 1 to 9 and 11 to 19, along with a candy corn jar mat, in color and black/ white. I also included a recording sheet.

Choose the appropriate set of number cards and color or black/ white. Print, on card stock for durability, laminate, and cut. Choose, print, and laminate the mat, if using. Provide one copy of the optional recording sheet for each student.

Facilitating An Understanding of One Less and One More

Use the mat with counters for teaching the concepts of one less and one more or for providing support. Delight your students! Provide actual candy corn. Or avoid the crazy sugar high with candy corn erasers or yellow, orange and white buttons (1/2 to 5/8″). Or simply use any small counter you have on hand.

• Pick a number card.
• Use counters to show the quantity in the My Number column on the mat.
• Show one less and one more than the given quantity in the appropriate columns with additional counters.
• Alternately, slide the counters from the middle column to the One Less column. Remove one counter to show one less.
• Then, slide the counters back to the My Number column. Show the correct quantity. Slide to the One More column and add one counter to show one more.
• Write the corresponding numbers in the space at the top of each column.

Practicing or Reviewing One Less and One More

Use this same activity without the concrete counters and mat with your students who already understand the concept but would benefit from further practice.

• Pick a number card.
• Match the letter on the card to the letter on the recording sheet.
• Write the number picked in the My Number Column.
• Then, write the numbers that are one less and one more than the given number in the appropriate columns.

Go ahead, add a little excitement! Place the candy corn jar number cards in a decorative container.

More Candy Corn Craze

Looking for more candy corn themed math activities? I have several available in my TpT store.

Recently, I revised two of my candy corn themed roam the room number sense activities. One features the numbers 1 to 10, while the other covers the numbers 10 to 19. Both resources include two sets of task cards accompanied by a variety of recording sheets to choose from.

Discover Give and Take Make Ten, Fall Themes! This is a small group math game for learning, practicing, and reviewing the Make 10 addition facts in kindergarten, first, and second grades. It is a hands-on game using counters and ten frames to provide concrete and visual support. The fall themes set includes one for candy corn. Read about this activity in my post, A Fun and Easy Way to Remember the Make Ten Facts. Find a free St. Patrick’s Day sample of Give and Take Make Ten.

Click on the highlighted words to download your freebie from my Teachers Pay Teachers store, Candy Corn Jars One Less and One More.

Read this post, How to Celebrate National Candy Corn Day with Math, with more resources including another freebie for preschool and kindergarten.

Do you have a favorite candy corn themed activity? Leave a comment to share!

Title image photo by kissandmockup.

The post 4 Candy Corn Math Activities to Increase Engagement appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Whether you live in the city and are teaching a unit about farms or you live in the country and you’re catering to your kids’ interests, I’ve crafted some farm themed number recognition and number sense resources for you, including a freebie, to meet the needs of your pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and early first grade students.

Your students with a solid sense of number will easily understand the concepts of one less and one more than a number with minimal instruction on your part. Other students would benefit from the opportunity to develop a solid understanding through the use of concrete manipulatives.

This flexible One Less One More cow themed freebie can easily be used with both groups and everyone in between.

I created two sets of nine number cards, 1 to 9 and 11 to 19, in color and black/ white, along with a mat, in color and black/ gray/ white, for showing quantities with counters. I also included a recording sheet.

Use the mat with counters for teaching the concepts of one less and one more or for providing support, as needed. I used black buttons to enhance the theme and color scheme, but any small counter can be used.

Students pick a number card; then use counters to show the quantity in the middle column of the mat. They can use additional counters to show one less and one more than the given quantity in the appropriate columns.

They can also slide the counters from the middle column to the one less column and remove one counter to show one less or slide to the one more column and add one counter to show one more.

Space has been provided to write the corresponding numbers at the top of each column. You can emphasize that the numbers are in counting order.

Students who understand the concept can simply pick a number card, match the letter on the card to their recording sheets, write the number picked in the middle column, and then write the numbers that are one less and one more than the given number the appropriate columns.

The cow number cards can be placed in a decorative container.

You can download this freebie, “Moo”ving Along One Less One More, from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Sticking with the farm theme, you can also purchase these farm-themed number mats for 0-20  in my TpT store, perfect for practicing number recognition, number formation, counting, and cardinality.

These number sense puzzles for 0-20 with a farm theme are ideal for an independent math station.

Be sure to click on the links below to explore more farm-themed ideas and resources.

• Paper Plate Pig
• Foam Cup Chick
• Wine Cork Sheep Craft
• Free Printable Farm Animal Bookmarks for Kids to Color
• Farm Muffin Tin Syllable Counting Game
• Piggy Snack
• Farm Picture-Word Cards

SaveSave

The post Down on the Farm- Activities to Improve Number Sense appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

I discovered a post on HubPages which has teaching activities for more and less along with book suggestions. I love bears so I found Bear Wants More to be an appealing choice. I have other books in this series but was unable to find a copy of this one in a timely manner. As a result, I’ll be sharing Teddy Bear Ten Strips!

Serendipitously, I came across the endearing book, I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld, which is filled with whimsical comparisons, at my nearest bookstore. The thought-provoking comparisons are somewhat abstract but can easily be followed up with concrete modeling, particularly for tug of war and pockets and treasures. The simple, repetitive text structure easily lends itself to pattern writing and a class book or dictating and a class chart.

The Teddy Bear Ten Strip activity focuses on using one to one matching to figure out which of two quantities is more or less. This is a partner activity that can be enjoyed by an adult and child or two children.

You will need:
Cardstock or paper for printing selected pages, Teddy Bears and Gumballs, More or Less
Laminator (optional)
Die (1-6, 0-9, or 1-10) or sets of number cards 0-10
Teddy graham crackers or counters
Plastic coffee stirrers or straws cut in half

To prepare:
You can print on paper for one-time use or on card stock and laminate for durability. Print either the color or the black/ white teddy bear ten strips. Cut down the center of the page making two mats. Each participant needs one mat. Print and cut out either the color or the black/ white teddy bear number cards, if you are using. To have the possibility of equal, each participant needs one set of cards.

Suggestions for Use:
Each participant rolls a die or picks a card, then places the corresponding number of counters on the ten strip, one counter in each space. Use plastic coffee stirrers or straws to show a one to one match. Who has more? Who has less? Repeat several times.

This next activity, Gumball Machine Mats, also uses concrete materials to decide which of two quantities is more or less but is a little less structured. It is another partner activity.

You will need:
Cardstock or paper for printing selected pages, Teddy Bears and Gumballs, More or Less
Laminator (optional)
Die (1-6, 0-9, or 1-10) or sets of number cards 0-10
Gumballs, pom-poms, or other small counters

To Prepare:
Preparation is similar to the teddy bear ten strips. Just print one gumball machine mat for each participant, instead. Choose color or black/ white, with or without the ten frame. In addition, you may want to print the small comparison cards (cut apart, one set per pair of participants) and the anchor wall chart which provide visual cues. These are in color only.

Suggestions for Use:
Each participant rolls a die or picks a card, then places the matching number of counters on the gumball machine mat. Use the comparison cards to show who has more and who has less. Then do it again!

Be sure to download your copy of Teddy Bears and Gumballs, More or Less!

Check out another great hands-on activity for comparing groups of objects using the vocabulary more and less on the Pre-K Pages blog. This one will require knowledge of tally marks.

Teaching Tidbits:

• As needed, teach more. Teach less. Then teach more and less. Break the task into small steps.
• As much as possible, have your math instruction flow from concrete to pictorial to abstract, keeping in mind that some children require more concrete experiences over a longer period of time.
• Use edibles and novel manipulatives to increase engagement.
• Repetition is essential for some children to learn. Repeat these activities, search for more, or create similar ones.
• Provide visual cues to illustrate concepts. Many children benefit from having something to “hang their learning on”. I used a similar anchor chart, with more vocabulary words, posted on a wall for easy reference, to provide support for second graders.

 

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