If you’re thinking about…

• summer
• high-interest activities
• addressing learning loss
• or hands-on engagement

Then, I’ve got a plethora of ways to help meet your instructional needs that will grab your students’ attention.

Whether you need to develop conceptual understanding or focus on practice and review, I have a resource to address it.

Free Resources for Teaching 3 Digit Numbers

Get started by looking through these links for ideas and free resources.

One Free and Refreshing Place Value Activity (2 and 3 digit numbers)

Here’s a free activity to bolster your first, second, and third graders’ understanding of place value concepts. Help students make explicit connections between the standard, expanded, and word forms of two or three-digit numbers using a fun popsicle theme.

One Free Sensational Way to Compare Numbers

Try this free activity to teach, practice, or review comparing three-digit numbers at a concrete, representational, or abstract level. Use this sunglasses-themed resource year-round whenever your students are comparing numbers!

How to Teach 100 Less and More

Use this free animal camouflage-themed activity to target learning at the concrete, representational, and/ or abstract level. Direct your instruction to one level or overlap two levels. Make learning accessible for all your students!

How to Expand Your Kids’ Counting Skills

I created these free, easy-to-prepare Forest Animal Prompt Cards to implement as part of your classroom 3 digit number counting routines. You can use these with the whole class, in small groups, or in an independent math center. All you need is a few minutes here and there.

A New Product to Practice and Review 3 Digit Numbers

Keep going with my newest resource, Fin-tastic Numbers.

Do sharks fascinate your students? Go ahead and snag their interest with this small group math activity, designed for practicing and reviewing 3 digit number skills in second or third grade.

With this flexible resource, you can choose the skills that best match your students’ instructional needs. You’ll also have a choice of color or black/ white.

You’ll find 6 printable activity mats. Each mat has 10 three-digit numerals, with a total of 24 different ones.

There are ten sets of 24 cards, including a set with just the numerals.

The skills covered are:

• the number after and the number before
• 10 more and 10 less than
• 100 more and 100 less than
• number word
• expanded form
• how many hundreds, tens, and ones

Your students will:

• Take turns to pick a card.
• Read the card and determine the corresponding number.
• Cover or color the fin with that number.

Who can color or cover all their numbers first?

Extend the use of the skill and number cards with the additional matching activities or the open-ended worksheets that are included with this resource.

Click on the highlighted words to find out more about Fin-Tastic Numbers- A Shark-Themed 3 Digit Activity, available for purchase in my TpT store.

While you’re there, check out my Collect Them All Bundle of Task Cards for Second Grade Number Skills.

Free Worksheets for Practice and Review

Finish up with this new set of shark-themed free worksheets, perfect for practicing and reviewing 3 digit number skills.

This freebie includes 3 print and go worksheets.

1. Write the numbers that are 1, 10, and 100 more and less than the given number.
2. Round given numbers to the nearest 10 and nearest 100.
3. Complete a quick draw using squares, lines, and dots to represent the hundreds, tens, and ones in a given number. Then, write the number word and the expanded form of that number. (Two choices for writing lines.)

Download your free copy of Fin-tastic Number Worksheets by clicking on the highlighted words.

Did you find what you needed to teach 3 digit numbers? Let me know in the comments below!

Photo in title image by Ramon Carreterro.

The post How to Easily Sharpen Skills for 3 Digit Numbers appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Of course, you don’t need a leprechaun to tell you that a solid foundation in number sense is worth its weight in gold!

Hands-On Ways to Develop Understanding of Teen Numbers

Help your students make sense of these numbers by providing numerous opportunities for them to show, see, and feel that a teen number is a ten plus some more. Get out those double ten frames with counters, popsicle sticks, interlocking cubes, and base ten blocks.

Create those teen numbers with concrete objects in as many ways as possible!

Show them on double ten frames. Use a variety of counters to keep it fresh.

Construct tally marks with popsicle sticks. Or make a bundle of ten and some extra ones with those popsicle sticks.

Build a stick of ten with interlocking cubes. Show that teen number as a ten plus some extra (loose) ones. Once your students grasp the concept, bring out the base ten blocks.

Practice recording “_ is ten and _ more” or “10 + _ = _” with these activities.

Here’s a free set of folding Expanded Form Cards (Number Sense Guy) to help your students visualize the standard and expanded forms of teen numbers (and beyond).

Keep emphasizing the words teen and ten and the relationship (a teen number has one ten) between them.

After all the hands-on concept development, your students will be ready for this St. Patrick’s Day-themed resource for teen numbers. Use it with small groups of 2 to 4 students. (You can adapt it for a single student or a large group.)

Try it for morning work, in a math center, or with your small instructional groups.

Let your students match double ten frames, tally marks, base ten blocks, and expanded form with the corresponding teen number whilst having a little mischievous fun!

Get “A Pot of Gold for Teen Numbers” Prepared

There are 4 different activity mats. Each mat has a pot of gold with 10 gold coins. Each coin has a numeral (11-19) on it. One numeral appears twice on each mat.

There are 4 sets of 9 cards with representations (double ten frames, tally marks, base ten blocks, and expanded form) for each number.

You will need:

• One copy of the activity mat for each participating student
• Two or more sets of cards
• Crayons or counters

Choose color or black/ white. Print the black/ white mats on paper to use with crayons.

The color or black/ white mats can be printed on card stock and laminated for reuse. Use counters to cover. Try gold coins, erasers, buttons, gems, or any one-inch or smaller counters that you have handy.

I had two sizes of plastic gold coins in my stash. The smaller ones (about 1.25 inches) will work with some overlap.

Print the cards on card stock and laminate for durability. Prepare at least two sets for 2 students and at least three sets for 3 to 4 students. Cut out the cards.

Get ‘Em Engaged With “A Pot of Gold for Teen Numbers”

Shuffle the cards. Place them in a stack, a messy pile, or a decorative container.

Students will:

• Draw a card.
• Determine the teen number.
• Look for the corresponding numeral on their mat.
• If the numeral is on the mat, color or place a counter on that gold coin.
• If the numeral is already colored or covered, you lose your turn.
• Discard your card.
• Take turns.
• Reshuffle the discarded cards, as needed.

Who can be the first one to color or cover all your gold coins?

Click on the highlighted words to download your free copy of A Pot of Gold for Teen Numbers.

Do you have a favorite tip for teaching teen numbers? Be sure to share in the comments below!

Looking for more resources…

Here are a few links for recipes and crafts, plus a bit of science and math that continue the pot of gold theme!

• Pot of Gold Addition (Recipe for Teaching)
• Sink the Pot Leprechaun Science (Little Bins for Little Hands)
• Easy Pot of Gold Card Craft (Simple Everyday Mom)
• Pot of Gold Paper Plate Craft (The Simple Parent)
• Hidden Pot of Gold Brownie Cups (Pizzazzerie)

Check out some of my other number sense blog posts along with these two St. Patrick’s Day-themed posts.

• Roll-a-Rainbow (practice or review reading CVC or high-frequency words)
• Give and Take Make Ten (a game for learning, reviewing, and retaining the Make Ten number combinations)

Finally, be sure to sneak on over to TpT and check out some of my number sense and St. Patrick’s Day resources.

Photo in title image by Grafvision photography.

The post How to Make Sense of Those Tricky Teen Numbers appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Back to learning this fall is looking a bit different! It might take the form of unexpected homeschooling, in-person at school, virtual at school or home, or some combination thereof. Whatever your situation, these digital number activities will come in handy for supporting the learning needs of your preschoolers and kindergarteners.

This year it may not be feasible for students to clip their answers with clothespins or roam the room with a clipboard to record their responses. These interactive digital slides provide a paperless alternative. Think of them as digital centers or worksheets.

I created these 2 drag and drop digital number activities to pair with the original printable resources to give you the choice.

Count the Kids Digital Number Activity 0-10

Work on one-to-one correspondence and matching a quantity to the correct numeral with this free set of Google Slides. Each slide has a picture of kids riding a school bus.

Students will count the kids on each bus. Then, they will drag and drop the transparent dot to cover the correct numeral. That’s it!

You will need:

• access to a Google Account^TM with Google Drive^TM and Google Slides
• to make a copy of the file when prompted
• access to Google Classroom^TM with individual student accounts if you use this resource with multiple students

You will receive:

• a Google Drive file with one set of 12 usable slides; 11 drag and drop slides plus a directions slide

You can find a link to the free printable version of Count the Kids Clip Cards 0-10 in this blog post, Free & Affordable Number Activities for a New School Year.

Download your free copy of Count the Kids Digital Dots 0-10 by clicking the highlighted words.

School Bear Digital Number Sense Activities 1-10

This resource, available for purchase in my TpT store, includes 2 sets of activities for Google Slides.

One set incorporates dice patterns with counting, numeral recognition, and representing a given quantity with tally marks and on ten frames. The other set incorporates ten frames with counting, numeral recognition, one less, one more, and representing a given quantity with tally marks.

Choose the one that best meets your students’ instructional needs. Or have them complete one set now and the other set later.

Each set has 11 usable slides. Directions are provided on one slide. The numbers 1-10 are represented on ten separate slides with dice or a ten frame.

There are no bells and whistles! There is no audio or corrective feedback. Be sure your students can drag and drop.

To drag and drop, the slides need to be used in edit mode NOT present mode. All of the images located in the drag and drop box are editable. Be sure to create a copy for each student.

Click the highlighted words to preview School Bears Number Sense 1-10 for Google Slides in my TpT store. Be sure to check out the printable version and the money-saving bundle of digital plus print while you’re there.

I’m sending a heartfelt, physically distanced hug of encouragement to teachers, mamas, and anyone else who is facing the challenge of back to learning this year. Please let me know how I can support your teaching needs.

Photo in title image by Davizro’s Market. Bus photo by Cheeky Designs. Apple photos by Coffee Beans and Children’s Dreams.

The post Double Down With 2 Made for Digital Number Activities appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

You’ll find a variety of jelly bean activities designed to supplement math and literacy instruction for your preschoolers, kindergarteners, first, and second-graders. Most children will need at least some adult direction to complete them.

Why You Should Try These Jelly Bean Activities

• All these resources are free!
• There is a black/ white version to print on paper for each activity.
• The preparation is minimal. Just print. You will need to cut some pages in half.
• Most of the materials needed are basic school supplies and household items.
• Jelly beans can add engagement and motivation to an ordinary activity.
• National Jelly Bean Day is on April 22nd!

You will need actual jelly beans for some of the activities. One activity also requires dice.

All grade levels given are general guidelines. Some activities have color options. Some can be laminated for reuse.

Go ahead and browse below to find the jelly bean activities most suitable for your children!

Jelly Bean Graph (PreK-2nd)

You will need:

• one copy of the graph for each participant
• one copy of the graph questions and a pencil for each first or second grader
• crayons
• jelly beans in 6 colors (I used Starburst.)

Prepare a baggie or plastic egg with 6 predetermined colors and amounts of jelly beans (maximum of 10) or scoop a scant ¼ cup out of the bag.

Sort your jelly beans by color. Place on the graph and/ or count each color. Color the jelly beans on the graph to match your colors. Color the bar graph. Consider coloring optional for preschoolers.

First and second graders can read and answer the graph questions. With younger children, use them as a guide for oral questions. Kindergarteners can also write a sentence that tells information about their graph.

This activity is included in the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy packet, a free download in my TpT store.

Roll & Count Jelly Bean Activity (PreK-K)

You will need:

• one half-page mat for each participant
• 1, 2, or 3 dice
• jelly beans
• crayons and a pencil

Roll 1, 2, or 3 dice, depending on your child’s skill level (numbers to 6, to 12, or to 18). Count all the pips. Put the same number of jelly beans on your jar mat. Draw and color the same number of jelly beans in the jar. Write the number. For younger children, an adult can write the number for them to trace.

Roll & Add Jelly Bean Activity (K-1st)

There are 2 versions, one for two dice (addends) and one for three dice (addends).

You will need:

• one half-page mat for each participant
• 2 or 3 dice
• jelly beans
• crayons and a pencil

Roll the dice. Look at each die. Put the same number of jelly beans in 2 or 3 groups on your mat. You can use a different color for each number. Draw and color the same number of jelly beans in the jar. Write the addition equation.

Find these two free activities in the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy packet in my TpT store.

Treasure Reports

Treasures are any small manipulative such as erasers, beads, buttons, acrylic gems/ fillers, cereal, or small candy (like jelly beans, of course!).

Counting these collections helps to develop number sense and place value concepts. There are activities for the quantities 1-10, 11-19, 11-99, and 101-999. The directions are on each recording sheet.

You will need:

• jelly beans
• recording sheet for each participant
• containers, scoops (measuring spoons and cups), organizers to group tens and hundreds
• pencils

Numbers 1-10 (PreK-K)

Prepare bags/ condiment cups with selected numbers of jelly beans beforehand or have children scoop jelly beans from a container.

Numbers 11-19 (K-early 1st)

Your children need to understand the concept of teen numbers as 10 plus some more. This can be prior knowledge or you can introduce the concept by modeling first with this activity.

Prepare bags/ condiment cups with selected numbers of jelly beans beforehand or have children scoop them from a container.

Numbers 11-99 (1st-2nd)

Each child or pair of children needs a prepared bag with 11 to 99 jelly beans or a container filled with jelly beans and a scoop. They may use ten frames, ten-rod mats, small cups, cupcake liners, etc. to group their jelly beans by tens. Find free printable templates for ten frames and ten-rod mats in my TpT store. Enter treasure reports in the search bar. You can also use the jelly bean jar organizer mats included in this resource.

There are five different recording sheets:

1. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s
2. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten
3. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten, expanded form
4. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten, expanded form, rounding
5. grouping and counting by 1’s and 10’s, base ten, expanded form, rounding, counting by tens off a decade

Choose the one(s) that best fits the instructional needs of your children. They can also simply record their pictures of tens and ones on a whiteboard or a blank piece of paper.

To draw a picture to represent their groups of ten, children can draw circles, squares, or rectangles and write a 10 on each. Ones can be dots or drawn to represent the jelly beans.

Numbers 100-999 (2nd-early 3rd)

Print the jelly bean jar organizing mats, up to 10 depending on your quantity of jelly beans. You can also draw 10 circles on plain sheets of paper or set 10 small cups on plain sheets of paper to use as organizing mats.

You will need 101 to 999 jelly beans. Likely, you can just use the entire bag. Check the back for the number of servings and serving size. My bag of Starburst Jellybeans has about 14 servings with about 20 pieces each so I can plan on there being approximately 280 jelly beans in it. (Actual count: 339 jelly beans!)

Put only 10 jelly beans in a cup or on a circle or a jar and 100 items on a mat. Extra ones can be placed on the side.

Complete the recording sheet. Students can draw rectangles and write 100 on each to represent their groups of one hundred. Tens can be circles with a 10. Ones can be dots drawn to represent jelly beans.

Find out more about treasure reports in this post with a Valentine’s Day theme or this one with a watermelon theme.

Click the highlighted words, Jelly Bean Treasure Reports, to download your free copy.

Jelly Bean Observations (PreK-2nd)

You will need:

• one copy of the jelly bean observation table for each participant
• jelly beans
• pencil

Brainstorm adjectives (describing words) to tell how your jelly beans look, sound, smell, feel, and taste. For sound, shake them in a bag or drop a few on a hard surface. The strongest smell is when you open the bag. Try putting some in a baggie, bowl, or cup to smell.

Younger children can dictate their words for an adult to write. Write your adjectives on the jelly beans.

Older children can complete the companion descriptive writing activity.

Fun Facts About Jelly Beans (1st-2nd)

Learn some fun facts about jelly beans!

This is not a leveled reading passage. Some first and second graders will be able to read it. Many will not.

Read it to your child, share the reading, or have your child read it to you. What was the most interesting fact you learned?

Then, complete the companion fact and opinion writing activity.

You can find the observation and fun facts activities in the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy packet, a freebie in my TpT store.

Jelly Bean Jar Letter and Number Searches (PreK-K)

Provide practice in matching and identifying letters and numbers (0-10) with these jelly bean jar searches.

There are 3 sets of letter searches: uppercase to uppercase (all 26 letters), lowercase to lowercase (all 26 letters), and uppercase to lowercase (16 letters). The last set only includes letter pairs that are visually different (i.e. Bb but not Cc).

You will need:

• selected pages
• crayons or dot markers to color or jelly beans to cover

Choose the pages you want your child to do. Consider the letters in their name, ones that follow a sequence of instruction, or ones they need a little extra practice with.

Print the pages you selected. Then, cut each page in half.

Children can use crayons or dot markers to color the jelly beans with letters/ numbers that match the one on the jar lid. They can also just cover the matching letters/ numbers with jelly beans.

Encourage them to name the letter/ number out loud several times while they are completing the task. The number jars show the quantity with jelly beans in a ten frame. Children can count them to self-check their number identification.

Click the highlighted words, Jelly Bean Jar Letter and Number Searches, to download your free copy.

Search & Sort Jelly Bean Words (K-2nd)

This resource does not include a comprehensive set of words.

It includes:

• 5 pages with short vowel word families, one page for each vowel, sort by word families (K-1st)
• 3 pages with CVC short vowels, sort by vowels (K-1st)
• 4 pages mixed short vowel (VC) and silent e (VCe) patterns, one vowel per page, sort by vowel patterns (1st-2nd)
• 4 pages long vowel patterns, VCe and VV plus –igh, one long vowel sound per page, sort by vowel patterns (1st-2nd)

V= vowel C= consonant

Select the set which best meets your child’s needs. Complete one per day or one per week. Your child can also pick 6 words and draw pictures to illustrate their meanings or pick 6 and write a sentence with each.

Which set should you use? Think about the words you know they can read in their take-home books. Do they have a spelling list from school? I also have a free decoding assessment for one-syllable words in my TpT store that might be helpful.

You will need:

• selected pages
• crayons for coloring or jelly beans for covering
• pencil

Use the code to color the jelly bean words. Write the words in a sort. Don’t forget to read the words!

Check out the Jelly Bean Activities for Math and Literacy resource in my TpT store which includes this activity.

I hope you found a jelly bean activity or two for your child (or students) to enjoy! Let me know what else you need in the comments below.

Looking For More Resources…

Most of my blog posts include links to free resources. Use the search bar in the top right corner to take a look around. In addition, my TpT store includes a section of free resources.

Here are a few more jelly bean resources for learning available for purchase in my TpT store.

• Addition Facts to 20 – Jelly Bean Addition Fact Strategy Sort (1st-2nd)
• Make 10 Addition Fact Strategy Game With Spring Themes (K-2nd)
• Graphing With Data Collection Activity Spring Themes (1st-3rd)

The jelly bean photo in the title image is by Southern Light.

The post How to Have Fun With Free Jelly Bean Activities appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

While National Watermelon Day might be on August 3rd, you can use these watermelon activities to boost math skills any day. I created this set of free hands-on watermelon seed activities to help you teach number sense and place value without getting sticky!

There are activities for the quantities 1-10, 11-19, 11-99, and 100-999. These treasure reports represent a more structured approach than counting collections.  Both are valuable math routines.

You will need to provide small counters- black beans, black pony beads, or black buttons (1/2 inch or smaller if uniform in size) to represent the watermelon seeds. A bag of black beans will cost the least. I purchased a bag of 580 black pony beads for less than $5 and a bag of 130 mixed size (3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 inch) black buttons for around $2.

Your students can scoop the counters from a container with measuring spoons for quantities 1-99. The spoons should not be used as a level, accurate measuring tool, just as a way to create a collection to count. You can also prepare bags/ cups with selected quantities beforehand. I found 3 X 4-inch plastic bags that zip at a craft store. Condiment cups with lids will also work.

Please note, the counters that will fit with these activities are small. Be sure your students have the necessary fine motor skills.

Now go ahead and scroll down to the number range(s) that address your students’ instructional needs.

1) Watermelon Seed Treasure Reports for 1-10

Help your students to connect counting to cardinality and to represent a number of objects with a written numeral.

Just print one half-page recording sheet for each participating student and provide counters.

First, count the watermelon seeds. Then, write to record how many. Finally, draw the seeds on the watermelon slice.

2) Numbers 11-19

Introduce, practice, or review decomposing numbers from 11-19 into ten ones and some more ones with this activity. Have your students record the results by drawing the seeds and writing an equation.

Simply print one copy of the recording sheet with two watermelon slices for each participating student and provide counters.

Students count the watermelon seeds. Then, they put 10 seeds on one slice and the extra ones on the other slice. They record how many as 10 plus some more. And finally, they draw the seeds on the slices.

You might also like this One Less One More Watermelon Seeds resource for quantities 1-10 available for purchase in my TpT store.

3) Watermelon Seed Treasure Reports for 11-99

Bolster your students’ understanding of the relationship between the digits in a two-digit numeral and the number of tens and ones. Provide optional practice with expanded form, rounding to the nearest ten, and counting by tens off a decade number.

These treasure reports may be completed with the whole class (typically with partners) or a small group. After it has been introduced, it can also be an independent math station.

There are five different recording sheets. Choose the ones that best fit the instructional needs of your students. Print one for each student or pair of students. Provide counters.

In addition, you will need to provide a way for students to organize their groups of ten counters. Try ten frames, ten-rod mats, small cups, or small cupcake liners. Find free printable templates for ten frame and ten-rod mats in my TpT store. (Check out the free seasonal treasure reports while you’re there.) You can also use the watermelon slice organizer mats included in this free resource.

Read this blog post for a more thorough description of treasure reports with tens and ones.

Your students can draw circles or semi-circles (watermelon slices) to represent groups of ten. They write 10 on each. They can draw dots or watermelon seeds for the ones.

Follow-up with this Watermelon Tens and Ones place value resource.

4) Numbers 100-999

Help your students make the connection between the digits in a three-digit numeral and the number of hundreds, tens and ones. Give practice with number words and expanded form along with determining one, ten, and one hundred less than and more than a given number.

This activity is similar to the one for numbers 11-99. Use the watermelon slice organizing mats to hold 10 groups of 10 seeds. The counters can be put in small cups first with the cups then organized on the mat or placed directly on the watermelon slices.

Print one recording sheet for each student or pair/ group of students working together. Provide prepared counters in containers.

Students can draw rectangles and write 100 on each to represent groups of one hundred. They can draw circles or semi-circles (watermelon slices) to show groups of ten and write 10 on each. They’ll draw dots or watermelon seeds for the ones.

Try Watermelon Cuties Place Value Activity for Hundreds, Tens, and Ones as another way to engage your students.

Click the highlighted words, Watermelon Seed Treasure Reports, to download your copy of the four free activities. Enjoy!

Title photo image is by YuMyart.

The post 4 Free Watermelon Day Activities to Boost Math Skills appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

Try this activity with your kindergarten, first, second or third-grade students. Use the four levels to reinforce ways to represent numbers, along with number sense and place value skills. Take advantage of the different levels to individualize instruction and reach all your students.

Hot Cocoa Numbers

Hot cocoa numbers is an open-ended color, cut, and paste activity. The pieces are over-sized to allow space to complete some of the math tasks.

Get Started

First, choose the number range(s) most appropriate for your students.

The Four Number Ranges

1. 1-10: number word, tally marks, dice, quantity, pennies, one more, and one less
2. 11-20: number word, tally marks, double ten frames, one more, one less, ten and _more, 10 + _ = _, and tens and ones
3. 11-99: number word, one more, one less, ten more, ten less, tens and ones, expanded form, round to the nearest ten
4. 100-999: number word, ten more, ten less, one hundred more, one hundred less, hundreds, tens, and ones, expanded form, round to the nearest hundred

Next, decide how you will construct the craft. Choose paper or card stock. Print the mug on white paper and color it with crayons. Or print it on colored paper. Leave the mug sheet intact or cut out the mug.

Cut around the dark outline of the marshmallows, spoon, and cinnamon stick. Or to make cutting easier, cut on the dotted lines. The first way will look more attractive.

Glue the pieces onto the cut-out mug, the intact mug sheet, or a 12 x 12″ piece of construction paper or card stock.

Finally, determine how to give your students a number. Let your students pick a number or assign one. Here are some ideas.

Assign the same number to everyone, verbally assign individual numbers, or write a number on each printed mug. Give your students a range of numbers to mentally choose from. Put numbers in a bag to draw. Use any number cards or flashcards you already have or write numbers on slips of paper.

Get Prepared

Once you have decided everything, simply print the corresponding two pages. Provide crayons, scissors, and glue along with 12 x 12″ paper, if needed.

If your students are completing this activity independently, you may want to make a sample to assist with “reading” the directions for each math task.

Put it Together

To begin, write your number on the mug. Complete all the math tasks on the mug and the separate pieces.

Then, color the mug (optional), spoon, and cinnamon stick. See if you can convince your kids that the marshmallows can remain white!

Next, cut out the mug (optional) and the separate pieces.

To complete the craft, arrange the mug along with the marshmallows, spoon, and cinnamon stick. Glue.

Don’t forget to display your hot cocoa numbers!

Looking For More Resources?

Check out the newest place value addition to my TpT store, Marshmallow Pals- Hundreds, Tens, and Ones, a perfect companion for the hot cocoa numbers activity.

It is a small group winter themed roam the room activity for second and third graders that reinforces representing three-digit numerals in different forms; base ten, standard form, expanded form, and number word. It also provides practice with rounding to the nearest ten or hundred, ten less/ more than a number, and one hundred less/ more than a number.

Be sure to click on the Winter, Numbers & Number Sense, and Numbers & Place Value links to find more resources in my store to enhance your instruction.

Read more blog posts (and discover more freebies!) about number sense and place value.

Download your free copy of Hot Cocoa Numbers from my Teachers Pay Teachers store by clicking on the highlighted words.

And yes, after whipping up a cup of hot cocoa and smelling it while I took photos, I enjoyed sipping it while cozying up with a good book!

Title image photo is by Natalia Mamysheva.

The post Warm up with a Free Hot Cocoa Number Activity appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

So, here are some stocking themed resources, including a freebie, to help you do just that in preschool and kindergarten.

December Stocking Number Cards

I crafted two sets of free Christmas stocking numeral cards, 1 to 10 and 11 to 20. These are perfect for reinforcing numeral recognition, number sense, and numeral formation. I made 4 recording sheets to accompany the cards.

Your students can fill in the ten frames 1-10, fill in double ten frames 11-20, draw tally marks, or trace the numerals 1-10. Enjoy these activities during small group instruction, as independent centers, or as morning work.

Get it Prepared

This is an easy to prepare activity. Choose your set of numeral cards; 1-10 or 11-20, color or black/ gray/ white. Print the cards on cardstock for durability, laminate, and cut. Pick a recording sheet to copy.

Get ’em Engaged

You can use these December stocking number cards in three different ways.

Simply use the cards with a recording sheet.

For the first option, choose a recording sheet. Provide small groups of students with the recording sheet and a set of numeral cards to share. Just pick a card and follow the directions on the recording sheet.

Play an In the Bag or In the Stocking game.

To play this game, you will need a seasonal bag or stocking. Depending on the size of the group, you may want to use two or three sets of cards. You can also combine the 1-10 and 11-20 cards, if appropriate for your learners. Include the Yum! Yum! A Treat! (take an extra turn) and the Oh, no! Coal! (lose a turn or put all your cards back in) cards for a little extra fun.

Decide if the game will have a time limit and if students need to name a numeral correctly the first time to keep it. Students can also trace and name the ones they miss.

Place the cards in your bag or stocking. Draw a card without peeking. Name the numeral. Collect or keep the ones you name correctly. The game is over when the timer goes off or the last card is drawn. Who has the most, least, or an equal number of cards?

Pair the cards with a writing tray to practice numeral formation.

Try dyed rice or salt in a writing tray. Or make it simple by adding red and green sprinkles or sequins to white rice. Just pick a card, name the numeral, and write it in the tray. While a seasonal unsharpened pencil or candy cane adds an engaging element, writing with your finger will provide sensory feedback.

Use your imagination! Let us know in the comments below how you used these stocking number cards.

Spin-a-Stocking, A Game for Letters and Beginning Sounds

Try this coordinating Christmas stocking themed game! It’s a great way to practice or review letter recognition and/or the association of initial consonant and short vowel sounds with letters during December in preschool or kindergarten.

Choose from any combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and 2 sets of pictures representing beginning sounds to play. The pictures for the letter x are in the final position representing the /ks/ sound.

Sort your word cards by stocking color and design into 4 stacks. Take turns to spin, name the letter (or sound and letter), and collect the cards!

Click on the highlighted words, Spin-a-Stocking Letters and Sounds, to purchase this resource from my TpT store.

Count to Recognize Christmas Number Mats 0 to 10

Looking for more stocking themed resources? This set of easy to prepare Christmas themed full-page number mats, 0-10, for preschool and kindergarten math, includes ones with stockings.

They are designed to develop skills in counting, numeral recognition, and numeral formation. These are, intentionally, very basic mats. The 3 sets of mats have a numeral along with a corresponding number of items to count; stockings, ornaments on a wreath, and lights on a Christmas tree.

The numerals have green, yellow, and red dots along with arrows to guide correct formation. They are perfect for finger tracing, using dry erase markers, or play dough. Both counting the items and naming the numeral while engaged in forming it help to develop recognition.

You can purchase these Christmas Count to Recognize Number Mats 0-10 in my TpT store.

And don’t forget to download your free Christmas Stocking Number Card Activities!

Title stocking photo is by LiliGraphie. 

The post How to Easily Stuff a Little Learning into December 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.

My brain went into overdrive thinking of all the number and place value possibilities. You can take this one simple sunflower craft and practice or reinforce a variety of skills. These include sequencing numbers; conceptual understanding of teen numbers; counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s or any multiple; developing understanding of tens and ones; and showing multiplication as groups of the same quantity.

Make a Sunflower Craft

Here is one way to make a sunflower craft for math.

You will need:

• 7-inch sunflower yellow plates
• green popsicle sticks
• green foam sheets, cardstock, or construction paper
• sunflower seeds
• a leaf template
• scissors
• white glue
• glue dots (optional)

How to make:

• The plates I purchased at a dollar store had natural well-spaced ribs around the rim. Cut through these or at (more or less) regular intervals to make petals.
• Create a leaf template. I used a free graphic, made it an appropriate size, and printed it on cardstock. Then I cut out just the leaves. You can also draw the leaves freehand.
• Trace the leaves on green foam, cardstock, or construction paper. I made two for each flower. Cut.
• Glue the leaves to the green popsicle sticks using white glue or glue sticks.
• Attach the popsicle stick behind the plate. Use white glue or glue dots

Need a simpler idea? Just cut the petals on the plates. That’s it!

Find links to similar sunflower crafts at the end of this post.

Ways to Use the Sunflower Craft for Math

Have your students create one or more sunflowers for morning work or during a center time. This will give you a collection of sunflowers.

For most of the activities, you can assign a specific quantity of sunflower seeds for an individual student or groups of students to glue on their flowers. The seeds can also simply be placed, without gluing, on the flowers to provide greater versatility.

Numbers 0-10 (PreK- Kindergarten)

Students can practice or review numeral recognition, one-to-one correspondence, and sequencing quantities/ numbers. Match the free sunflower number cards to quantities of seeds to reinforce recognition.

Here’s an idea. First, have a group of students work together to glue an assigned number of seeds, 1-10, on their flower(s). Next, have them sequence the plates in order. Finally, they can match the numeral cards to the sunflowers.

And yes, for this activity (and the count by multiples activity below), I would encourage my students to sequence the plates in a linear fashion.

Teen Numbers (Kindergarten- Early 1st Grade)

Have students show teen numbers as ten plus a number using their sunflowers. Show the matching equation by using the free 10, +, and = sunflower cards. After taking photos, I decided to add teen number recording strips (10 + _ = _ and 10 and _ more = _) to this resource.

Count by Multiples (Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades)

Give a group of students a number such as 2, 5, 10, or any multiple. They glue or place the given number of seeds on a set of sunflowers. Let them use the number cards to show how to count by their given number.

Treasure Reports (Understanding of Tens and Ones for 1st and 2nd Grades)

Find this free resource with a description of the activity along with five different fall themed recording sheets in my TpT store. Check out this blog post, One Lovely Way to Teach Place Value for Understanding, for background information and a link to the same free resource with a Valentine’s Day theme.

Provide each student or pair of students with a baggie containing 11-99 sunflower seeds. Students group their seeds by tens, placing each group on a flower. Leftover ones can be placed on their work surface. Choose an appropriate sheet for them to record their results.

Beginning Multiplication (Concept Development for 2nd and 3rd Grades)

Students show the same number of sunflower seeds on multiple flowers. Write the number of seeds and groups along with the multiplication equation on the free half-page recording sheet.

For fun, let your students randomly choose two appropriate numbers out of a seasonal container.

Let everyone know your favorite math “craftivity” to use with your class in the comments below.

Need more sunflower themed number activities?

Check out these two new resources available in my TpT store. Fall Themes Count to Recognize Number Mats 0 to 10 are perfect for preschool and kindergarten. Fall Theme Teen Number Clip Cards are a wonderful addition for kindergarten and early first-grade math.

Sunflower Crafts

• Paper Plate Sunflower Kid Craft from Glued to My Crafts
• Simple Sunflower Craft from 123 Homeschool 4 Me
• Paper Plate Sunflower Craft from the Resourceful Mama

Want the Free Resources in This Post?

Click on the highlighted words, Sunflower Number Cards and Tens and Ones Fall Theme Treasure Reports, to download these free resources. The Sunflower Number Cards resource includes +, =, and extra 10 cards. It also has quarter-page size teen number recording sheets and the half-page multiplication recording sheet.

Sunflower photo by Speech-Language Pirates

The post How to Take A Sunflower Craft & Make It Math appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

A Free Counting and Number Recognition Activity

Here’s an easy to prepare kids on the bus clip card activity for your preschoolers and kindergarteners. Practice one-to-one correspondence while counting kids on the bus. Match the quantity, 0-10, to the numeral for recognition.

Provide clothespins to clip the correct numerals. Or use a dry erase crayon/ marker to mark them. Try these cards in your small groups as a warm-up or exit activity. Set them up as an independent center. Students who are ready can write the numbers on the optional recording sheet.

Click on the words, Count the Kids Clip Cards 0-10, to download this freebie.

More Free Number Activities

Check out these additional free activities.

Pick a Pencil Ten Frames Activity by the Kindergarten Connection

Back to School, I Spy by ABCs to ACTs

Feed Me Numbers Crayon Activity for Back to School by Fun Learning for Kids

New & Affordable Number Activities

Here are two of the newest additions, available to purchase, in my TpT store.

For preschool and kindergarten, these school-themed full-page number mats, 0-10, are designed to develop skills in counting, numeral recognition, and numeral formation. These are, intentionally, very basic mats.

The 3 sets of mats have a numeral along with a corresponding number of items to count; stars, crayons, and pencils. The numerals have green, yellow, and red dots along with arrows to guide correct formation. They are perfect for finger tracing, using dry erase markers, or play dough.

Both counting the items and naming the numeral while engaged in forming it help to develop recognition. Your students can simply count the pictures. Additionally, they can represent the quantities with star buttons, crayons, golf pencils, craft pebbles, pompoms, mini-erasers, playdough balls, or most any counter you have on hand.

For kindergarten and early first grade, try these easy to prepare school themed half-page clip cards, 10-20. There are three sets of cards (crayons, pencils, or stars on a backpack), each in color and black/ gray/ white.

Each card has a picture of a group of ten along with extra ones to represent a number 10-20. There are lines on each card for writing each number as 10 + _. The correct number can be clipped with a clothespin or marked with a dry erase marker or crayon.

Newly Revised Number Sense Activities

And last but not least, be sure to take a peek at these two roam the room number sense resources. Both of them; one for numbers 0-10, the other for 10-19; were recently given a cosmetic makeover!

Photo of numbers in title image is by Speech-Language Pirates.

The post Free & Affordable Number Activities for a New School Year appeared first on Just Ask Judy.