If you need a reason to enjoy eating one (or two), celebrate National S’mores Day on August 10th!

Keep reading to find out s’more about two teaching resources available in my TpT store and a freebie you can download.

Get S’more Practice With 2-Digit Numbers

Do your first or second-grade students need s’more practice with two-digit numbers? Then, this enticing small group math activity, designed for practicing and reviewing 2-digit number skills is just what you need!

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 and one-sided or two-sided activity cards.

You’ll find 6 printable activity mats. Each mat has 10 two-digit numbers. There are a total of 24 different numbers.

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

The skills covered are:

• the number after or 1 more than
• the number before or 1 less than
• 10 more than
• 10 less than
• number word
• expanded form
• how many tens and ones

Your students will:

• Take turns to pick a card.
• Read the card and determine the corresponding number.
• Cover or color the s’more 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.

Head on over to my TpT store to learn more about S’More Numbers 2-Digit Activity. Your students might also enjoy my Fin-tastic Numbers 3-Digit Activity.

Graphing and Data Collection Activity

Next up is an activity that will engage your first, second, and third-grade students in collecting and graphing data.

Your students will work with a partner to:

• Pick and replace the letters in the word s’mores in a paper lunch bag.
• Pick until all the letters have been drawn.
• Keep a tally of their results in a table.
• Use their collected data to complete a bar graph (2 versions, one requires students to label the graph).
• Interpret their results by answering questions.

Find this activity in It’s in the Bag for Summer or It’s in the Bag Year Round Bundle. Be sure to try out the free doughnut-themed version of this activity.

How to Make a S’more

What would a s’more-themed unit be without making (and eating) some?

But alas, this is just a sequencing and writing activity! Still, it would work well as a follow-up to making some!

Do spend some time discussing or experiencing how to make s’mores before having your first, second, or third-grade students write about it.

This activity is easy to prepare. Simply print each page.

You will need copies of both writing pages for each student plus one copy of the picture page for every two students.

Then, add crayons, scissors, glue, and pencils so you’ll be all set.

Your students will:

• Color the pictures (optional).
• Cut out the pictures (6).
• Sequence the pictures.
• Glue the pictures.
• Write a sentence about each picture.

I always tried to check my students’ work after sequencing but before gluing. Hmmm, I wonder why…

Interestingly, most of the clipart I looked at had the marshmallow under the chocolate while most of the recipes I perused had the chocolate under the marshmallow.

So there are many ways to make s’mores. The pictures I chose show roasting the marshmallow and adding the chocolate before the marshmallow.

Click on the highlighted words, How to Make a S’more, to download your free copy of this activity.

Looking For S’More Resources…

Check out these categories in my TpT store!

• Graphing Resources
• Number & Place Value Resources

These blog posts showcase a variety of free writing activities to download.

• Do You Want a New and Awesome Apple Resource?
• Who’s Ready to Ring in a New Year?
• Read to Inspire Kindness and Inclusion
• Back to School with Miss Mingo
• Why is That Scolding Hawk on My Balcony?

Find s’more freebies offered by others.

• Let’s Read Snack Bag Topper (Primary Playground)
• End of the Year Gift Tag (Elementary Adventure Store)
• Solar Science Experiment (Florida Online Academy)
• Open-Ended Game (TLC Talk Shop- Tamatha Cauckwell)
• Bookmarks (Let’s Learn S’more)

Don’t forget the recipes and crafts!

• S’more Treats (Hershey’s)
• Fireside S’mores (Betty Crocker)
• Popsicle Stick S’mores (Glued to My Crafts)

Share your favorite way to make s’mores in the comments below!

Photo in title image by Tiffany and David Photography.

The post You Need to Try These Activities for S’more Fun appeared first on Just Ask Judy.

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.

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.

You’d think it would be easy peasy after your students learn to identify the numerals 0 to 10.

But then, along come the tricky teens, particularly eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fifteen. And quickly following on their heels some thorny tens, mainly twenty, thirty, and fifty.

What Makes Identifying These Numerals So Confusing?

Well surprisingly, it seems to be the irregularities of the English language!

It starts with the teen number words. Instead of saying one ten, we say teen.

Eleven and twelve don’t even include the syllable teen even though they represent one ten and some more.

For the teens, we say number words that reverse the order of the digits we see. We don’t say ten four when we see 14, we say fourteen.

In place of three-teen and five-teen, we have thirteen and fifteen.

Moving to the twenties and beyond…

Now, at least, the order of the number words we say matches the place of the digits we see (forty-two and 42). Ten is now represented with the suffix -ty. In place of four tens, we say forty. That’s easy enough!

But then (you know there’s got to be a but), two tens becomes twenty.

At least thirteen, thirty, and third are consistent as are fifteen, fifty, and fifth. But goodness gracious, twelve, and twenty are only left with the “tw” in common. And the word second will leave you scratching your head.

Ways to Help Students Connect Numerals to Number Words

Make explicit language connections. Your students need to know that teen and -ty mean the same as ten.

Play with the language.

Two tens ought to be two-ty. But oh, no it’s not. It’s twenty.

Three tens ought to be three-ty. But oh no it’s not. It’s thirty.

Five tens ought to be five-ty. But oh no it’s not. It’s fifty.

(I couldn’t find one but surely there’s a teacher who has created a catchy poem or song for this!)

Demonstrate the consistent visual patterns of numerals. The pattern of increasing tens and ones can best be illustrated with a vertical number line. I had one with 0 to 100, floor to ceiling, on a classroom wall.

The photo only shows vertical number lines to 12 or 20. They were all I had handy. I also used them for teaching addition and subtraction strategies.

Provide plenty of opportunities for your students to count and group objects beyond ten. Be explicit. Show the relationships between the objects we count to the words we say to the numerals we write.

Check out my free treasure report recording sheets and this blog post about place value, for ideas. Be sure to count and group objects by tens before moving on to tens and ones.

After all the concept development, your students will be ready for this spring-themed resource with numbers in the twenties and thirties. Try it with small groups of 2 to 4 students. (You can adapt it for a single student or a large group.)

Use this activity for morning work, in a math center, or with your small instructional groups.

Get “Flowers in Bloom For Numerals 20-39” Prepared

There are 4 different activity mats. Each mat has a garden with 10 tulips. Each tulip has a numeral (20-39) on it.

There are 18 cards with the numbers 20-39 represented by wormy ten frames and extra ones.

YOU WILL NEED:

• One copy of the activity mat for each participating student
• One or more sets of the 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 erasers, buttons, gems, or any one-inch or so counters that you have handy.

You can also use one and two-inch-sized Measuring Worms^TM.

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

Get “Em” Engaged With “Flowers in Bloom”

Shuffle the cards. Place them in a stack, a messy pile, or a decorative container. A flower pot fits perfectly with the theme!

STUDENTS WILL:

• Draw a card.
• Determine the number. Say the number word.
• Look for the corresponding numeral on their mat.
• If the numeral is on the mat, color or place a counter on that tulip.
• 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 tulips?

Click on the highlighted words to download your free copy of Flowers in Bloom for Numerals 20-39.

Do you have any helpful ideas for teaching these thorny tens? Be sure to share in the comments below!

LOOKING FOR MORE RESOURCES…

If you’re teaching about gardens and plants, you’re going to want…

Oreo Dirt Cups Recipe (Modern Meal Makeover)

Books About Worms (Growing Book By Book)

Books About Seeds (Gift of Curiosity)

Paper Plate & Paint Splat Tulip (Glued To My Crafts)

Plastic Cup Greenhouses (Mama.Papa.Bubba.)

Seed Experiments (Gift of Curiosity) (Scroll down in this post to click on more seed experiments.)

Be sure to check out all my resources for kindergarten and first grade in my TpT store!

Photo in title image by Cherkas Photography.

The post How to Make Important Connections Between Numerals and Number Words 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.

To help you with that December challenge, I have two new number activities featuring stockings (including a freebie) to share with you.

Stockings in Order 0-120

Are you looking for an engaging activity for sequencing the numbers 0 – 120? This Christmas-themed resource will give your students plenty of practice with ordering consecutive and non-consecutive numbers and with counting by 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s to 120.

Use this whimsical resource for Google Slides^TM to provide individualized practice or review for your kindergarten, first, and second-grade students. Try it as a math center or as a virtual assignment.

Those rascals, Cat and Dog have mixed up all the stockings. Your students will need to drag and drop to reorder them.

Cat and Dog also forgot to finish the count by sequences. Your students will need to be able to click on a question mark in a text box, delete the question mark (but not the text box), and type in a number.

Your students will practice ordering:

• Consecutive Numbers 0-10
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 0-10
• Consecutive Numbers 7-20
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 11-20
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 0-20
• Consecutive Numbers Within a Decade 21-120
• Consecutive Numbers Across a Decade 11-120
• Non-Consecutive Numbers Within a Decade 21-120
• Non-Consecutive Numbers 21-120
• Count By 10’s to 120
• 5’s to 120
• 2’s to 20
• 2’s to 120
• Count by 10’s Off the Decade

Choose one set for all your students or choose different sets for individual students. Use as a one-time assignment or multiple assignments across time.

You can delete, copy, and rearrange the slides to meet your needs.

Skip on over to my TpT store to take a closer look at Stockings in Order 0-120.

Not sure if your students can drag and drop or delete and type? Check out these Try It Before You Buy It slides. Be sure they are the right choice for you, your learning platform, your students, and their devices!

I also offer a similar print resource, Christmas Lights in Order 0-120, which is very popular this time of year.

Hang the Stockings- Comparing Two or Three-Digit Numbers

You’ll love this free and easy to prepare greater than and less than Christmas math activity. Your first, second, and third-grade students will have fun while getting practice with comparing two or three-digit numbers against a benchmark number.

Choose two-digit or three-digit numbers.

Your students will need:

• one page with two fireplaces and one set of stockings
• crayons
• scissors
• glue
• optional construction paper (9″ x 12″ or 6″ x 18″)

Your students will:

• Color the fireplaces.
• Cut the page in half on the dotted line.
• Glue the fireplaces onto construction paper (optional).
• Color the stockings.
• Cut them out.
• Sort them by numbers less than or greater than 55 or 550.
• Hang the stockings on the correct fireplace.
• Glue them in place.

You will:

• Sit back and relax with your favorite hot beverage.
• Enjoy the quiet calm for a few moments.
• Use your students’ creations for an attractive holiday display!

To make it easier, I recommend students loosely cut around the stockings or cut them as rectangles.

Students may also glue the fireplaces in a notebook or simply keep the fireplace page intact.

Visit my TpT store to download your free copy of Hang the Stockings Comparing Numbers.

Curious About the Origins of Stockings…

I discovered this article, The Legend of the Christmas Stocking, in the Smithsonian Magazine. It’s an interesting read if you’re not familiar with the legend.

Looking For More Resources…

Check out these blog posts for more free number activities, perfect for the season.

• How to Easily Stuff a Little Learning into December (preschool and kindergarten numeral recognition)
• One Way to Keep ‘Em Busy This Holiday Season (rounding two and three-digit numbers)

Click on the categories below to see more resources in my TpT store.

• Christmas
• Numbers & Number Sense
• Numbers & Place Value
• For Use With Google Slides^TM

I’d love to hear about the kinds of activities you find are best to engage your wiggly, distracted students this time of year! Please share in the comments below.

Photos in images by Coffee Beans and Children’s Dreams and LiliGraphie.

The post How to Put a Little Festive Learning in Their Stockings 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.

Some children learn to recognize the numerals 0-10 with exposure to a few books, games, and/or activities. Then, they’re all set to go.

However, there are other children who struggle with symbol recognition- whether it’s the name of colors, shapes, letters, or numerals.

Here are three ways to help children who have difficulty with symbols learn to recognize numerals.

Just a little tidbit about numerals and numbers. A numeral is a symbol or name that is used to represent a number. A number is a count or measurement. And yes, I’d like to just refer to both as a number!

Assess Before Teaching Numeral Recognition

Before you start teaching, you’ll want to know which numerals your students already recognize with ease. All you need is a basic set of flashcards 0-10. Assess your students individually.

Flash the numeral cards one at a time in random order. For a less stressful way, lay a few cards down at a time on a flat surface. Then, ask your student to find and name a numeral they know. Record the numerals each student needs to learn.

With this knowledge, you’ll know where to start- with zero or maybe just a few to go. Create small instructional groups, as needed.

At the end of this post, you’ll find a link for a free resource. It includes basic flashcards 0-10. It also includes two alternate half-page numeral assessments.

Give your student a copy of the numeral page. Have them point to and say each numeral. You can use a second copy to record any errors.

Make It Multi-Sensory

Just like letters and sounds, numerals and numbers can be introduced, practiced, and reviewed in a multi-sensory way. Link the name (numeral) with its formation and corresponding quantity (number). Have your students use their fingers to show quantity.

Multi-Sensory Ways to Teach Numeral Recognition

• Tracing and writing on a chalkboard using large muscle movements
• Skywriting using full-range arm movements
• Rainbow writing on a chalkboard or large on a piece of paper
• Finger writing in a sensory tray
• Forming numerals with playdough

Keep it multi-sensory! Look at the numeral. Say its name. Form the numeral. Show the quantity.

I made a free set of self-checking flashcards with ten frames. You can pair these (or the basic ones) with a sensory tray. Scroll to the bottom of this post to download them.

Here are a few blog posts with useful information you can adapt for teaching numeral recognition.

Helpful Blog Posts

• Introduce Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• Review Letters and Sounds the Multi-Sensory Way
• Stuff a Little Learning into December

My newest resource, Pet Themed Activities for Numeral Recognition 0-10, is available in my TpT store. It includes several activities for multi-sensory instruction. You’ll find numeral formation mats, count to recognize mats, and ten frame mats.

Use a Systematic, Sequential Approach For Teaching

Provide step-by-step instruction. It increases the odds of student success! Let your assessment results be your starting point. Here’s an example if you’re beginning with zero.

• Teach 0.
• Teach 1.
• Practice/ review with activities for only 0 and 1.
• Teach 2.
• Practice/ review with activities for just 0, 1, and 2.
• Teach 3, etc.

Be sure to assess and reteach when needed, as you go!

I used this structure to create Pet Themed Activities for Numeral Recognition 0-10. Each numeral is introduced individually in numerical order, 0-10.

There are four activities that focus on teaching recognition of a single numeral.

• numeral formation mats
• count to recognize mats
• ten frame mats
• treat jar numeral searches

In addition, there are eight activities that provide a cumulative review, generally starting with 2.

• number tower mats
• cup craze mats
• 3 sets of how many worksheets
• color by number worksheets
• spin & trace worksheets
• roll & say worksheets

You can find a Numeral Recognition Free Sample of some of these activities for teaching the numeral 4 in my TpT store.

Click on the highlighted words, Numeral Flashcards 0-10, to download another freebie. It includes basic numeral flashcards, two half-page assessment sheets, and self-checking flashcards with ten frames.

I’d love to hear about your favorite activities for teaching numeral recognition!

Photo in title image by Almaje.

The post 3 Helpful Ways to Improve Numeral Recognition 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.

T-Rex’s Valentine Number Activity

T-Rex’s Valentine Numbers is an engaging way to have your kindergarten, first, and second-grade students practice determining the number right before or right after a given number.

This is a partner or small group activity. Get ready to try it with your instructional groups or as an independent math center!

Choices to Make

Start by making the following choices.

• the appropriate number range for your students, 0 to 20 or 21 to 120
• number right after or number right before
• color or black/ white
• reusable or consumable mats

Get It Prepared

Gather or prepare these materials.

• one mat for each participating student
• one set of number cards for each pair of students
• 10 counters (about 1 inch or smaller) or crayons for each participating student
• optional number line or one hundred twenty charts for instructional support
• an optional sheet of paper or dry erase board for each student

Prepare your mats. Print the color or black/ white mats on cardstock and laminate for durability and reuse.

You can also print the black/ white mat on paper. Use crayons to color and consume. If you prefer, use them with dry-erase pockets and dry erase crayons or markers.

There are two different mats for each number range. Partners should have different mats. In a small group, some students will have mats that are the same.

Print your sets of number cards. Each set is on a single page. Use cardstock and laminate for durability. Cut out the cards.

Each set has 15 number cards. Each mat has 10 hearts with numbers. Partners will have some numbers that overlap and some that are different.

Get ‘Em Engaged With T-Rex’s Valentine Number Activity

To get started, place the number cards face down in a stack or a messy pile. Take turns picking a card.

Say the number on your card. Next, follow the directions to say either the number right after or right before the number on your card.

Find that number on your mat. Then, cover or color the number.

If the number is not on your mat or has already been covered, you lose your turn.

Create a discard pile. Shuffle and reuse the cards as needed.

Who can be the first to mark all the numbers on their mat?

Ways to Enhance Instruction

Be sure to have your students say their number pairs (given number and number right after or before). You might also want them to record the number pairs on a sheet of paper or on a dry erase board. Saying and/or writing the number pairs will help them remember the connection.

Some students will benefit from having an easily accessible horizontal or vertical number line or number chart. They can locate the given number and then see the number that comes right before or after it.

Provide further activities that reinforce sequencing numbers that cross a decade. For example, 29 counting forwards to 30 or 50 counting backward to 49. Share your favorite ideas and activities that are helpful for teaching this difficult concept in the comments below!

Ways to Enhance Engagement With T-Rex’s Valentine Number Activity

It’s easy to engage young students with seasonal resources! See if you can find Valentine’s Day themed erasers or buttons to use as counters. You could even use candy conversation hearts.

Place the number cards in a seasonal container. Or try putting them in a valentine themed sensory bin.

Get your learners engaged by clicking the highlighted words and downloading your free copy of T-Rex’s Valentine Number Activity.

Looking For More Resources?

Check out my newly revised open-ended flexible Valentine’s Day themed resource, Tugging on My Heartstrings, for sequencing numbers 0-120 in a variety of ways. Use it to provide individualized practice for your kindergarten, first, and second-grade math students.

It can be used for ordering sets of 5 or more consecutive or non-consecutive numbers and for counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, or any multiple.

I added a second set of ready to use, easy prep black/ white hearts with a variety of sequences, mixed-up within each set of five numbers (consecutive numbers 0-10, 0-20, within a decade 21-120, across a decade 21-120; and non-consecutive numbers 0-10, 11-20, 0-20, within a decade 21-120, and 11-120). This set is perfect for a color, cut, and glue activity.

Take a look at this partner activity, Valentines in My Mailbox, for first and second-grade math. It reinforces understanding of base ten, trading ten ones for one ten, and comparing two-digit numbers.

In addition, this resource includes recording sheets with expanded form, rounding to the nearest ten, and counting by tens off a decade number.

Click on the links below to find additional resources for Valentine’s Day, numbers, number sense, and place value.

• A Sweet Sorting Activity You Will Love (PreK-K)
• One Lovely Way to Teach Place Value for Understanding (Grades 1-2)
• Valentine’s Day Themed Resources in My TpT Store
• Number & Number Sense Resources in My TpT Store
• Number & Place Value Resources in My TpT Store

The post 1 Free and Terrific Valentine Number Activity appeared first on Just Ask Judy.