I Spy Fruity Addition

My class enjoys playing the I Spy Fruity Addition game. I usually have them play in small groups of about 5-6 students, but this week they played the game with a partner. It is funny how they make themselves so comfortable as they play this game.

This game is a fun and easy way for students to practice their addition facts to 20. It can actually be used for subtraction as well as long as students understand that they need to subtract the lower number from the larger number.

The game is played by having students find the combination of cards that equal the sum that another player calls out. The game is very easy to prep and play. The students seem to get the hang of it quickly and work to challenge each other.

The thing I like most about this game is that it is a good brain break activity. There are days when my students are tired of listening/sitting and need to be involved in something more interactive. I have four sets of cards prepped and bagged (not laminated). I divide the class into four groups, give each group a set of cards, and let them play. I gave instructions of how to play the game the first 1-2 times, but after that they were on their own. It does get a little loud, but students are on task, learning, and having fun.

  

The I Spy Fruity Addition Game is available at my TpT Store if you are interested.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Spy-Fruity-Addition-Game-1720981

Yea!!! It's Experiment Day

 In a few days my class will be starting our ABC Countdown, which is the last 26 days of school. It is hard to believe. This year has gone so fast. The ABC Countdown is an idea our first grade team got a few years ago from a fellow teacher. She had gotten the idea from another teacher. Anyways, what I am saying is that I can't take credit for it, or even give proper credit, but I am very thankful for the idea.

One of the days is of course, "E" Day. It is our Experiment Day, and it is the #1 best day of the whole countdown. My students always love this day and so do I. We have lots of fun and lots of learning is being done. It is so hands on and everyone is engaged.

I've always had a time of the year when I do science experiments, but I used to take a week or two. Now, with this ABC Countdown, I do it all in one day. It is a lot! In order to get this done I have to start gathering up everything that I will need ahead of time, which is why this is on my mind right now. Most of the supplies I already have, so I don't usually need to purchase too much, but I'm double checking to be sure.

A couple of years ago I put together a Science Experiment Day packet with my favorite experiments. This made it easier for me to get everything together without having to put too much thought into which experiments I wanted to do and what materials I would need. I also included the actual experiments, so that they could be projected in order for my class to make predictions and to allow us to have class discussions. I then wanted to have my students do the experiments and record their findings in a science journal. I've included all of these pieces in my first packet and then because I love doing science experiments I created a Science Experiment Day #2 packet. Both are available at my TpT store if you are interested.

Science Experiment Day #1

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Experiment-Day-1245181

 Science Experiment Day #2

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Experiment-Day-2-1520756

Insect Exploration Table

It is insect time! I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to fit this unit into my schedule this year, which would have been disappointing. My students always enjoy it, especially since I bring in live critters. Although, I did conserve in this area a bit this year.

One thing that I do when I teach insects is to have my exploration table set up. This year the only live critters I have are crickets and ladybugs. I usually include meal worms and then I normally borrow ants and butterflies from my friend, but she has retired, so I don't have those this year. Along with the live insects, I have insect cards, books, puzzles, plastic insects, insects encased in glass, and other activities. I like to give my students a chance to visit this area everyday, even if it is only for 5 minutes. It is fun to listen to them as they make their observations and do the activities.

We have 1-1 iPads in our classroom and our research project for the next couple of weeks is insects. Bringing the realia into the classroom really helps to build the students' interest and to direct their research. Besides using the exploration table my students use books, videos, Brainpop Jr. and information they have learned from class for their research. They also use my classroom webpage. They do this by clicking on appropriate links that I have set up for them.

I must admit setting up an exploration table in the classroom does take some work, but after I get it all set up I always feel that it is worth it. 

Please feel free to visit Anna Navarre's TpT Store

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Navarre

Dog vs Squirrel Math Game

Today my students were playing Dog vs Squirrel. They were working pretty quietly, considering it was a game, but then I heard them burst out in laughter. I started to get a little upset, thinking that they were playing around instead of working, but then realized someone had flipped over a squirrel and had to clear their board. The laughter was just them having fun, imagine that!

Dog vs Squirrel is a game in which students flip over cards to make addition and subtraction equations. The number cards are placed on the student's board and can be moved around until an equation is completed. At that point the equation is frozen. But students need to beware! If they flip over a squirrel then they need to clear their board. Once a squirrel has been found then it is removed from the game. Eventually, after all the squirrels have been taken out, the game can be completed without interruption.

What I like most about this game is that it challenges students to really think about the equations. For example, one student had made the equation 4 - 8 =. When I asked what number he was hoping to find in order to complete the equation, he realized that he had to switch the numbers around. Another student had worked to set up all of his equations, but hadn't realized that maybe some of those numbers could be used as the answer to the equations that he had on his board. Technically, he was probably using the better strategy by doing it his way, because none of his numbers were frozen.

Dog vs Squirrel is available at my teacher's store if you are interested. 

Dog vs Squirrel Math Game

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dog-vs-Squirrel-Math-Game-1645519