My Top 3 Favorite First Grade Commercial Math Games

I enjoy making my own math games, but sometimes it is nice to have a game done and ready to go. Games with tons of pieces don't work for me. The  games and activities listed below have a long shelf life and provide some needed skill practice and concept building.

1. 7 ate 9 

This game works on fact fluency quickly adding and subtracting 1, 2, or 3 to or from another number. At the beginning of the year, only a few students are fluent enough to enjoy playing this game. It does help to have students work with others that are close to their ability levels. By the end of the year, they play fast and furious. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p93SqVHsm0c

I find that this game works best with 2 to 4 players at the first grade level.

To make it easier for students I have them put their cards face up in front of them. I usually have them start with 8 cards. If no-one can go, they pick a card from the draw pile.

My version: I use a deck of playing cards and play one more or one less. Each player gets 8 cards (2 rows of four). A card is placed face up in the middle of the deck. If a students has a card that is one more or one less they place it on top of that card. Now students look at the new card to see if they have one more or one less. I have my students say one more or one less, so I know that they know. If no-one has a match a new card is placed in the middle.

2. Ten Frame Towers

This game does have a lot of pieces, but my students enjoy it and it gives them a lot of practice with making ten. At the beginning of the year, I bring it out to work on making ten. Towards the end of the year, I pull it out again and this time students are more fluent and can easily see combinations that equal ten.

I am not a direction reader, but for this game I had to read the directions to figure it out. I have included a video link to help those of us that like to see how it works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Y-Tm1fCU8

http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Frame-Towers-Board-Games/dp/B00B48GJWU

3. Ten Frame Trains (Set of 10)

Students use unifix cubes (not included) to build trains of ten. I usually have students work with a partner to see who can fill up their trains first (up to 50) or their work together to fill up the train(to 100).

http://www.enasco.com/product/TB25330T

(More to Come....)

The Meaning of the Equals Sign - First Grade Math

My students are learning that the equal sign doesn't always occur at the end of an equation. Once they get that each side of the equal sign must be equal, they are on their way. It might seem like a simple concept, but many have only seen an equation with the equal sign at the end. I am starting out with manipulatives and a balance to demonstrate this concept. I am still in the process of completing the unit.

Click here for a free copy of the activity sheets.

Need a technology connection? Check out the Math Illuminations website. It has a great activity showing Balanced Equations. 

I'm always looking for a book to connect to my math concepts.  Have you read Equal Shmequal by Virginia Kroll? Do you have any favorite books to use in this unit?

First Grade - DRA Prep with Reading Graphic Organizers

Do you believe it is already April? The year is flying by. My students are turning into amazing readers. To prepare for one of our reading assessments, the DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment), we have been practicing retelling a story. I have created a few graphic organizers to remind my students to think about the connections they make while they read and to identify the author's message. On a side note, I love to use Leo Lionni's books to teach author's message. More about that in a future blog.
Click here for a  free copy.

Don't forget to check out Manic Monday at classroom freebies! There is always a lot of amazing, and free, resources. 

Adding Nine (Plus 9)

Some of my students are getting good at adding nine to a one digit number. Those that still needed a scaffold used the 2 ten frames to help them visualize how to make that friendly number ten. To play the game they rolled a die and then added nine. If the sum is in the box they can move the counter, if not they lose a turn.   

 Click here for the freebie.

 

 Head over to Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade for more great spring resources.

Money Unit - Top 4 Favorite Videos to Teach Coins

My favorite videos to teach coin identification and value.

Did I miss one of your favorites?

Identifying coins, value, and what is on the heads and tails. 

  Name of coin and its value. Goes with poem Penny, Penny Easy Spent  Show me the money. Students can hold up the mentioned coin.    Some equivalent values - My kids love this one it repeats going faster and faster.

New Blog Design From Honey Bunch

Check out my new blog design. Do you love it? Isn't it adorable? The little girl reminds me of myself as a child. Don't you wish that we all had the sense of wonder and curiosity that a first grader has?

I had a DIY blog design, and I knew I needed help. The ladies over at Honey Bunch Blog Design are wonderful. Erika and Misty made for a great experience. If you are thinking of updating your blog, or giving yourself a bloggy face-lift you should head over there.

Bunny Bump - Add or Subtract

Scrapping Doodles has some adorable graphics. They were perfect for a springtime bump game. In this version, students either add or subtract to catch a bunny. Two versions of the game are included one using 6-sided dice and one using 10-sided dice. Click Here for the free game.

Decorating Eggs - Sums to 10

Getting ready for spring break. Thought I would let my students be a little creative while they practiced their sums to 10. All that is needed for this activity is the attached paper and a die. Students can play against a partner or by themselves. They write a number (numbers 4-9) on each egg. Roll the die. How many more to make 10? Find the correct egg and color it.

Click Here for the file.

Pizza Yum! Subtracting Three From Sums to 18

I do love my math games! Shouldn't all learning be fun?  All you need for this game is dice and the game board. You could laminate the game board, but I just have students use crayons to color it in. For accountability I have included a worksheet. When students first play the game, I don't use the recording sheets. I just want them focusing on adding and then subtracting three. Click HERE for the freebie.

Stop by Clasroom Freebies for some more great resources. 

Spin and Swat - One More and One Less

I was checking out the adorable clipart on MyCuteGraphics, trying to figure out another way for some of my students to practice the concept of one more and one less. As soon as I saw the fly and swatter, I knew I had struck gold.

All you need is dice, a spinner (transparent spinners are wonderful to have), and cubes. 

For this activity students roll a die or dice (there is a different game board for 4 versions using up to 4 dice), then spin the spinner. Players have to find one more or one less than the number. If they do, they get to squish swat the fly. 

Click Here for your free copy. I'm one again excited to be linking about with Charity Preston at Classroom Freebies. If you haven't already, check out their great resources.  Happy Monday!!

Reading Decodable Words - Playing Against Lucky the Leprechaun

This will be my first attempt at a Friday Freebie.

Click HERE for the freebie!

First graders are learning how to use their knowledge of letters and sounds to decode words. By this time of year they are quickly chunking word parts to read words (br.ick). I created this activity to help them practice this skill.

 Click HERE for the freebie!

Fraction Freebie 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4

Fraction Freebie

My students are able to name, read, and match fractions. I used the activities that I've included in this freebie to help my students master this skill. As you can probably tell, I love any kind of activity that has my students interacting and manipulating things.


 Click Here for a freebie. It includes a fraction dominoes matching activity, cards for a memory game, and a chart for students to complete. Students are focusing on identifying and matching 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4.

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Head on over to Classroom Freebies for more great resources.