HANDSHAKES

Children spend so much time in front of a screen that many of them have a difficult time actually connecting with others and looking them in the eyes. These handshakes are a great way to encourage children to interact with their teacher and friends. They also involve multiple senses that will activate the brain.

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Hint! Choose one and do it every day for a week. After you’ve introduced several you can let a special helper choose the handshake for the day.

Butterfly – Hook right thumbs together. Extend the other four fingers to make the butterfly’s wings. Pretend to flutter the butterfly’s wings as you move your hands in a circular motion.

Squirrel – One friend extends her arm. The other friend quickly runs fingers from the wrist up to the shoulder. Switch places.

Thumb Kiss – Hold up thumbs and touch as you make a smacking sound.

Hamburger – Children bump fists and say, “Burger.” Open fists and wiggle fingers together as they say, “Fries.” Hands in the air and shake fists and hips as they say, “Shake.”

Farmer – The teacher crosses her fingers and points thumbs down to represent the cow’s utter. The child grabs the thumbs and pretends to milk the cow.

Cool Dude – Partners knuckle bump and then open their fist and slide it back as they say, “Pssshhh!”

Double Cross Handshake – Shake right hands and then reach across and shake left hands.

Lumberjack – Partners hold up right thumbs and grab them with the left hand. Partners then clasp right fingers and pretend to saw back and forth.

Builder – Shake hands and move them up and down vertically as you say, “Here’s a hammer.” Move hands horizontally back and forth as you say, “Here’s a saw.” Gently twist wrists as you say, “And here’s a screwdriver.”

Potato – Bump fists as you say, “Baked potato.” Bend index fingers and touch as you say, “Tader tot.” Open fingers and wiggle with your partner as you say, “And fries.”

Ghost – Extend arms and swish back in forth as you say, “Woooo!”

Buzz! Extend index finger and touch to your partner’s index finger as you make a buzzing sound.

Fisherman – Place right hand on each other’s right forearm and tap gently like a fish tail. Bend right arm back as if reeling in a fish as you say, “Good morning!”

Hand Hug – Hold up right palms and touch in the air. Bend thumbs around and gently squeeze.

Spiderman – Partners hold up four fingers and intertwine. Spiders have 8 legs and you have 8 wiggly fingers.

Biker – Children hold out fists and stick up thumbs. The teacher grabs the thumbs and pretends to turn them while making a “Brrrrmmmm” sound. “Now your brain is revved up and you’re ready to learn!”

Body Parts – Call out different body parts and challenge children to greet partners by gently touching elbows, knees, heads, ankles, toes, chins, etc.

Jellyfish – Bump fists and then open and close fingers as you pull them back like a jellyfish.

Bow Wow – Partners bow and then make “w’s” by sticking up three middle fingers. Open mouth and place “w’s” on either side to create the word “WOW!”

4-H Hello – Children can choose one of these “H’s.”
High Five (High five partner.)
Handshake (Shake hands.)
Hug (Hug each other.)
Hollywood kiss (Air kiss on left and right.)

*They can also choose a homerun, which is all four!

Hint! Cut a hand, numeral “5”, heart, and lips out of fun foam or felt. Place on the floor so the children can stand on the one they’d like.

MATH CENTER

WHY?

Children will have opportunities to count, sort, make patterns, measure, explore shapes, make comparisons, and join and separate sets in the math center. Small motor skills, problem-solving, and social skills will also be developed.

Create a special area in your classroom where children can “discover” and reinforce math concepts. You will need a table, shelf, and baskets, shoe boxes, and plastic tubs to store materials. Label each container with the name and a picture of the item. Model how to use the materials and clean up. Begin by putting out one activity at a time. When children have learned how to use one activity and clean up, then add another. Children should have several choices, but don’t overwhelm them with too many materials at once.


Materials

Counters: shells, rocks, buttons, toothpicks, keys, bottle caps, peanuts, pasta, paint chips, erasers, small toys, craft sticks, birthday candles, hair bows, small cars, crayons, party favors, leaves

Sorting: sorting box, divided serving dishes, flannel board and felt pieces

One-to-One: muffin pan, ice cube tray

Numbers: dice, deck of cards, number puzzles, tactile numerals, dominoes, board games, dot cards, ten frame

Patterns: pattern blocks, sewing beads, peg board, unifix cubes

Writing: chalkboard, wipe off board, paper, pencils

Counting: dice, number line, hundreds chart, counting cubes, rekenrek

Geometry: geoboard, felt shapes, attribute blocks, 3 dimensional shapes

Time: toy clock, stop watch, minute timer

Money: play money, US coins, foreign coins, coupons

Measurement: ruler, tape measure, balance scale, measuring cups and spoons

Addition: unifix cubes, calculator, games

What else? computer, play telephone, counting books, number poster, board games

Hint! Relate counters and math manipulatives to seasons or themes. For example, if you are doing an ocean unit, have shells to count and sort. In the fall, you might want to have nuts or leaves in the math center.


JUST FOR FUN!
Cut basic geometric shapes (square, triangle, rectangle, oval, rhombus, circle) out of cardboard or fun foam. Let the children take the shapes and match them to something in the classroom with a similar shape.

EGG-CELLENT AND EGG-CEPTIONAL LEARNING TOOLS

WORKING ON LESSON PLANS FOR APRIL THIS WEEKEND?

If you can remember where you put all those plastic eggs from last year's hunt, then I've got tons of learning activities where you can recycle them.

Letters
Write an upper case letter on one half with a permanent marker and the lower case letter on the other half.

*Children can match letters. They can also write words or draw pictures of things that begin with that sound and put them in the egg.

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Word Families

Write onsets (consonants or blends) on one half and rimes (word endings) on the other half. Children twist around and read words. You could also ask children to write the words.

Two Letter Sight Words

Practice making and reading two letter words by writing a letter on each half. Ask children to write the words or use them in a sentence.

Numbers and Sets

Write numerals or number words on the eggs. Children fill with the appropriate amount of beans or paper clips.
Can they write all the different ways they can make five?

Compound Words

Make compound words with eggs.

Science

Let children draw pictures of all the animals that come from eggs.

Writing

Write a poem about spring on a small sheet of paper. Fold it up and put it in the egg.

Math Facts

Practice addition and subtraction with eggs.

Puzzles

Write sight words or spelling words on the eggs. Write the same word on a 1” x 4” sheet of paper and cut between the letters to make a puzzle. Place puzzle pieces in the egg. Children shake and then open and put the pieces together to make the word.
*You can also put random letters in the egg and ask children to see how many words they can make and write from the letters.

WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?

Here's a simple "hands on" activity that you can use this week.  Children can "save" sight words, letters, math facts, colors, shapes, and other skills you want them to master in their wallets.

How to Make a Wallet

Materials: construction paper 9” x 12”, markers, green paper cut 4” x 2”

1st Place the paper lengthwise and fold up the bottom to an inch from the top.

2nd Fold in half.

3rd Open and glue both sides.

4th Let the children decorate the outside.

5th Cut 4 ½ ” x 2 ¼ ” green rectangles and write high frequency words on them.
When children learn a word they get to “save” it in their wallets.

Letter Wallets
Younger children could save letters, numbers, or shapes in their wallets.


Math Wallets - Write addition and subtraction facts on dollars and save them in math wallets.

Vocabulary - Have children write vocabulary words on dollars and store them in their wallets.

TALLY TIME

Teach children this “hands” on song about tally marks to the tune of “Little Red Wagon.”

Put down a tally mark in a row. (Open palm and put down index . finger.)
Put down a tally mark in a row. (Put down middle finger.)
Tally, tally in a row, (Put down ring and pinky fingers.)
Fifth one goes across. (Put thumb across.)

*Use pretzel sticks to sing and tally.

Data Collectors
Children can practice using tally marks when they collect data with these clipboards.
You can buy clipboards, but there will be “ownership” when children make their own from recycled cardboard.

Materials: recycled corrugated cardboard, butterfly clips, markers, paper




Directions: 1. Cut recycled cardboard into 9” x 12” rectangles.
2. Attach a butterfly clip to the top and then let the children decorate with markers.
3. Insert paper in the butterfly clip and use it to do surveys of favorite authors, foods, sports teams, colors, etc.

You can also use clipboards for these activities:

Take notes as the teacher reads a book
Do interviews of classmates, parents, etc.k
Write the room (write words they can read)
Count the room (list of classroom objects to count)
Draw observations (weather, science experiments, etc.)
Shape hunt (draw shapes they find in the classroom)
Record information from nature walks or field trips

DOING DOTS

Subitizing is the ability to recognize numbers without counting. Dot cards can contribute to children’s understanding of number concepts, counting, composing and decomposing numbers, and a variety of standards. Take a look at all the ways you can use dot cards in your classroom.

Hint! Start with dot patterns up to 6 and then extend it to 10 when they are ready.
*Make sure to download dot cards on card stock or heavy paper.

One to One
Children match up pompoms, beans, erasers, pebbles, and other small objects with dots on cards.

Dot Flash
The teacher quickly holds up a dot card and then places it face down. The children hold up that number of fingers on their chest. Ask, “How did you know it was that number?”

Clip It
Children use the appropriate number of paper clips or clothespins to attach to the dot cards.

Copy Cat
The teacher holds up a dot card. The children try to reproduce the pattern with their own counters.

Sorting
Sort dot cards by amount.
Sort odd and even cards.

Line Up
Students line up the dot cards in numerical order from largest to smallest or smallest to largest.


Matching
Match dot cards with dots on dice.
Match dot cards with ten frames with the same amount.
Make puzzle games where children match dots with numerals or words.

Partner Count
Cards are placed face down on the table. One card is turned over and the first child to say the number gets to keep the card. The partner must count the dots to verify it’s correct.
*To make the game more challenging, ask them to say one more than the quantity of dots, one less, two more, etc.

Memory
Run off two sets of dot cards. Place them face down on the floor. One child at a time turns over two cards. If the cards match they make keep them and take another turn. If the cards don’t match, they are turned back over and the next child takes a turn.

Top It
You will need several sets of dot cards for this game. Shuffle the cards and lay them face down in a pile. One child at a time chooses a card. The child with the largest number of dots wins both cards. If they turn over the same amount they continue to draw cards until one player has a higher number.

It Adds Up
Two children have a set of cards and face each other. They each turn over a card and add up the amount. The first child to correctly say the answer gets to keep the cards.
*Tally to keep score.

Paper Plates
How about making some dot plates?

MATH SIGNS

A math specialist one told me how important it was to have the children look at the signs when they are doing math. Most children know how to work the problems, but they often forget to look at the sign first. Here’s a little rap to make it more fun.

Stop, look, and think,
Before you add or subtract.
Pay attention to the signs
When you do your math!

Plus sign, plus sign,
What do you say?
Put them together.
Join sets, I say!

Minus sign, minus sign,
What do you say?
Subtract a set.
Take it away!

Equal sign, equal sign,
What is your game?
The amount on either side
Is always the same.

Look at the signs before you begin,
And your answer will always win!

Hint! Here is a tool that can help children solve word problems. Fold a sheet of paper into fourths. Open and fold in half. Cut half way up one creased line as shown. Make a “+” on the right and a “-“ on the left. Lift flaps and write key words for adding and subtracting. For example:

Addition: plus, in all, altogether, how many, sum
Subtraction: less, minus, left, take away, fewer, difference

MATH FACTS Musical Chairs
Place chairs in a circle and PUT A MATH FLASHCARD ON EACH CHAIR.. Play some music for the children to march around. When the music stops they have to identify the ANSWER TO THE EQUATION where they are standing.

*Make the game more difficult by putting several coins for the children to count.


MATH MATS
Math mats are a “hands on” way to give children concrete experiences with addition and subtraction. Trim a file folder to make a 12” square. Draw a line down the middle of the square as shown. Draw a line down the middle of the top section. Explain that the line in the middle is like the equal sign in an equation. What is on the top has to equal (be the same as) what is on the bottom. 

Note! Poker chips, small toys, natural items, small erasers, and other objects can be used with the math mat. You can also make smaller math mats from an 8" square.

Addition
Demonstrate how to use counters to make a set in the top left section and a set in the top right section. Count. Pull down the objects into the bottom section and count how many altogether. 

Subtraction
Use counters to demonstrate subtraction.

BEADS FOR BRAINS

Don’t you just love tools that you can use in lots of different ways? It’s like my kitchen scissors. I couldn’t live without them to open packages, snip herbs, trim meat, cut veggies, etc. Just like tools in your kitchen, I have some handy math tools that you will be able to use in creating multi-sensory experiences in a variety of ways with a variety of skill levels.

Brain Beads
Brain beads are a simple tool that can be used to reinforce counting in a concrete way. You will need pipe cleaners and pony beads. Knot one end of the pipe cleaner. String on 10 beads. Knot the other end.

Counting
Slide the beads to the left and then move them over one at a time to the right as you count.

*Flip the pipe cleaner over so the beads are on the left again and count from 11-20. Continue flipping the pipe cleaner and counting higher.

*Slide all the beads at once and count “ten.” Flip it over and slide all the beads as you say “twenty.” Continue counting by ten’s by sliding all ten beads at one time.

Friends of Ten
How many ways can you make ten?

Number Stories
Slide beads to demonstrate number stories.

Words– Slowly say a short sentence. Have children follow you as you model moving a bead to the right for each word.
Hint! Always demonstrate and model before asking children to do these activities independently.

Syllables– Move beads for syllables you hear in words.

Phonemes– Say words slowly stretching out the sounds. Slide a bead for each phoneme. Say the word and slide the beads together to the left.

Talking Beads- You can also use the beads to guide sharing time. Children can slide a bead over for every word that describes their object. Then they can slide a bead for where they got it. Finally, they can slide a bead as they say what it is.

MORE/LESS/EQUAL

One math standard that many children struggle with is the ability to understand what is one more and one less. Let’s see what happens when we hop, sing, and move this standard.

Paper Clip (Parisa Ghannadan)
Make a number line on a sentence strip. Use a paper clip to slide to different numbers and the children can see what comes before and after.

Number Line Hop
Draw a number line with chalk on the carpet or use masking tape to make a number line on the floor. Choose different children to hop to a number. What is one less? What is one more?
*Let children roll one or two dice and then hop to that number. What is one more? Less?
*Call two children and ask each to stand on a different numeral on the number line. Which one is more? Which one is less?


Ruler Game
Give children a ruler to use as a number line. Have them point to the numbers as they count on the ruler. Can you find 6? What’s 1 more than 6? What is 1 less than 6?


More or Less Game
Make a grid similar to the one shown. Two children take turns making sets with unifix cubes in the middle section. Their partner has to make sets with “one more” and “one less.”

Counting on a Shoestring
Write numerals 0-20 on a cotton shoestring with a permanent marker. Insert a bead. Children move the bead as they count. They can clearly see what is one more and one less.

Ten Little Friends
Ten little friends (Hold up fingers.)
Went out to play (Wiggle.)
On a very bright
And sunny day.
And they took a little walk.
Walk, walk, walk. (Walk fingers in front of your body.)
And they had a little talk.
Talk, talk, talk. (Put fingertips together.)
They climbed a great big hill (Move fingers over your head.)
And stood on the top very still. (Keep hands still.)
Then they all tumbled down (Roll hands around and down.)
And fell to the ground.
We’re so tired, (Hold up fingers.)
They all said.
So they all went home
And went to bed.
10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – (Put down fingers one at a time as you
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1. count backwards and lower your voice.)
Good night! (Lay head on hands.)

MATH MATS AND TEN FRAME

Math mats are a “hands on” way to give children concrete experiences with addition and subtraction. Trim a file folder to make a 12” square. Draw a line down the middle of the square as shown. Draw a line down the middle of the top section. Explain that the line in the middle is like the equal sign in an equation. What is on the top has to equal (be the same as) what is on the bottom. 

Note! Poker chips, small toys, natural items, small erasers, and other objects can be used with the math mat. You can also make smaller math mats from an 8" square.

HOW?
Addition
Demonstrate how to use counters to make a set in the top left section and a set in the top right section. Count. Pull down the objects into the bottom section and count how many altogether.

Subtraction
Use counters to demonstrate subtraction.

Missing Addend ”If I have 3 and I want 8, how many more do I need? Let’s put 8 in the bottom. Now, move 3 to the top. How many more do you think I’ll need?” Continue to let children move the counters to solve similar problems.

Note! Have children write the number sentence when you do these activities.



Hint! You can also use divided plates for adding and subtracting 2 numbers. Children will “eat this up” with dry cereal!


Math Bags
Children will be able to manipulate objects to demonstrate different number bonds with these math bags. You will need zip sandwich bags, permanent marker, small flat counters (buttons, poker chips, lima beans, glass pebbles).

HOW?
Draw a line down the middle of a bag with a permanent marker. Insert objects in the bag. Ask the children to count the objects in the bag. Slide the objects from one side to the other to make different combinations. Can they write down the different combinations?



TEN FRAME
A ten frame will give children another "hands-on" way to explore math concepts.
Note! Five, ten, and twenty frames are available to download on the internet.




Building Sets
Call out a number and demonstrate how to place the counters in the frame starting on the left. Remind them to always start with the first frame on the left.
*Turn the frame vertically to make sets.
*Can you place the counters in a different way?
*Have children count forwards and backwards on their frames.

Addition and Subtraction
Place counters for the first addend on the top row and the second addend in the bottom row. How many altogether?
*Take away counters for subtraction problems.

Double Frames
Extend to a double ten frame for building numbers to 20.

HI HO HI HO - ADDING WE WILL GO!

Math was always one of my favorite subjects as a child and as a teacher. If you keep it REAL and HANDS-ON you can introduce addition to younger children and then extend these activities for older students.

Hi Ho - Adding We Will Go (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
1 plus 1 equals 2 (Hold up fingers as you sing.)
1 plus 1 equals 2
Hi, ho, adding we’ll go. (Roll hands around.)
1 plus 1 equals 2


Hands Up Math
Trace around the children's fingers and cut out. Glue the palms to a sheet of paper. Do not glue the fingers because you want to be able to move them up and down to demonstrate addition and subtraction.

Hint! You might want to make this with one hand for the younger children.

Body Addition and Subtraction
Children stand and put their hands in the air as the teacher says a number. When they touch their heads the teacher says “plus” or “minus.” As they touch their waist the teacher says a second number. When the touch their knees everyone says “equals.” And when they touch their toes they say the answer to the math fact.

Adaptations: Tell number stories where children touch and tell the answer.


Addition Card Game (Stephanie Fowler)
Two children play this game with a deck of cards. The first child pulls two cards and adds them. The second child then pulls two cards and adds them. The child with the greater sum wins.


Magic Fingers
The teacher calls out a “magic number.” The teacher holds up numbers on one hand next to her chest. The children must hold up the correct number of fingers to equal the “magic number.”

Bear Hug Letter (Susan Finklestein, Montgomery, AL)
This has nothing to do with math, but it was such a clever idea I found when I was looking at old blogs that I thought you'd like it. Send home a note shaped like a bear that says, “My teacher is so proud of me. Give me a bear hug!”

Hurry back tomorrow for more hands-on math tools!

TO THE POINT!

I'll get right to the point with some pointers today.

WHY?
Children love anything novel and different. They can use these pointers to track from left to right, identify key details in a picture, point out letters or words in print, highlight capitalization and punctuation, touch shapes, identify parts of speech…I think you get the “point”!

WHAT?
Take a look at all these pointers I've collected. I bet you'll find at least one new idea that will capture your students' interest. 

Magic wand – dip the end of a chopstick in glue and roll in glitter

Finger nail – glue a fake fingernail to a craft stick

I Spy – glue a googly eye to a craft stick

Jewel – glue a fake jewel to a craft stick

Witches’ finger – great fun

Magnifying glass - pipe cleaner formed in a circle

Swizzle stick – buy these at a dollar store or have a drink at a bar (Just kidding!)

Pretzel stick – point and then eat

Seasonal – glue small seasonal toys or stickers to craft sticks or purchase seasonal pencils

Bugles - point, read, and eat!!!

Alien - Glue pipe cleaner antennas to the eye pointer and use for pointing and spacing between words.

Giant Pointers
Glue a toy to the end of a cardboard pants hanger or decorate a butterfly net.

Smart Center
This was one of those simple, yet clever ideas that a teacher shared years ago. She said she had a center called the "smart center" with an old pair of glasses and a hand pointer. Children wore the glasses and walked around the room and pointed to words, shapes, colors, letters, etc. to show how "smart" they were. The only rule was you had to use a whisper voice. The teacher who shared this said the kids LOVED this center. She said nobody paid any attention to them, but they thought they were smart just the same!