Spring Math Activities Standards-Based Skill-Builders with Seasonal Themes Written by Brenda Kaufmann Illustrated by Janet Armbrust Teaching & Learning Company 1204 Buchanan St., P.O. Box 10 Carthage, IL 62321-0010
This book belongs to ii!δ Several of the activities in this book involve preparing, tasting and sharing food items. We urge you to be aware of any food allergies or restrictions your students may have and to supervise these activities diligently. All food-related suggestions are identified with this allergy-alert symbol: Please note: small food items (candies, raisins, cereal, etc.) can also pose a choking hazard. Copyright 2006, Brenda Kaufmann ISBN 13: 978-1-57310-475-3 978-1-4291-1303-8 ISBN 10: 1-57310-475-2 Printing No. 987654321 Teaching & Learning Company 1204 Dayton, Buchanan OH 45401-0802 St., P.O. Box 10 Carthage, www.lorenzeducationalpress.com IL 62321-0010!Δ The purchase of this book entitles teachers to make copies for use in their individual classrooms only. This book, or any part of it, may not be reproduced in any form for any other purposes without prior written permission from the Teaching & Learning Company. It is strictly prohibited to reproduce any part of this book for an entire school or school district, or for commercial resale. The above permission is exclusive of the cover art, which may not be reproduced. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. TLC10475 Copyright Brenda Kaufmann
Bugs Table of Contents Antennae Skip Counting..................... 5 Story Problems with Bugs.................... 6 Bug Measurement.......................... 7 Bug Patterns.............................. 8 Bug Legs Estimation....................... 10 Bug Graphing............................. 11 General Spring Activities Measuring Grass Growth................... 13 Plant Measurement........................ 15 Flower Petal Estimation.................... 17 Natural Geometric Scavenger Hunt........... 19 Golf Game Addition....................... 20 Seven Silly Flies........................... 21 Literature-Based Activities Flower Garden............................. 23 Jump, Frog, Jump!........................... 24 The Grouchy Ladybug....................... 26 Flap Your Wings............................ 27 Diary of a Worm........................... 28 Caps for Sale.............................. 30 10 Little Rubber Ducks...................... 33 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs............. 35 Charlie the Caterpillar....................... 36 The Tale of Peter Rabbit...................... 38 Make Way for Ducklings..................... 40 Bubble, Bubble............................. 41 Green Wilma.............................. 43 St. Patrick s Day Pot O Gold.............................. 45 Easter Jelly Bean Graphing........................ 47 TLC10475 Copyright Brenda Kaufmann iii
Dear Teacher or Parent, Thank you for purchasing Spring Math Activities with hands-on activities to supplement your math curriculum. As test scores become more and more important, it is vital that we find ways for students to learn basic skills in interesting, hands-on, active ways. Integrating other subjects into math is a good way to learn on more than one level. Rote and practice has its place, but children need to be able to be creative and have fun while learning their basic skills. In other words, children need to be able to be children while they learn. (It s more fun for the parents and teachers that way, too!) The literature used in these activities is readily available. You may already have some of it in your collections. The materials needed are inexpensive or free and easy to find. In some lessons you will find I refer to a math journal. I have my students bring spiral notebooks at the beginning of the school year. We use them for working problems together in class and other practice that won t be handed in. Scratch paper can be used in place of a math journal, but I have found that it really comes in handy and helps to keep students organized. The lessons in this book are not meant as a total curriculum, but as supplements to your regular curriculum. Taking a break from drilling the basics will be a breath of fresh air for everyone and your kids will still be learning what they need to know. Sincerely, Brenda Kaufmann iv TLC10475 Copyright Brenda Kaufmann
Skills skip counting by twos Antennae Skip Counting Materials large insect pictures paper or math journals pencils crayons tape Directions 1. Review counting by twos to 50 with the class. 2. Show the class the large bug pictures. Ask the class how many antennae each bug has. (two) 3. Tape several large bugs to the board. 4. Ask: How can we figure out how many antennae there are all together on the bugs? (count by twos ) 5. Count by twos with the students to find the total. Write the total on the board and label it. (Example: 22 antennae) 6. Have students take out pencils, crayons and math journals, or hand out paper. 7. Have them draw and color any number of bugs (at least 10, not more than 50). 8. Students can count by twos to find the total number of antennae on their bugs, then write the totals with labels at the bottom of their pages as you did on the board. 9. Let students share their findings with the class. TLC10475 Copyright Brenda Kaufmann 5
Skills acting out a problem problem solving addition or subtraction computation Story Problems with Bugs Materials craft materials students can cut, glue and paint (toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, egg cartons, lids, small boxes, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, etc.) scissors glue washable paint paintbrushes newspaper paint shirts paper or math journals pencils 1. Review the characteristics of insects: six legs, three body parts, sometimes wings, antennae. 2. Show students the materials available. Have a volunteer demonstrate how to make a bug out of some of the materials. 3. Let students create their own insects, then paint them. (This may take all of the first day.) 4. While the bugs are drying (or the next day), have each student think of a story problem about his or her bug. Write a sample problem on the board or on chart paper: Tony the tiger beetle went for a walk. He ate three leaves, then two more. How many leaves did Tony eat? (five leaves) Directions 5. Have students write their own bug problems, using addition or subtraction. Circulate and check each student s story problem, helping as needed. 6. Let students create the props needed for their problems. (leaves the bugs eat, etc.) 7. Let them take turns acting out their problems for the class. The class can come up with the answers. Save students bug models for the Bug Measurement activity, page 7. 6 TLC10475 Copyright Brenda Kaufmann