Friendly Numbers, Number Vines, and Fairy Tale Day!

Hello Everyone!
My apologies for the lack of posting this week.  Wow!! Still reeling after the amazingly full week!  Yes, I did grab a few pics!  In math we were learning about estimating using "Friendly Numbers." We started off on the life size ten frame. We talked about how some numbers are easier with which to work and when it comes to estimating, we naturally go to those numbers. All the work we had done on subitizing came in handy.  We worked initially with 0, 5, and 10. Then later in the week added 15 and 20. 
After working on the ten frame, we discovered how estimating looked on a number line.  Except, it wasn't just a number line, it was a "Number Vine!" Large pumpkins were the friendly numbers. It was easy for the kids to see how close the friendly numbers were to the numbers we were working with!!

Show how many and then what "friendly number" it is closest to.

Knowing about those friendly number estimates will help these little ones understand reasonableness when we delve into addition and subtraction strategies. So stay tuned!!

For your own complete unit on number sense and using friendly numbers, CLICK HERE!! :)

We had a blast on our annual Story Book Character Day. We had our first graders dress up as Fairy Tale Characters because that is what we were studying.  They looked amazing!! Here are a few pics.  I wish I would have gotten everyone!!

Peter X 3

Princesses- from several countries!!

Witch, Dorothy, Little Red, and More!

Jack!

The Wolf!

Puss in Boots :)

And of course my fabulous team got into the spirit by dressing as characters from Cinderella!

The Not so Ugly Stepsisters, Cinderella (Pre-Princess), and The Fairly Fairy Godmother! :)

I have the best team!!!  Thanks for giving your all, Sistas!

I'll be back soon with pics from our Pumpkin Math and Science Day!! OH MY! Such fun!

Thanks for stopping by for a peek!!  I love to read your comments!! Let me know how you teach estimating!

Stay tuned for more fun!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Math in the Patch!

Hello Everyone!
This coming week in math we will be introducing estimating using "friendly numbers." Introducing our little learners to this concept helps them make sense of the different things they will be doing in math in the next few weeks.  It will help them make sense of quantities and will help them decide if computations (composing, decomposing, partitioning) are reasonable and accurate. In first grade we work on friendly numbers  0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. I have posted about this important skill before but have beefed up the unit a bit.  
I have also included an activity for kids to practice the difference in the teen numbers and the numbers that are often mixed up with teens. More number sense!! :) 
Here are a few pics from the 47 page printable download.

Hope you can use a few of these ideas. I'll be back later this week with some visuals for you!

CLICK HERE for your very own printable unit!! :)

Now, off to get my "fairy tale day" costume ready!! I can't wait to see the kids' costumes on Thursday as well!!

As always, thanks for stopping by!  I love reading your comments, the positives as well as the constructive ones, so don't just read and run! :)  

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Joyfully!

Nancy 

Estimating with Friendly Numbers

Hello Everyone!

We began a week long study of estimating this week. That is always a daunting skill for first graders, so our district decided to approach the concept a little bit differently.  We want the kids to understand what estimating is all about, but not using great quantities of things. Our wonderful Math Instructional Specialist suggested we teach our firsties about estimation through our ten frames and our number lines.  She also suggested we use what we call "Friendly Numbers." Friendly numbers are numbers kids are used to working with and that make sense to them. We are using friendly numbers  0, 5, 10, 15, and 20. 

I made some work mats on which the kiddos can work. I also found some cute little pumpkin gems to use as manipulatives, but you can use anything you have.  As a whole group we worked on taking a number, showing what that quantity would look like on a ten frame or a number line, and then thinking about which friendly number was closest.  That friendly number would be a good estimate  for what we were showing. The pictures show working up to 10, but tomorrow we will work on numbers through 20.  I also included number cards in my unit so you can put it in a math tub, which is what I'll do next week for extra estimating practice. 

If you would like your freebie-a 9 page mini unit- click here!

Mini unit contains 4 work mats, number cards and recording sheets.

Gotta go, Trick or Treaters are here!! 

Joyfully!

Nancy