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Learning at Home through PLAY for PreK-1st Graders
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 19, 2020 | Math
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2 - 4 Years Math
Coding with Mathlink Cubes!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Jan 7, 2019 | Math
Teach your little learners coding with this easy and colorful activity using the popular toy Mathlink Cubes!
[Updated 4/16/21] By now, we all know that binary code is the mathematical language of 0’s and 1’s and is the only way computers can talk. We, humans, count from 0 to 9 and then start all over. Computers count by only using 0’s and 1’s.
When we begin to think in code, we begin to think like computer programmers. Coding takes patience and is considered a learned skill and mindset. But before diving too deep into all that, let’s begin with a fun exercise on how to translate your own name into computer language.
All you will need for this project is Learning Resources’ Mathlink Cubes and an alphabet-to-binary converter chart. Plan out how many names you will be spelling, and separate two different colored Snap Cubes, representing each shade as a “0” or “1”. Here, we coded two names. (Thanks for the assist from the Learning Resources Buddy Builders.)
Next, consult your binary code chart to reveal the combination for your first letter.
*In the binary code language, there are 8 placeholders for the 0’s and 1’s, otherwise referred to as an 8-bit sequence. The American Standard Code for Information Interchange, or ASCII, is a 7-bit code. For this exercise, we will use ASCII.First, we spell out Michael’s name. Each letter for M-I-C-H-A-E-L will be it's on the 7-Mathlink-Cube-long sequence. Have your budding computer programmer figure what combination to each letter reveals its code.
Each line stands for each letter.
…or connect it to make a long name, just as it would be written.
Next, it's E-M-I-L-Y’s turn. Use the same chart. You’ll see that the letters from P and below begin with 101, starting another sequence.
If you have the time, practice phrases like “Good Morning” or “I Love You” in binary code.
Computers certainly share information differently than humans. But kids will soon find that coding their name will be a real SNAP!
Coding with Mathlink Cubes!
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Teach your little learners coding with this easy and colorful activity using the popular toy Mathlink Cubes!
[Updated 4/16/21] By now, we all know that binary code is the mathematical language of 0’s and 1’s and is the only way computers can talk. We, humans, count from 0 to 9 and then start all over. Computers count by only using 0’s and 1’s.
When we begin to think in code, we begin to think like computer programmers. Coding takes patience and is considered a learned skill and mindset. But before diving too deep into all that, let’s begin with a fun exercise on how to translate your own name into computer language.
All you will need for this project is Learning Resources’ Mathlink Cubes and an alphabet-to-binary converter chart. Plan out how many names you will be spelling, and separate two different colored Snap Cubes, representing each shade as a “0” or “1”. Here, we coded two names. (Thanks for the assist from the Learning Resources Buddy Builders.)
Next, consult your binary code chart to reveal the combination for your first letter.
*In the binary code language, there are 8 placeholders for the 0’s and 1’s, otherwise referred to as an 8-bit sequence. The American Standard Code for Information Interchange, or ASCII, is a 7-bit code. For this exercise, we will use ASCII.First, we spell out Michael’s name. Each letter for M-I-C-H-A-E-L will be it's on the 7-Mathlink-Cube-long sequence. Have your budding computer programmer figure what combination to each letter reveals its code.
Each line stands for each letter.
…or connect it to make a long name, just as it would be written.
Next, it's E-M-I-L-Y’s turn. Use the same chart. You’ll see that the letters from P and below begin with 101, starting another sequence.
If you have the time, practice phrases like “Good Morning” or “I Love You” in binary code.
Computers certainly share information differently than humans. But kids will soon find that coding their name will be a real SNAP!
Tell Time with Tock the Learning Clock!
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Oct 29, 2018 | Math
Color The Cookies and Match The Shapes!
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Feb 8, 2017 | Math
This free printable is double the fun! Color in the cookie shapes, then cut them out and match them to the shapes in the pan. It's a great way to help young ones practice recognition of shapes and colors, while they build the fine motor skills that will help them succeed in school.
Print your Shape Matching Cookies Printable!
Color The Cookies and Match The Shapes!
This free printable is double the fun! Color in the cookie shapes, then cut them out and match them to the shapes in the pan. It's a great way to help young ones practice recognition of shapes and colors, while they build the fine motor skills that will help them succeed in school.
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Print your Shape Matching Cookies Printable!
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A Handy Guide to Math Manipulatives
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Feb 2, 2017 | Math
Abstract math concepts can be difficult for kids to grasp when they remain purely theoretical. Before little ones can wrap their minds around a concept, they often need to get their hands on something concrete that they can touch, count, sort, compare and measure.
That’s what makes math manipulatives such an ideal teaching tool. Check out the guide below to make the most of your math manipulatives...
Hands-on Experience
Provide children time to freely explore when you first introduce a new manipulative for math.Most manipulatives are designed to be colorful, fun and inviting. So let kids play with them a bit and get it out of their systems. After a few minutes, they’ll be ready for more formal instruction. Begin your lesson by modeling the activity so students understand how to use the manipulative.
All Hands on Deck
Allow plenty of time for hands-on, small group activities. Remember that there’s a trial-and-error process that students must go through when working with manipulatives.Sometimes students need a little extra time to build these valuable reasoning and problem solving skills. Students gain the most benefits from working in small groups with manipulatives, especially those that promote communication and social skills.Give Them a Big Hand!
Assess students and give positive feedback. As often as possible, observe students as they work with math manipulatives and provide plenty of encouragement to ensure that the manipulatives help your students understand abstract concepts.The Hand-off
The ultimate goal is to transition students to pencil and paper.The last step, then, is to graduate to a representational manner—showing students the math concepts using pictures that stand for the manipulatives.Keep a Variety at Hand
Use more than one kind of manipulative in math for activities on the same topic, because learners often associate a task with the math manipulative used. Different textures, colors, and shapes of manipulatives also cater to various learning styles.Let Kids Lend a Hand
When the activity is done, show students how to properly store the manipulatives in buckets or totes.
A Handy Guide to Math Manipulatives
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Abstract math concepts can be difficult for kids to grasp when they remain purely theoretical. Before little ones can wrap their minds around a concept, they often need to get their hands on something concrete that they can touch, count, sort, compare and measure.
That’s what makes math manipulatives such an ideal teaching tool. Check out the guide below to make the most of your math manipulatives...
Hands-on Experience
Provide children time to freely explore when you first introduce a new manipulative for math.Most manipulatives are designed to be colorful, fun and inviting. So let kids play with them a bit and get it out of their systems. After a few minutes, they’ll be ready for more formal instruction. Begin your lesson by modeling the activity so students understand how to use the manipulative.
All Hands on Deck
Allow plenty of time for hands-on, small group activities. Remember that there’s a trial-and-error process that students must go through when working with manipulatives.Sometimes students need a little extra time to build these valuable reasoning and problem solving skills. Students gain the most benefits from working in small groups with manipulatives, especially those that promote communication and social skills.Give Them a Big Hand!
Assess students and give positive feedback. As often as possible, observe students as they work with math manipulatives and provide plenty of encouragement to ensure that the manipulatives help your students understand abstract concepts.The Hand-off
The ultimate goal is to transition students to pencil and paper.The last step, then, is to graduate to a representational manner—showing students the math concepts using pictures that stand for the manipulatives.Keep a Variety at Hand
Use more than one kind of manipulative in math for activities on the same topic, because learners often associate a task with the math manipulative used. Different textures, colors, and shapes of manipulatives also cater to various learning styles.Let Kids Lend a Hand
When the activity is done, show students how to properly store the manipulatives in buckets or totes.
Color And Sequence The Gears!
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Feb 2, 2017 | Math
Toddler & Preschooler Math 101
- Gabrielle Fischer Posted On Jan 31, 2017 | Math
The best part about introducing your toddler to early math skills is that nobody has told them yet that math can be hard or no fun. In fact, your child will learn most of their early math skills through songs, games and kinesthetic activities. For youngsters, learning math is playtime… and playtime is learning.Through simple playtime activities with cups and counters they’ll gain a concrete understanding of concepts like counting, greater than/less than, empty/full, patterning and more, building confidence and a love of numbers!
You will discover your child has a favorite way to learn. It could be through physical activity or quiet play. Through playtime, abstract math concepts can become concrete for little learners, whether they are counting while building a tower or even serving tea – they are developing a love of math to last a lifetime!
Mix N’ Match
Try these simple games to introduce matching and sorting:Using a variety of colorful animal counters and a container, ask your toddler to pull out all of the red counters. Then ask them to pull out all of the purple counters, and so on.Introduce a sorting tray with multiple dividers for more advanced sorting activities. Sort the counters by shape, color, or size.Repeat after me
Using the same colorful counters – simply make patterns, such as red, blue, yellow, and ask your toddler to recreate the same pattern.Roll and count
Counters can also be used to introduce number recognition and number sense. Put the counters or other similar objects in a plastic baggy or bucket and introduce a large die. Roll the die, say the number out loud and ask your child to count and pull that number of counters out of the container. Repeat until all of the counters are gone. Then do the same thing for clean-up but in reverse!Bounce n’ count
Take a soft bouncy ball and play a game of catch. Bounce the ball to each other and count every bounce. It's a fun way to learn to count and build gross motor skills at the same time. Jump n’ count
Burn some excess energy by jumping and counting to ten. If your little leaper is feeling extra energetic, challenge them to go up to twenty. This activity is great, because they’re also building up gross motor skills and core strength.Stamp it
Introduce counting and number recognition with jumbo number stamps or puzzle cards. Ask kids to stamp out the numbers in order. Or draw dots on the paper and ask them to identify the quantity by stamping the correct number.Math in the bath
Introduce stackable cups to the bath routine. Through play, toddlers will discover early volume concepts like full and empty. Take a small cup and empty it into a bigger cup. Then try to empty the bigger cup into the smaller one. Talk through what is happening with your toddler. “Uh-oh, my cup is full and yours still has water in it.”You will discover your child has a favorite way to learn. It could be through physical activity or quiet play. Through playtime, abstract math concepts can become concrete for little learners, whether they are counting while building a tower or even serving tea – they are developing a love of math to last a lifetime!
Toddler & Preschooler Math 101
The best part about introducing your toddler to early math skills is that nobody has told them yet that math can be hard or no fun. In fact, your child will learn most of their early math skills through songs, games and kinesthetic activities. For youngsters, learning math is playtime… and playtime is learning.Through simple playtime activities with cups and counters they’ll gain a concrete understanding of concepts like counting, greater than/less than, empty/full, patterning and more, building confidence and a love of numbers! You will discover your child has a favorite way to learn. It could be through physical activity or quiet play. Through playtime, abstract math concepts can become concrete for little learners, whether they are counting while building a tower or even serving tea – they are developing a love of math to last a lifetime!
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Mix N’ Match
Try these simple games to introduce matching and sorting:Using a variety of colorful animal counters and a container, ask your toddler to pull out all of the red counters. Then ask them to pull out all of the purple counters, and so on.Introduce a sorting tray with multiple dividers for more advanced sorting activities. Sort the counters by shape, color, or size.Repeat after me
Using the same colorful counters – simply make patterns, such as red, blue, yellow, and ask your toddler to recreate the same pattern.Roll and count
Counters can also be used to introduce number recognition and number sense. Put the counters or other similar objects in a plastic baggy or bucket and introduce a large die. Roll the die, say the number out loud and ask your child to count and pull that number of counters out of the container. Repeat until all of the counters are gone. Then do the same thing for clean-up but in reverse!Bounce n’ count
Take a soft bouncy ball and play a game of catch. Bounce the ball to each other and count every bounce. It's a fun way to learn to count and build gross motor skills at the same time. Jump n’ count
Burn some excess energy by jumping and counting to ten. If your little leaper is feeling extra energetic, challenge them to go up to twenty. This activity is great, because they’re also building up gross motor skills and core strength.Stamp it
Introduce counting and number recognition with jumbo number stamps or puzzle cards. Ask kids to stamp out the numbers in order. Or draw dots on the paper and ask them to identify the quantity by stamping the correct number.Math in the bath
Introduce stackable cups to the bath routine. Through play, toddlers will discover early volume concepts like full and empty. Take a small cup and empty it into a bigger cup. Then try to empty the bigger cup into the smaller one. Talk through what is happening with your toddler. “Uh-oh, my cup is full and yours still has water in it.”You will discover your child has a favorite way to learn. It could be through physical activity or quiet play. Through playtime, abstract math concepts can become concrete for little learners, whether they are counting while building a tower or even serving tea – they are developing a love of math to last a lifetime!
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