|
|
|
Pre-K Number
Recognition
Below you will find ideas to help your
students with number recognition |
|
|
 |
|
We currently use Growing With Math and
Every Day in Pre-K Calendar Counts for our math curriculums in Pre-K (see
links at the bottom of this page for more info about these programs).
Both of these programs are excellent and I highly recommend them if you are
looking for a good quality math curriculum for your Pre-K program. Every
Day in Pre-K focuses on one number per month, while Growing With Math focuses
on different mathematical concepts in units; each unit is about two weeks in
length. Our district requires extensive testing of every student in
math; the test scores in my class have skyrocketed since we started using both
of these programs.
|
|
|
|
Number Recognition
Number Bear is pictured
above on the far right- click picture to enlarge
One of my favorite parts of the beginning
of each school year is introducing my students to "Number Bear".
Number Bear is part of the Every Day in Pre-K Calendar Counts program
(see resources section for link) and he looks like a bear poster, but he is really
so much more than
that. Number Bear has little pieces that are attached with Velcro.
His hat has the number of the month on it (#2 on the first day of school)
and he holds two flowers in his right hand, two balloons in his left
hand and he has two pockets and two buttons on his vest- the picture
above shows Number Bear in October and his number is three. Each
month he has a new number on his hat and we add another flower, balloon,
button, and pocket to him. At the
bottom of Number Bear I added three magnetic pockets from Lakeshore.
The first pocket holds number cards, the card displayed is the number of
the month. The second pocket holds dot cards-the number of dots
corresponding to the number of the month, and the third pocket holds
three dimensional examples of our number- three people math manipulatives for the month of October. I know many of my
visitors do not have access to this wonderful curriculum, however I
believe that you could make your very own Number Bear using poster board
and an overhead to trace a bear pattern. |
|
|
|
How to use Number Bear
Just hanging Number Bear on the wall in your
classroom isn't enough to get your students to recognize numbers.
I try to make using Number Bear interactive and exciting so the children
can participate and learn while having fun. I have the leader of
the day come up and use a special pointer to show us the number on his
hat, then the leader counts all of Number Bear's items such as the
balloons, flowers, pockets, and buttons out loud.
For example; "Number Bear has three flowers;
one, two, three. Number Bear has three balloons; one, two, three"
etc
When the leader is finished counting all of
the objects, then he takes the number cards out of the red pocket and
hands them to some volunteers. If the number of the month is three
then there are three cards in the pocket, numbers one, two, and three.
Next, the children must line themselves up correctly in a human number
line. When they have successfully completed their human number
line we celebrate with a Dr. Jean cheer. This can get pretty
tricky as the end of the year approaches and our number line grows
longer :) I never intervene in the formation of the number line
and let the children come to a conclusion about how the line should look
on their own- there is always at least one student who is able to help
them line up correctly.
Next, the leader counts the dots in the blue
pocket out loud using the pointer and finally he puts the three
dimensional objects in the green pocket while counting them out loud.
|
|
|
|
Reinforcing number recognition with music
After we have completed our daily Number
Bear routine we then move on to a song to help reinforce the number we
just learned. I have many, many number songs, but my absolute
favorites are by Jack Houston, on the
We Can Sing English & Spanish CD. There is a song
for every number 1-10 in both English and Spanish (20 songs total).
The tunes are extremely catchy, almost like rap and best of all my kids
love them. We stand up while the song plays and the leader holds a
large number card in the air with our focus number on it; I hold up
the correct number of fingers in the air and we dance as we sing the
song.
Here are some other great songs for
reinforcing numbers:
- Dr. Jean~ Sing to Learn CD~ The
Numeral Song
- Frog Street Press number songs (one
song for each number 1-10)
- Jack Hartmann~ Math in Motion CD~
Numbers 1-20 song
|
|
|
|
Number Books
In the classroom library
we have a book box containing number books. |
|
|
|
Number Activities |
|
Activity |
Instructions |
|
Sandpaper Number
Rubbings
 |
Materials:
sandpaper, glue, die-cut machine, heavy cardstock, regular paper,
crayons Buy
inexpensive sandpaper at the Dollar Store and cut numerals on it
with the die-cut machine. If you don't have access to a
die-cut machine you can trace the numerals on the sandpaper and
cut out with scissors. Next, glue the numerals to heavy
cardstock paper. I keep a set of these numbers in my math
center and the children cover the numbers with paper and make
number rubbings. They also love to just trace the numbers
with their fingers, it's great for tactile learners. |
|
Playdough Number
Mats
Click HERE
to dowload printable number mats |
Materials:
paper, computer printer, playdough
Print out the large numerals 0-10 on
your printer and laminate. Put these "playdough mats" in
your playdough center and show your students how to roll out
snakes and place them on the mats to make numbers. This is
great for both number recognition and fine motor skills.
|
|
Glue Numbers |
Materials:
index cards, white liquid glue, food coloring, Sharpie marker
Write the numbers 0-10 on index cards
using the Sharpie marker. Make one set of cards for each student.
It's important to use a permanent marker when writing the numbers
because when you put glue on top of a regular Crayola marker the
ink will run. Next, color several bottles of white, liquid
glue with food coloring. If you've never done this before
it's very easy; just place a few drops of food coloring in the top
of the bottle and stir with a popsicle stick, then let it sit for
a few hours to let the colors mix. Next, have the students
place little dots of glue on top of each number. When dry
these make colorful, tactile number cards that students can
rub with their fingers to help learn numbers. After we use
these in class we send them home so the students can practice
their numbers with their parents. These are also perfect
learning tools for tactile learners. You could also use
glitter glue for this project. |
|
Fishing for
Numbers
 |
Materials: 12 inch
wooden dowels, round magnets, string, construction paper, die-cut
shapes, paper clips, Sharpie marker, recording sheet,
highlighters.
You can buy 12 inch wooden dowels,
round magnets (the kind with the holes in the middle), and string
at the craft store. Next, tie or hot glue the string to one
end of each wooden dowel to make "fishing rods". Tie a round
magnet to the end of each string. Laminate some construction
paper and die-cut some shapes to go with your current theme, we
will use pumpkins for this example but you could use any shape. Place a
paper clip on each die-cut pumpkin and write one number on each
pumpkin with your Sharpie marker. Place the pumpkins in a box
or container so your
students can go "fishing".
Next, create a recording sheet.
Draw a large pumpkin shape on a piece of regular sized copy paper
using a Sharpie marker. Inside the pumpkin write all the
numbers with your Sharpie. For example, if you have 20
pumpkins and the numbers 1-20 are written on them write the
numbers 1-20 on your paper. Copy the sheet for each child.
When the students are ready to go "fishing" give them each a
pumpkin sheet and a highlighter marker. Have them
highlight each number catch on their paper.
This is a great activity because you
can use the idea all year long, just use different thematic
die-cuts to match your themes.
Lakeshore also makes a similar item
pictured at left if you don't want to create your own. |
|
|
|
|
Math Resources |
|
See link to
Dr Jean's Totally Math CD below for great math songs
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Credits
©
2001-2008 | Pre-K Pages.com
~all rights reserved~
Graphics & magic on this page courtesy of
:
|
:
|
|
|
