Group items tagged

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6 Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums

ELL and low English speaking students would benefit from the discussion present when solving long addition, subtraction, or multiplication problems with a partner.

Game could be modified or extended for higher grades by allowing the students to draw four cards each, then arrange them in a way to represent a 2-digit by 2-digit multiplication problem. The player with the highest total gets all four cards.

6.3.5 Describe how all animals, including humans, meet their energy needs by consuming other organisms, breaking down their structures, and using the materials to grow and function. 5.3.1 Observe and classify common Indiana organisms as producers, consumers, decomposers, predator and prey based on their relationships and interactions with other organisms in their ecosystem. This activity works really well for all types of learners because it is interactive and involves group knowledge.  For English Language learners, it would be a good idea to not only write the names of the species on the card, but to place pictures of the species on these cards as well.  This will help your ELLs, but it will also add another layer of knowledge for all students because they will start to notice that how the animal looks reflects its place on the food chain.  Animals that are fast and have sharp teeth and claws are probably at the top of the food chain, and plants are near the bottom.

Standards: 6.NS.2, 6.NS.3, 6.NS.4, 6.NS.5, 6.1.2, 6.1.3 

Expansion: This experiement could be expanded to fulfill all of the sixth grade nature of science standards with the addition of predictions, deliberate recording of observations, multiple tests, analysis and presentation of findings.  It could be expanded into a unit-long project.  

ESL: Cooperative learning and recording of data will help reinforce student understanding.  Full use of science procedures will reinforce the scientific method. 

Standards: 6.1.1, 6.1.2, 6.1.3, 6.NS.1, 6.NS.2, 6.NS.4, 6.NS.10

Expansion: Have students predict what will happen to the paperclips when soap is added before they do it, then compare their predictions to their results.  Have them record and discuss their findings.  

ESL: Group cooperation will help students retain science vocabulary and understand more.  

1.OA.6 Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.

This game can be adapted for whichever skills a particular student needs extra work on.  For example, you could multiply the cards rather than add if that is what needs worked on, but addition also works really well with the cards.  Students struggling could have half of the cards removed so they are only playing with a few numbers.  Then the rest of the deck could be added in as they advance and grow more confident.

This is an experiment that is fun to do in class, but it needs to incorporate the scientific method and discussion of the laws of physics in order to be educational.  I would start by explaining Newton's Laws of Motion to the class, writing them on the board, and having students copy them down in their science notebooks.  Then, after they understand the Laws of Motion, set up the egg experiment and talk about what will be going on.  Have the students draw the initial set-up in their journals, then have them make predictions about what will happen when the experiment is conducted.  All of this should be recorded in the journals.  Finally, do the experiment (it would be best if students could work in small groups so that they can conduct the experiment for themselves).  Have them record what happened with words and pictures and identify if their hypothesis was correct or not.  Then explain how this experiment uses the Laws of Motion. This activity could be adapted for special needs kids by allowing them to observe the teacher conducting the experiment rather than doing it themselves.  They could try it by themselves first, but then they should watch the teacher do it so that they are certain to see the experiment conducted correctly. 5.NS.1 Make predictions and formulate testable questions. 5.NS.4 Perform investigations using appropriate tools and technologies that will extend the senses.

5.DP.1 Identify a need or problem to be solved.

Students who struggle more with this more challenging activity could have more time to plan and view pictures of actual bridges with the teacher pointing out the structural elements and geometric shapes on these bridges.

6.G.4 Represent three-dimensional figures using nets made up of rectangles and triangles, and use the nets to find the surface area of these figures. Apply these techniques in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.

Provides a fun and engaging way for partners to work together in pairs of two while practicing math facts. Provides ELL and low English speaking students extra practice recalling math facts. Provides the group learning environment as well.,

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.5 Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2). CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6 Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction

5.MD.1 Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.

Although I really like how this activity involves all aspects of trip planning, it could be adapted for less-advanced students by simply having them measure rather than calculate out travel time.  Students could still come up with the total distance, but travel time could be turned into a group activity that the class and teacher solve together until students become more confident in their abilities.

CCSS.Math.Content.4.G.A.2 Classify two-dimensional figures based on the presence or absence of parallel or perpendicular lines, or the presence or absence of angles of a specified size. Recognize right triangles as a category, and identify right triangles

CCSS.Math.Content.4.G.A.1 Draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), and perpendicular and parallel lines. Identify these in two-dimensional figures.

CCSS.Math.Content.6.G.A.3 Draw polygons in the coordinate plane given coordinates for the vertices; use coordinates to find the length of a side joining points with the same first coordinate or the same second coordinate. Apply these techniques in the context of solving real-world and mathematical problems.

Geoboards are used to make polygons, angles, and lines. All students, including ELL and low performing students, benefit from the hands on construction of different figures. Allows for lots of repetition.

This webpage has many great activities for winter math activities, and as a bonus, most of them have accommodations for lower or younger students as well as more advanced students.

This activity should be introduced with a discussion about the properties of light.  The teacher could talk about why rainbows are all different colors or use a prism to show how light can be broken into all different colors.  A short video on the topic might work well for this topic as well, if you can find a good one.  By the end of the initial introduction, students should understand that all different colors of light, when combined, create white light.  Then students will be introduced to the experiment, write their predictions in their science notebooks, conduct the experiment, and record their findings. 4.NS.4 Perform investigations using appropriate tools and technologies that will extend the senses. 5.NS.7 Keep accurate records in a notebook during investigations and communicate findings to others using graphs, charts, maps and models through oral and written reports. Like most experiments, student capabilities should be taken into consideration. If they cannot handle conducting this experiment on their own or with a small group, they can observe another student's or the teacher's experiment.

Standards: 3.3.2, 2.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.DP.5, 1.DP.6

Expansion: Students can observe and record changes in their terrarium over time, and create a log.  

ESL: Cooperative work and practice writing will help reinforce science vocabulary.  

CCSS.Math.Content.2.MD.B.6 Represent whole numbers as lengths from 0 on a number line diagram with equally spaced points corresponding to the numbers 0, 1, 2, ..., and represent whole-number sums and differences within 100 on a number line diagram

This game could benefit those students who are struggling with the concept of adding and taking away from a number and how that changes the value of something. Particularly helpful for ELL students who might lose understanding in the translation. One way to extend this game would be to include positive and negative numbers to demonstrate how negative numbers work.

This activity looks like a lot of fun for young learners.  The activity itself should be good for all learners, but the paper at the end that students fill out to show what they have learned might give some students trouble.  I would emphasize using best guess spelling for this paper, and I would spell common words that students will use on the board.  If a student is really having trouble making letters or forming words, you could talk to that student individually and find out what they want to write for each blank, then copy it down for them with a highlighter or other light marker, and have the students trace what you have written with their pencils. K.NS.2 Conduct investigations that may happen over time as a class, in small groups, or independently. K.NS.6 Make and use simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses. 1.3.5 Observe and describe ways in which animals and plants depend on one another for survival.