Subtraction plates

Learning the Montessori way is really fun! 

We are starting on subtractions and the kids are doing really good. One way that helped us achieve that is this fun activity with paper plates and rocks. I used space rocks because of our Space themed science unit but you can use really anything that you normally use as a counting prop (buttons, beads, glass rocks, M&Ms, etc)

 

It's easy - you just write the subtraction problem on a paper plate using sharpie and give the kids some rocks.  To help them figure this out, I told them to start with the higher number and put that many rocks on a plate. Minus means to take away, therefor they would have to take away from the higher number the smaller number. How many rocks are left?

Learning about money - pennies

We finally got to the topic of money! We were trying to find the best way to introduce the kids to the coins, what the names mean and how the amounts relate to each other. Last year we sort of kicked this off with our chore chart system. The kids each had a list of chores for each day. If they did 5 or more, they would get a quarter. if they did less than 5 they would not get anything. They each were saving for a toy, but not until they had enough to give 10% to God, and 10% into their savings. It all worked out pretty well and it helped them learn that there is a work that needs to be done, not only by mom or dad but that they can also contribute. This is how they learned the coin names.

Now it was time to teach them the next step. We decided to order a workbook that would go with this topic and after some research I went with the series that I always find the most helpful and that is the Kumon workbooks. Click here for the link to the Amazon page for the one we use. If your child is advanced in money counting, this might be boring for him/her. They ask same questions over and over but I like that because when we are just starting, the kids need to feel comfortable in order to move to the next step.

After we learned about pennies, I put together a store to enforce the subject in everyday life eperience, such as going shopping. We have this great cashier that came with pretend money. However I use the real thing while we learn and we just make sure to wash our hands.

 

I marked simple items with the price and gave the kids 20 cents. They had to decide if they had enough money to buy certain objects.

 

 I happened to take pictures of the objects with the same price, oops. But other things cost 5 cents or more. I also had 26 cents which they couldn't afford. It was a great problem solving situation and it enforced the money subject in a fun way!

Come back for some more posts coming up about fun ways to learn about money!

Which number is bigger?

A fun way to teach the little kids which number is bigger, is using some counting props and a chalkboard instead of a paper.

We chose to write some smaller numbers on chalkboard and demonstrate how the signs work.  

In order for the kids to make the connection between the two amounts, you can use some counting props that you have at your house (we have counting teddy bears). After they build their numbers with the props, they will easily see what the difference between those two amounts is.

As for the signs, you can say that the shark is going to eat the bigger amount (therefor the bigger number) and that is why the wider side is pointing towards the higher amount... the shark is trying to get it! We hope this helped :-)

Skip counting by 5s using hand prints

Another way to practice counting by 5s (or 10s as well) is using these hand prints we created. They are available for you to download for free by clicking here. You can print them on card stock or regular paper and laminate.

Here is how we used them:

We had the sticky notes up in our reading room. The boys laid out their hand prints in front of the sticky notes and practiced counting by 5s while looking at the sticky notes. When they felt comfortable enough they stopped looking at the sticky notes. 

I also had them jump from card to card while counting out loud.

 

 Here is another way these hand prints can be used. Have the kids lay them out in front of them and give them some snap blocks and have them build towers using five of the blocks.

Here is what they will end up with. Have them count by fives. 5 fingers equals 5 blocks. If they need explanation, you can use the blocks to count 5+5 = 10... if you add 5 you will end up with 10 blocks/fingers. That is why 5 is followed by 10 in skip counting by 5s. Have fun!