Math Crafts for Kindergarten and First Grade Students

June 6, 2017

If you’ve visited before, you know I feel pretty strongly about incorporating crafts into the elementary classroom. They have SO many benefits! Here are some of my favorite math crafts that are perfect for using with kindergarten and first grade students. They’re great for back to school or any time of year you want to reinforce skills in early numeracy and have a little fun!

Click on any of the pictures below!

You can learn more HERE or by clicking the graphic below!

Kids in kindergarten and first grade will LOVE these math crafts! Make learning fun AND support number development! Skills included are: making 5 and 10, decomposing numbers, subitizing, ten frames, number lines, patterning, and more! 1d

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$Math crafts are perfect for using with students in pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade who are working on number development. They align with core standards and simple, fun, and engaging to do! They're great for back to school or any time of year to reinforce early numeracy and math skills!$

Happy Teaching!

PS. Want to try a math craft for FREE? Simply sign up for The Inspired Apple below and it will be sent to your inbox!

Math Craft Robot

April 19, 2017

Making Ten Robot

Appropriate for Grades: pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, second grade

Standard: CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6

Skill: making ten

Link: Making Ten Robot | More Math Crafts

This robot math craft is perfect for using with students in pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade who are working on making ten. It aligns with Common Core Standard CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6 and will fit into your math curriculum activities for teaching students to make a ten. It's fun, engaging, and simple to do!

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Snag it HERE or as part of a Math Craft Bundle!

Happy Teaching!

The Easter Bunny’s Assistant Book Companion

April 10, 2017

Omiword, I wish the lighting had been better in this pic! He looked so stinkin’ cute! Becks is reading my newfound favorite Easter book – The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas. You probably know her other darling work, Rhyming Dust Bunnies. Love it, right?!

>> Purchase on Amazon <<

So, anyway, The Easter Bunny’s Assisstant was recommended by a parent. She’s a buyer for our local library and is coming to read this book to us on Friday morning. We’re on Spring Break next week, so we’re having to cram a whole week’s worth of Easter stuff into ONE day! Friday is going to be bizzzzzzzzzzzy. If you haven’t discovered this book yet, it’s a hilarious read about The Easter Bunny and his assistant, Skunk, who gets really excited about dying eggs and then…well…does what skunks apparently do when they get excited. A skart, maybe? With a little boy (and a classroom full of kiddos) who are completely intrigued by bodily functions, this book is guaranteed to get the giggles going! { I bought my copy at our local bookstore for less than $12 for a hardback copy, and I promise your kiddos will quickly add it to their list of favs!} Knowing that this parent was coming to read this story to my class, I made lots of fun activities to go with it and compiled it all into a mini-unit I have for sale on TpT right now…

I think before the parent arrives, we’re going to make these little sentence strip caps – featured below on Becks…

I hope you’ll check it out! If anything, GO BUY THE BOOK! So cute!!!!

Click the graphic below OR go HERE to learn more.

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Hoppy Teaching! 🐰

This post originally posted on March 29, 2012.

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Base Ten Blocks Math Craft

March 28, 2017

Base Ten Blocks Confetti

Appropriate for Grades: kindergarten, first grade, second grade

Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.NBT.B.2

Skill: Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent amounts of tens and ones

Link: Base Ten Blocks Confetti | More Math Crafts

This math craft is perfect for using with students in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade who are working with base ten. It aligns with Common Core StandardCCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.NBT.B.2 and will fit into your math curriculum activities for teaching students represent numbers using base ten blocks. All the templates pictured are included, making this a fun and easy activity to complete with your kiddos. It’s fun, engaging, and simple to do!

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Happy Teaching!

Making Ten Math Craft

March 17, 2017

Make-Ten Friends

Appropriate for Grades: pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, second grade

Standard: CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6

Skill: making ten

Link: Make-Ten Friends | More Math Crafts

This math craft is perfect for using with students in pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade who are working on making ten. It aligns with Common Core Standard CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6 and will fit into your math curriculum activities for teaching students to make a ten. It's fun, engaging, and simple to do!

Snag it HERE or as part of a Math Craft Bundle!

Happy Teaching!

Why Crafts in the Classroom Are Okay!

March 16, 2017

I love to do crafts with my kids. Glue, paint, paper scraps, markers, popsicle sticks, even…dare I say it…GLITTER…I love it all. Assembling a craft may seem frivolous and mismatched in today’s elementary classroom, but I beg to differ. I believe that crafts can be meaningful, engaging, and purposeful for our little learners.

Teachers! Incorporating crafts into preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade classrooms is SO important! If you're ever hesitant to add crafts into your curriculum, you must read this post. You'll be grabbing the gluesticks in no time! Plus, you can grab two FREE content-related crafts that you can use with your kiddos!

First of all, there is value in the process that goes into following directions, manipulating materials, and seeing a project through to the end. Upon completion, there is a sense of pride in the end result. The glow that radiates from a child’s face as he shows you his artwork is priceless. Plus, learning to follow directions is a lifelong skill – and one that you won’t regret reinforcing through a content-related craft.

Wizard of Oz Writing Craft | Pirate ‘AR’ Words Craft | Monster Words Craft

I also believe crafts are age-appropriate, particularly when it comes to fine-motor skills. Students must manipulate paper, apply pressure to scissors along specific margins, stream a paint-filled brush across a page, or grasp a variety of small sundries while they turn unrelated materials into works of art.

Another important benefit of completing the occasional classroom craft is the mental stimulation and rest it provides to kiddos who spend lots of brain power each day engaging in rigorous instruction. Pablo Picasso even said, Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life. So true, right?! It’s pretty incredible that we can teach a life-long love of creation and provide them with a valuable coping strategy for dealing with life all with a little cutting and pasting.

Subitize Eyes Math Craft

Make-Ten Friends Math Craft

Though our kids see craft projects as FUN (and that really should be enough of a justification to incorporate them into our lesson plans), the benefits are far-reaching and long-lasting. Curriculum, content, and creativity can all be uncovered with a craft. So, all of this to say: don’t be scared. Do a craft!

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If you want to read more about the mental health benefits of creating art, check out this article.

Book Report Alternative: Reader Review Bookmarks

March 2, 2017

Are you looking for a great alternative to writing lengthy book reports that is engaging, fun, and perfect for kiddos in first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grade? Check out this condensed book report idea where students can write a simplified book review! Included are templates, photographs and easy-to-follow directions that are a cinch for teachers to implement and great for students to complete after reading their favorite books!

Pick Me! Bookmarks

I actually printed these bookmarks on Astrobrights paper to try to fit the Dr. Seuss-themed color scheme! Since his birthday is today, I thought the ribbon selection (though not necessary) was quite fitting, too!

Here’s a super quick tutorial on how to add ribbon embellishments to your bookmarks!

First, fold a length of ribbon (approximately 9-12inches) in half to form a V shape.

Then, insert the bottom of the V-shaped ribbon into the hole from the back of the bookmark creating a loop on the front.

Finally, pinch each end of the ribbon and tuck it into the loop you created and gently pull. Voila!

While it would work great ANY time of year, this resource would be a huge asset to use during the week of Read Across America, to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Celebration of Learning nights, open house, and more! It’s always a good time to celebrate reading and books!

If you want to check out this activity, along with other alternatives to traditional book reports and reviews, click HERE or the image below.

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Happy Teaching!

Book Report Alternative: Emoji Bookmarks

February 28, 2017

Are you looking for a great alternative to writing lengthy book reviews that is engaging, fun, and perfect for kiddos in first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grade? Check out this condensed book review idea where students can not only provide a quick review, but it includes EMOJIS! #everythingisbetterwithhearteyes #amiright

GIANT-SIZED EMOJI BOOKMARKS

Included are templates, photographs and easy-to-follow directions that are a cinch for teachers to implement and great for students to complete after reading their favorite books!

It’s also fun to do because your kiddos are actually making this bookmark for a friend! When they’re finished, they simply place the bookmarks into the books they’ve reviewed for their friends to find. Then, their friends can read the review, determine whether or not they want to read the book, and they’ll have a bookmark to use while they read!

Did I mention they’re GIANT bookmarks?! So fun!

And, of course, you don’t have to add ribbon to them, but it certainly is fun for your kiddos to add a little personalized ((cheap)) embellishment to them!

This activity can really be used from first grade (with modeling and support), all the way up through middle school. It’s simple, yet efficient!

If you want to check out this activity, along with other alternatives to traditional book reports and reviews, click HERE or the image below.

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Happy Teaching!

Read Across America Ideas!

February 24, 2017

Are you looking for fun and engaging ways to celebrate reading, books, or for an alternative to boring old book reports?! Then, you MUST check out these SIX incredible activities for doing just that! Your students in kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, or fifth grade will love spotlighting their favorite books and sharing with their friends through these fun book reviews and critiques. They are PERFECT to use doing Read Across America week or to help celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, but can be used year-round!

Here are more detailed descriptions of each activity:

Want to snag a copy? Hop over HERE or click the graphic below.

(Please note, if you are viewing this on BlogLovin, the links may not work and you will have to search ‘Babbling Abby’ on Teachers Pay Teachers to find my shop!)

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Happy Teaching!

Number Sense Activities

February 4, 2017

Check out these fun and easy activities for teaching number sense in your preschool, kindergarten, and first grade classrooms! This post includes everything from math crafts to hands-on activities to use during small group, intervention, or RTI, to FREE PRINTABLES and more! Your kids will love how fun and engaging they are and you will love having something new to add to your math curriculum.