Greater Than or Less Than?

Today I introduced my friend Mr. Gator to my first graders with the following story and poster:

Common Core State Standards:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.NBT.B.3
Compare two two-digit numbers based on meanings of the tens and ones digits, recording the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, and <.
Putting Mr. Gator to the Test!
My students compared different numbers to see which ones were greater using Mr. Gator.
Materials:
*Pipe cleaners (green)
*Googly eyes
*White construction paper (cut into small triangles for teeth)
*Number cards
*Recording Worksheet
*Pencil
Steps:

1. Pick the first two cards from the top of the deck of cards. Place cards on the table in a row with space in between them.
2. Compare both numbers by asking yourself: "Which number is greater?"
3. Make sure Mr. Gator's mouth is eating the right number!
4. Remember, Mr. Gator only likes to eat larger numbers!
Differentiated Instruction:
Provide students with manipulatives like unifix cubes so they have a tangible and visual tool to work with in order to understand the skill they are practicing.

Transition Words

For the past month my students have been working with how to create "All About" books (also known as informational texts). In order for my students to practice using transition words in their writing, they did this fun activity!

First I discussed why writers use transition words in their writing, examples of these words, and where they can be used in sentences. I used the following charts to demonstrate this:
The following day, I reviewed these charts and then introduced the activity: "How to Blow up a Balloon"

Materials: 
*Multicultural crayons
*Balloons
*Face and Eye Template
*"How to Blow Up a Balloon" Worksheet
*Construction paper
*Glue sticks
*Scissors
*Tape

1. Blow up your balloon and tie a knot at the end of your balloon. Set your blown balloon aside.

2. Using your "How to Blow Up a Balloon" worksheet, write the steps you took to blow up the balloon and set this paper aside.

3. Color in the face and eye template using the multicultural crayons. Then, glue the face onto the background paper and the "How to Blow up a Balloon" worksheet under the face.

4. Using a scissors, cut out hair, jewelry, etc. out of different colored construction paper.

5. Glue on all of your accessories for your person and then tape the balloon onto the face so that it looks like the character is blowing up the balloon. 

Fractions: Cookie Madness!

Here is an exciting math lesson I taught my first graders on fractions! On Monday, I read Virginia Kroll's, Equal Shmequal to my students and then on Tuesday they completed a fraction activity using Felicia Bond's, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie!

Common Core State Standard:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.G.A.3
Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. 

Materials:

*Construction paper (different colors)

*Scissors

*Crayons

*Glue sticks

*White printer paper

*Pencils

1. Fold the brown construction paper in half and cut out half a heart with your scissors. The heart you just made will be your mouse's head.

2. With a glue stick, glue the heart onto the top edge of your white printer paper, leaving the top of the heart hanging off of the paper .

3. Bring your mouse to life by adding eyes, a mouth, whiskers, and color to his or her ears with crayons. 

4. Using your brown paper, cut two circles. Take one circle and cut it in half and take the other circle and cut it in fourths. Glue your cookies on your white printer paper.

5. Finally write the following sentence starter on your paper and complete the sentence: If you give a mouse a cookie...

Here is the finished product!!!