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Something as easy as using gold pirate coins can make math more fun!
Carry the theme throughout the whole activity, the worksheet is pirate themed, the "treasure chest" the coins are kept in was pirate themed and the manipulatives are of course the pirates "treasure".
So easy to make this centre so fun!
Something as easy as using gold pirate coins can make math more fun!
Write equations on clothespins and pin them on the card with the right answer.
Once their work has been checked have students write down the equations with the answers.
What's a pirate without a hat? Students wore pirate hats bought at Target while working in their centres.
Write equations on clothespins and pin them on the card with the right answer.
Have students place numbered hoops on the correct hook, odd or even.
I used glow bracelets, but any bangle would work, and labelled each hoop with a number (bracelets and labels bought at the dollar store).
You can alter the game any way you want; odd and evens, counting by 5s, counting forward or backward etc
Have students place numbered hoops on the correct hook, odd or even.
Odds and Evens
For this centre, sticking with our pirate theme, I used pirate hooks. One hook I labelled as Odd and the other as Even. I then made small hoops with numbers for students to hang on the appropriate hook.
I could not find bangles anywhere when I made this activity, so I used glow bracelets from the dollar store and they were perfect. I wrote numbers on standard labels and wrapped it around the bracelet and made it a tab, which was easy to read.
Students were asked to place the hoops on the correct hook. Students feel more free to take chances when they don't have to eraser an incorrect answer, so here if it was not correct, they would just move the hoop and try again. You can later have them put the numbers in order etc.
Coin Manipulatives
This centre surprised me the most. It was the most difficult and seemingly dull. It was a rather long worksheet with both addition and subtraction equations. I filled a Jake and the Neverland Pirates tin FULL of gold pirate coins. Rather than their usual manipulatives or counters, the coins were specially bought for this centre. Students could not wait for their turn at this centre because of the coins. It goes to show you, that with a little effort and creativity from the teacher, we can make learning fun and excite our students.
Pirate Pegs
This was part of my pirate themed grade 1 math centres. I found these great cards online for free at http://www.teachersmarketplace.com.au/browse/resource/?cid=2430&searchstring=sortby%3Ddate%255Fdesc%26index%3D15#.VBiItPvXdN0 . I printed, cut and laminated the number cards and decided to make a game. I wrote several addition and subtraction equations on clothespins from the dollar store. Students clipped the clothespin on the number with the answer (ie. If the pin said "1+1= " then they'd clip it on the card with 2 on it).
I liked this activity because it allowed me to leave a student at the centre to help someone else and return and check their progress later. Once I checked their answers, I had students write out the equations. This is a great way to demonstrate that there are many ways to get to the same answer.