This page features sample lesson plans that were taught to a class of First Grade students during my field experience in EDU 454 Math Methods. Each lesson uses some combination of collaboration, manipulatives, or problem-solving practice. Check them out!
Counting on from Ten – Pass the Beans
In this first lesson, students were learning the concept of recognizing a full ten-frame and counting on from ten. In other words, if two ten-frames were drawn on a mat, one was full and the other had 6 objects in it, this activity would help students to find their way to 16 most efficiently. By seeing a full ten-frame (without actually needing to count it), students should be able to begin their counting with 11 and continue on to 16. This fun, interactive game uses partners, manipulatives, Talk Math cards (a way to get students talking about what they see), and practice with ten-frames.
Skip Counting to Test Predictions
As part of a Math & Science unit on pumpkins, students made predictions and then learned how to test them. In this activity, students predict (in small groups) how many seeds they are going to find inside their pumpkin. After making their predictions, students must open the pumpkin, pull out all of the seeds, and begin counting. But wait, there are a TON of seeds! Each group must decide the fastest and most efficient way to count all of their seeds. Skip count by 2s? 5s? 10s? 20s? Is it easiest to divide them into groups and assign each member a smaller unit to count? As they work their way through the problem, they not only practice effect counting methods, but also learn why the largest pumpkin doesn’t always have the most seeds!
MathSkipCountingtoTestPredictions
First Thanksgiving Problem-Solving: Pumpkin Soup
Students in this first grade classroom are preparing for Thanksgiving. They have learned about the first Thanksgiving feast, and all of the hard work it took to pull it off. Now, we have decided to have our very own First Thanksgiving Party using the theme of the first Thanksgiving. They quickly realize no ovens for baking means no pumpkin pies or breads. Instead, our class decides on Pumpkin Soup. Their challenge today is to determine how many pumpkins they will need to “plant” in order to have enough to provide everyone in the class with a bowl of pumpkin soup. They know how many bowls one pumpkin will make, and how many students are in the class. Now they must work together in groups to solve the problem and get their pumpkins planted!
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