Using Centers to Build Number Sense in the Primary Classroom

Tammy WalterShante’ Dallapiazza

Centers and activities used to supplement curriculum

Learning centers offer the ability to work on number sense skills at many levels providing differentiation in a single classroom or across grade levels.

Students can acquire Number Sense. They must learn to:

- Talk about their understanding, could be done with: number talks (always explaining thinking) and/or cooperative learning (number centers small group work with “I think that because...”)

- Explore numbers and their relationships and strategies for problem solving

- Use of Mathematical Practices (Construct viable arguments (explain cards), Model with mathematics, Use tools, Look for structure)

Number Sense in Primary Grades

Kindergarten StandardsCounting and Cardinality

• Know number names and the count sequence.

• Count to tell the number of objects.

• Compare numbers.

Operations and algebraic thinking

• Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.

Number and operations in Base ten

• Work with numbers 11–19 to gain foundations for place value.

Measurement and Data (not addressed)

Geometry (not addressed)

Number Sense in Primary Grades1st Grade StandardsOperations and algebraic thinking

• Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

• Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.

• Add and subtract within 20.

• Work with addition and subtraction equations.

Number and operations in Base ten

• Extend the counting sequence.

• Understand place value.

• Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.

Measurement and Data (not addressed)

Geometry (not addressed)

Number Sense in Primary Grades

2nd Grade StandardsOperations and algebraic thinking

• Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

• Add and subtract within 20.

• Work with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication.

Number and operations in Base ten

• Understand place value.

• Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract

Measurement and Data (not addressed)

Geometry (not addressed)

ResourcesMaterials

- Manipulatives organized in labeled, reusable containers

(lots of dice, counters, cards, connecting cubes, …)

- Clear plastic sleeves for paper

- Dry erase markers and erasers

- SmartBoard as a center if available (NCTM Illuminations)

- Paper and pencil for informal assessment

Routines

- Older “buddy” grades teach centers to students (roll out no more than two per week)

- Students must be taught proper ettiquette at centers (gradual release, students do not race station to station, students must verbalize thinking)

Interventions, Remediation and Informal Assessments

- Learning centers can be made for remediation or enrichment

- Flexible groupings not ability groups (only 2 or 3 at a center)

- Natural opportunities to differentiate

- Can pull assessment groups

Kindergarten ActivitiesCounting and Cardinality

• Subitize (dot cards, Five-frame), Tallies

• Match dot cards with numbers (Concentration)

• Sequence dot cards and numbers (counting line on sentence card strip)

• Compose and Decompose to 5, Hiding number (to 5), My book of ____s.

• Who has more? (to 10) (Top-It or War Card game)

• Estimate (Grab bag, estimate, record, then count and check)

Operations and algebraic thinking

Number stories

• Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.

Number and operations in Base ten

• Work with numbers 11–19 to gain foundations for place value.

1st Grade ActivitiesOperations and algebraic thinking

• Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

• Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.

• Add and subtract within 20.

• Work with addition and subtraction equations.

• Subitize (dot cards, Ten-frame)

• Estimate (Grab bag, then count and check)

• Match dot cards with numbers (concentration)

• Sequence dot cards (dominoes) and numbers (counting line on sentence card strip), Guessimate, Number Line Squeeze, Garbage (card game)

• Compose and Decompose to 10 (my book of 6s), Hiding number (to 10), Roll to 10 (Ten-frame) (Illuminations)

• Who has more? (to 10), grab bag (counters to 25)

• Which is more? (Introduce a pan balance and show >, <, =), How much more? (Introduce = “equal sign” means “same as”)

Number and operations in Base ten

• Extend the counting sequence. (number line missing numbers, skip count number line, Zap skip count game)

• Understand place value.

• Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.

2nd Grade ActivitiesOperations and algebraic thinking

• Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction. (Number stories with missing addends)

• Add and subtract within 20. (Ten-frame addition)

• Work with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication.

Build arrays (with grid paper), Birds in nests (dice rolling), product array game

Number and operations in Base ten

• Understand place value. (Ten-frame addition)

Place value mat (base ten riddles, base 10 exchanges, build biggest, smallest number)

• Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract (decompose 10s and 1s, open number line)

K- Assessment

Name

Subitize Count up/ Count back

1 to 1 counting

Knows 1 more/ Knows 1 less

Hiding Number (to 5)

I have 6… how many to make 10

Which is more, less, equal?

1st - Assessment

Name

Subitize Count up/ Count back (across the decade)

1 to 1 countingKnows 1 more/ Know 1 less

Compose / Decompose Hiding Number (to 10)

Uses a number line

Ten-frame (how many/ how many missing?)

Missing addends

Missing minuend, subtrahend

Which is more, how much more?

2nd - Assessment

Name

Count up/ Count back starting anywhere

Add facts to 20Missing addends

Sub factsMissing minuend, subtrahend

Uses an open number line

Place Value – knows tens and ones

Exchanges 1s for 10s

Double digit addition

Double digit subtraction

Groups of groups/arrays of rows and columns

Video Links to games

Guesstimate (number sequence) https://picasaweb.google.com/117127756373018243601/GameGuesstimate?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMyqt8Xl4pWNnAE&feat=directlink

Zap (skip counting, count up, count back, etc.)https://picasaweb.google.com/117127756373018243601/ZapSkipCounting?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP3PgdmKpKKEmQE&feat=directlink

Garbage (sequence card game)

https://picasaweb.google.com/117127756373018243601/CardGameGarbage?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJfR84_D9ryAtgE&feat=directlink

 

Video Links to games

Capture 10 (10 frame strategy)https://picasaweb.google.com/117127756373018243601/Capture10?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKTlker1rf-69gE&feat=directlink

General Salute (math facts)

https://picasaweb.google.com/117127756373018243601/GeneralSaluteMathFacts?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPfMs-iWqaOuSA&feat=directlink

Product Array Game (multiplication arrays)

https://picasaweb.google.com/117127756373018243601/ProductArrayGame?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJmE1YWRs8nH-QE&feat=directlink