One is the Loneliest Number....Extending the Counting Sequence

One of the first grade Common Core standards in math is to extend the counting sequence. That standard means many things and when paired with the standard to Count to 120 starting from any number.....well you are really going to have to get creative to think of ways to help make that real for students. Then add in the standards about place value and counting by ones and tens and you are going to have a busy time!

We have begun counting using our tens and ones and have extended our sequence to 120. This week we used a variety of materials including popsicle  sticks and markers. We also used chenille stems and pom poms, which I will post later once we have completed our task. The students also enjoyed using pretzel sticks and round cereal (which later became a recess snack).

These activities are hands-on and also help your tactile learners. They may take two days to complete. One day to build your number with your materials and then a second day to have students go back and count and write their numbers. These activities are also great for differentiation. My students who can work independently loved building their number and counting on their own. My students who needed extra assistance used counting charts and our classroom place value chart to help assist them. Students were also given individual numbers to complete, thus allowing me to see were they fell on the independent or needs help range.

Once the assignment is completed they will be displayed in our hallway and commentary will be added to a few of them. The following week, students will be able to take their work home to their parents to show what they have been working on.

I also use these hands on activities in tandem with my textbook and also the use of the traditional/standard tens and ones unit bars and cubes.