Kindergarten Kindergarten

Zero the Hero Interactive Slideshows and Math Activities for the 100th Day of School

I am so excited to share my newest TPT product with you: Zero the Hero Interactive Slides and Activities for the 100th Day of School! Listen--I love Fruit Loop necklaces and dressing up like an old woman as much as anyone--but after so long, I needed something fresh. Zero is a MATH HERO. He loves to count and to save the world from things like mutant spiders and giant Venus fly traps. And he has a lot of Math Hero friends with their own unique powers--like Suzie the Subitizer and Shadow, the Shape Shifter. Together, with the help of YOUR STUDENTS, the Math Heroes work tirelessly to defeat their enemies!

Each slideshow includes a funny and action-packed story to be read just like you would any read-aloud, with silly voices, dramatic pauses and any other flair you want to add. But they also include 4-5 interactive math activities and a little SEL mini-lesson woven throughout. And, finally, I have included 1-2 paper and pencil extension activities, as well. 

Every 10th Day, Zero will reappear with new friends and a NEW problem. The action, suspense and math build as you get closer to the 100th Day of School. I don't want to spoil it for you, but eventually, Zero gets kidnapped by his arch-nemesis, Professor Glitch, and Professor Glitch is going to destroy all the fun things in the world and turn all of the teachers into statues (I guess that includes YOU). It gets crazy! And guess who has to save everyone? Your Kindergartners! Don't worry...I have a feeling it will all work out. 

My kindergartners were OBSESSED with Zero the Hero. They would figure out when he was showing up (I never told them). They would blame everything on Professor Glitch. Electricity went out? Must be Professor Glitch. No WIFI? Must be Professor Glitch. Back in 2020, I had to reassure them that Professor Glitch did not create Covid! (True story!) 

Everything leads up to the GRAND FINALE on the 100th Day of School. I have included slideshows to wrap up the story and fun ways to celebrate on that special day. You can choose one activity or do them all. You can include your own, traditional 100 Day activities or go full on Math Hero. It's up to you!

 

But I promise, your kids will LOVE Zero and his friends and will continue to ask about him long after kindergarten has ended! If this sounds like something you would like to try, head over to my TPT Store and pick up Zero the Hero Interactive Slideshows and Activities BEFORE the tenth day of school!

 

Subitze

Subi-what?

Subitize.

That's the ability to instantly recognize the number of objects in a small set or arrangement without counting.

It's being able to instantly know the number of dots on a die...

or a domino...

Or for me, the number of cookies on a plate...mmm....6.

It's a developmental prerequisite to counting, and many kindergartners come to school without this skill. So it's essential for us to teach it!

If you're interested in the research behind this concept, here's an excellent article by Douglas H. Clements:

Subitizing: What is it? Why Teach it?

Teaching it is easy! The easiest way is just to flash dot cards and have the kids quickly call out the number. Here's something I put together...a quick powerpoint with dot arrangements. I flash each slide for just a few seconds. Most of the time, I just have the kids call out the number, but sometimes, I have them write the number on dry-erase boards or create the same pattern on their tables with counters.

Download How Many Dots

There are also numerous games you can play with dot cards. The absolute best resource I have found is:

BRAVO to the Winnipeg School Division--I have used the activities in this book for years now. It is filled with SO MANY dot card actvities--and even has the dot cards in it. (And five and tens frame activities, as well.) Did I mention that it was free? So go grab it--NOW! (Click on the image.)

Interestingly enough, the word is pronounced soobitize--with a long u. One would think it was a short u, as in substitute teacher or submarine sandwich. But noooo... it's a long u like tuba-tize.

Now, go use it in a conversation with your principal. He or she will think you're really smart.

Happy Friday!

Math Problem Solving: Exploring Capacity

Kids have a lot of misconceptions about capacity, and they can really only be cleared up through hands-on exploration.

Sadly, I don't think they get opportunities for this like we did when we were kids. Instead of playing in a sand box or with cups and bowls in the bathtub, kids are playing with iPads and Wii's. And so many districts (mine included) are taking away sand and water tables from kindergarten, in favor of more "rigor." Because of this, kids are not building the schema necessary to understand more abstract concepts about capacity.

So please, please give your kids lots of time to explore by filling up cups with water, sand, rice, beans, cubes...whatever you have! If you are lucky enough to still have a sand or water table, it is the perfect excuse to use it. Don't let anyone tell you it's not "rigorous"!

Day 1

I start my unit by showing a quick little powerpoint, to get a discussion started.

You can download the PPT by clicking the link below:

Download Will an Elephant fit in a Bathtub

The kids are able to quickly give the correct answers. But I push them--I want to know why! (Because the blue bucket holds a lot more than the red cup, so you won't need as many bucketfuls. It will be quicker...)

Then I show the kids several bottles, cups and other containers and have them put them in order from what would hold the least to most amount of water (smallest to largest capacity). I make sure it is very obvious which containers hold more/less water. I'll make it trickier soon enough!

Finally, I have the kids draw and label something in their math journals that would hold more water than their water bottles...a milk jug, a pitcher, a vase, a lake, the swimming pool, the ocean... They usually come up with some good ones!

Day 2

NOTE: We do not record anything in our journals for this "problem". We are going to play with water, and water + math journals = very, very stressed teacher. So the math journals stay safely tucked away, warm and dry. Don't be afraid of the water, though. Clearly lay out your expectations (Please keep as much of the water in the containers as possible, no splashing, etc). Bring a couple of big towels to school. Clear off your tables and let them explore!

So on Day 1, I made it very obvious which containers had larger and smaller capacities. On Day 2, it gets a little trickier! I tell the kids that I am really thirsty and show them 2 cups.

The obvious answer would be the blue cup. It is much smaller than the green cup and will, therefore, hold much less water. But then (insert evil laugh here), I show them the red cup...

Now the answer is not so obvious! The kids usually guess that the green cup holds more, because it is "bigger" (taller). But I tell them I want to know for sure--how are they going to prove it? I do not show them how to figure it out. I give each table a green cup, a red cup, and a tub of water. I also leave out a variety of other containers, including some small dixie cups, and tell them they can use whatever they want to try and figure the problem out. I let them work together and discuss their various ideas. And I push them in the right direction with questions only when I think they need it.

There are several strategies the kids can use. The most obvious is to fill up one cup, and then pour it in the other to see if there's room left or if it overflows. Another would be to use the smaller dixie cups to see how many it takes to fill each cup and compare the answers. Another yet would be to fill up both cups and then pour them into a common container to compare.

Your job as a teacher is to guide them. Tell me what you're doing? Why did you decide to do that? What does that tell you? What are you going to do next? (And only when they're completely stuck) What would happen if...?

So which cup do you think has the larger capacity? It turns out that they're pretty darn close, but the red cup holds just a few ounces more.

The most important part of this investigation is the discussion afterwards. Have the kids demonstrate what they did and talk about what worked and what didn't. Which cup had the larger capacity? WHY??? The green cup is taller, shouldn't it hold more? (Ahh...but the red cup is wider.) Remember--kids learn from each other so much better than they learn from us!

Day 3

Here's a chance for kids to learn about capacity and practice their estimating skills at the same time. You can use cubes, or cups of beans, or any other unit of measurement you like.

Day 4

For this activity, I give the kids a variety of containers. The dollar store is a great place to get them. (Like you need another excuse to go to the Dollar Store!) Do not make the answer obvious (i.e. make sure the containers do not fit one inside the other like measuring cups.) Make sure some are tall and some are wide, so the kids will actually have to fill them with beans to place them in order.
 

We use little plastic "Dixie" type cups to measure. Don't make the containers so large that it becomes frustrating for the kids. See the square sandwich container below? It actually holds the same amount as...

...this cylinder take-out container. It's true. Even I had to fill them up with beans before I would believe it!

If you can get your hands on some graduated cylinders from your science lab, the kids LOVE them. Just make sure you have a variety of shapes and sizes.

Day 5

More practice comparing capacities. I do not tell the kids what to do. I let them decide the best way to figure out which one holds more.

Challenge Problem

This is a very abstract and challenging problem!

But every year, I have several kids who can handle it. So I'm giving it to you in case you can use it. By the time we do our measurement unit, we've already covered quite a bit of basic joining and separating--so we have a solid foundation, already. This is a classic Join, Change Unknown problem. Once again, I do not tell or show the kids how to figure the problem out--I just guide them with my questions.

This is a really fun unit, for both the kids and the teacher. So take a deep breath, and...

Let them play!

Shapes...Shapes...Everywhere!

Here's a quick PowerPoint I made for 3-D shapes. I use it as a warm-up by showing a few slides per day and having the kids discuss what shapes they see. Super easy!

You can download the slideshow here: Download Shapes, Shapes, Everywhere!

Enjoy!