<---Teacher Omi (grandma) has been having fun re-creating lesson plans for the grandkiddos, from materials made over my nearly 40-yr career in education. Today I'm sharing how to make a math homework practice kit I created 35 years ago and used with my Montessori students, tutoring students and in homeschool. I even trotted this out when I taught adult education. I've given you some of the activities here and for the full set of lesson plans, visit me at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
For the math homework kit, begin with a sturdy shoebox and fill it with:
Dice
Repurpose die from game sets with
missing pieces. Or pick up a cheap set from Dollar Tree.
Set of dominoes (base
12 preferred) Students can also make domino flash cards on index cards. Write
domino dot configuration in number color from chart. To play, student selects a
domino and adds, subtracts or multiplies the two numbers. Students should write answers on back for
self-checking. Here are free printable dominoes from
First-School. https://first-school.ws/theme/printables/dominoes-math.htm
Deck of playing cards Student chooses two cards and adds, subtracts, or multiplies them. Face cards are valued as such: ace-1, jack-10, queen, 12 and king-0. You can print playing cards from Printable Board Games https://www.printableboardgames.net/preview/Playing_Card_Deck or have students design their own!
Math
flashcards for each fact family Purchase at Dollar Tree or discount
store or better yet, use free printable math flashcards from First School https://first-school.ws/theme/printables/flash-cards/numbers-shapes.htm.
Tablet of small stickers, shape
punches or mini-stamper marker—Students create flashcards by writing math
facts (problems) in color code on one side. On the back, they illustrate
with punched-out shapes, stickers or
stamps (5 stars plus 5 stars, for example). They write the answer on the back.
Pencil,
eraser and scrap paper squares—students write out fact families (say the
nine times tables). Then they draw story problems to illustrate and quiz each
other. For example, the student draws three groups of seven apples for 3x7. Þ Toddlers draw marks and practice
counting.
100
chart and bingo marker or dry erase marker Laminate and attach to the
inside lids of the math kit. Student uses bingo marker to practice skip counting
by different numbers. From there, she memorizes multiplication tables (which
are just the series of number in skip counting). The 100 chart helps the
student find number patterns, too. Þ
Toddlers bingo “stamp” each number as they count.
Yarn strung with 100 plastic beads. This homemade abacus is a great visual for math operations. Give student a problem, like 7x8. She counts out and adds seven groups of eight. Þ Give toddlers large beads to string, for fine motor skill practice.
Food
snacks with little pieces. Students use fish crackers, fruit snacks,
breakfast cereal, raisins, candies, pretzels, marshmallows, to demonstrate math
facts and equations. Let children make their own trail mix and write the recipe
as math problems. (6 raisins + 10 pretzels + 5 Cheerios +3 Cheez-Its). When done, they get to eat the treats!
