Math Monday is BAACK!!: Animal Plate Math

Hello bloggy friends!! It’s been a while! I have been busy getting acclimated in my new position and let me just tell you…God knows what He’s doing.  I’ve been so blessed by each and every kiddo I’m working with and have seen so much progress in just two short weeks! L-O-V-E it!

On to the fun stuff..Math Monday is baaack!! It’s been a long time but I think you’ll like this one!  And there’s a freebie at the end!  So stick with me!

Have you seen these A-DOR-ABLE plates?

These are the Hefty ZooPals plates!  This is the Safari pack I think…they rotate the collections yearly so there are sometimes different kinds.  The kiddos absolutely LOVE LOVE them!!  You might be thinking, yeah to eat off of…but how can you teach with them?  Well have I got a solution for you! 
I use these to help teach part-part-whole, lead into addition using “and”, teach addition, and teach fact families.  I use them ALL YEAR long in math small groups for kinder!  Let me show you:

Now do you see?  The ears become parts and the mouth/face area becomes the whole!  At the beginning of the year, we count into the whole section.  So I might say the number 9 and the kiddos count 9 manipulatives into the whole section.  After this is mastered, we count into the whole and then count into the part sections.  So they might put 9 manipulatives in the whole and then we practice putting combinations of manipulatives in the part sections (ears) to make nine.  They could have 4 in one ear and 5 in the other, 1 in one ear and 8 in the other, etc.  We talk about how the parts make up the whole.  Then, we practice backwards.  I dictate “Put 3 in one ear, put 4 in the other.”  Then the kiddos have to put the same number in the whole.  So they would count how many are in both ears TOGETHER and put 7 in the whole section.  After this skill is mastered, we practice filling both parts and the whole and saying a math sentence to match.  So if there were 3 and 4 in the parts and 7 in the whole I would model and students would say “3 and 4 make 7.”  Then once this is mastered we use “plus” and “equals.”  So they would say “3 plus 4 equals 7.”  Then, we would do fact families using these!  It’s so great because there is the background knowledge of each step using the plates.  The kiddos become familiar with them and know what the parts are & what the steps are!  So in case that was confusing, here are the different levels I use with these fun plates:

1. Count into whole section.
2. Count into whole section.  Then count same number into part sections.
    Ex: 7 in whole, 3 and 4 in parts
3. Count into parts sections.  Then count same number into whole section.
4. Fill in parts and whole.  Say “part AND part MAKES whole.”
    Ex: “3 and 4 makes 7”
5. Fill in parts and whole.  Say “part PLUS part EQUALS whole.”
    Ex: “3 plus 4 equals 7”
6. Fill in parts and whole.  Talk about fact families!!

Now for the freebie!  I have also found while working with these it is great to have some type of recording sheet for the kiddos to keep track.  Especially at the beginning!  So of course, you get them for FREE!  Click on the picture below or HERE to grab them!

Enjoy!  And happy beginning of the year!