Winter Math Activities for PreK - 2nd Grade (FREEBIE & Giveaway)

Thetravelingclassroom is once again enjoying snow in Panama.  You probably know already that it doesn't really snow here; we just pretend it does.  Last year we had fun playing with cotton snowballs while learning about math.

This year, as I was preparing some math lessons, the kids peeked in to see what I was working on.  They started to plead with me and ask if they could please play the games again.   Of course, I obliged.  What teacher mom do you know that can say no when kids are begging to learn?  That was just music to my ears:)

These activities are really fun, and the kids learn a ton.

This is how we play our Winter Math Activities:

Step 1:  We play a little game with the 100 chart.  The kids have to count, write in the number of pennies, and stack their pennies to buy a snow ball.  Once they successfully add up ten pennies, talk about exchanging it for dime, and write in the correct numbers; they are then rewarded with a cotton snowball.  After we have collected all 10 snowballs, we move on to our second step.

Step 2:  The kids then get to try to throw as many of their snowballs into the bucket.  Sometimes we have a little race to see who can throw the fastest or who can get the most in the bucket.  We then count up how many snow balls made it into the bucket.  They then get their money back.

 Step 3:  We then use our counting sheet to see how much money everyone made while they were tossing snow balls.  We used these same steps with our 5 other activities:  feeding a reindeer apples, a penguin fish crackers, a snowball fight, feeding fish to a bear, and a seeing how many apples a little boy or girl can eat before they loose a tooth.   Each activity uses different coins and/or paper money. The manipulatives change also.  ( We have used fish crackers, cheese puffs, fish shaped cereal, apple counters, etc.)

This bundle includes everything you need for these activities (except the food:).  Each activity has it's own 100 chart, graphics to decorate your buckets,  paper manipulatives, and activity counting sheet.

 I hope this has inspired you to have some fun this winter while teaching math.  The FREE 100 chart is located in the download preview along with some other sample pages.  Just click on any of the pictures above.

I would also like to give away a bundle to one of my blog visitors.  Just enter below to have a chance to win.

  Thanks for traveling with us...

Free Jewish Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah Printables

Shalom Chavarim (Hello friends)

As the Fall Jewish High Holy Days are approaching we are busily getting prepared.  Our last big season was in the Spring with the Spring Feasts, so we have had a little break.  Now the Biblical 7th Month is approaching and it is time to prepare for the sound of the Shofar!

 What are we doing differently?  Well cleaning, planning meals, and fun activities - oi vey - I have got a lot to do!

I just wanted to pop in here on the blog and share some freebies with all of you to help you prepare and teach your
little ones too! You know how I  love to give freebies, so I thought these flash freebies
would be appropriate to be  for FREE.....   until the sound of the first Shofar blast (teruah) of the season!

When is that?  Well... at the beginning of the 7th month!  I'll give you a hint how you know when that is ....look at the moon:)  (or you can look at your calendar:)

 Something nice to do for family and friends during this time of year is to send them a card!  So here you go - Fun Cards for you to personalize!

 Another thing you can do during this time of year is give a gift.  Some people like to give money but this year we are giving personalized pens with their name inscribed on them.  Then we are going to put these fun labels on them!  (You could use pencils or pens)  There are more than a few styles and sizes to pick from and even a bigger label to put on the holder of all your beautiful pens & pencils when you are done!

Last but not least an interactive notebook for Yom Teruah!  I made this with all my kids in mind (ages 4-14), so you will find coloring sheets, writing prompts, and other fun stuff.  You pick what is age appropriate for your little guys!

So there you go all kinds of fun stuff to help get you prepared for this awesome holiday!  (The Fall Feast Cards, Greeting Cards, pencil toppers, and notebook printables can be found by clicking on the above pictures)
Enjoy!
May your name be inscribed in God's book and may you be sealed for all eternity!

What time is it? Que hora es? Time for Freebies...

It's time to learn! Son las 8:00 en la manana!

We have recently been learning how to tell time in Spanish & English in our classroom! (Yes we are on a year-round schedule, which allows time for sporadic traveling:)

Today I have some new things to share with you and SOME FREEBIES:) We have been making clocks, clocks, and more clocks!

This is one of my  newest additions - Hot off the press:



The Ice Cream Clock is FREE in the download preview at my store...keep going though I have another freebie to share shortly after this...


Kids love a new surprise, why not surprise them every week with a new clock to reinforce those time telling skills?

Use these Thematic Classroom clocks for whole group instruction, math centers, & more!

Do you have a classroom clock to go with your theme every week?

With this Thematic Classroom Clock pack you will!

These are super easy to use. Just print, laminate, cut, and add a brad - and your clock is ready to go!

So far we have made at least 10 clocks in the last month and I am absolutely amazed at how fast my 4 & 7 year old are getting this time telling down!  Below are the 32 Clocks included in the pack:

Rainy days

Toucan

2 Apples (green & red)

Cherry

Turkey

Pumpkin

pedestal

Ice Cream

Pink Race car

Acorn

Road sign

Green race car

Heart

Pink flower

Rabbit

Silver Star

Balloon

Bike

Penguin

Monkey

Frog

Butterfly

Owl

Pig

Beach Ball

Umbrella

Sombrero

Sand Bucket & Shovel

Chameleon

Turtle

Snowman

Don't see a specific theme your looking for? I would love to add it - just ask! Someone asked and I just added Ocean Themed Clock Helper and Classroom Clocks...it's FREE!




Ocean Themed Class Clock Helper and Classroom Clocks
I also included a Common Core Standard poster for you to use. Enjoy!!

Use these to meet CCSS 1.MD.8.3 and 2.MD.7! (Don't know what these are? Look on the common core side tab to the right )


The FREE Ice Cream Clock in the download preview at my store! Just click on any of the pictures to hop on over...



All you have to do with this is print, laminate, hole punch, & add a brad!



If you want you can add some eyes and a smile like we did!



We have been having lots of fun with our new clocks...I hope you do too:)


Here's another fun addition; you can add this to your wall clocks!



FREE

Clock Helpers

In Spanish & English

Design your own Flower or Sun for your Class Clock!

I also included a Common Core Standard poster or folder cover for you to use.




You can use these for your bulletin boards or for your organization binders...



Coming Soon more Classroom Clock Supplies!!!


Don't Forget about the Summer Planning Giveaway Scavenger Hunt...only a few days left to grab some goodies:)



I love hands on learning...What's your favorite way to teach time????

Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party - Tic Tac Toe!

It is time to get Acquainted with your fellow teacher bloggers!!!

Today I am linking up with Latoya !  If you linked up too, please say so in the comments below!  ( I would love to get to know you a little better :)

Topic- Tic Tac Toe

How it Works:  Look at the graphic below.  It is a Tic Tac Toe board filled with different categories.  You will post about three of these categories but they have to make Tic Tac Toe.  For example, you can choose to write about 3 topics that go vertical, or 3 topics that go horizontal, or three topics that go diagonal. 

I am choosing 3 topics that are vertical in the left hand column:

I went to Biola University 

 (I graduated B.S.R.N; it was hard to choose between that and a teaching degree:)

My favorite memory was dorm life in Sigma  and all the social Betty meets Bob activities!!

My First Year Teaching (homeschooling) was when my first two children were 4 and 2, it was time to get down to business!

We put our alphabet & calendar on the wall and sang our songs everyday.  It was amazing when they started learning how to read!  It was so exciting to be the one to teach them !   To see their excitement when they "got it" and they learned how to read was the most exhilarating experience ever!  We used this curriculum and loved it:)

My Father's World First Grade a Complete Bible-based Curriculum
We also went on ALOT of field trips (nature hunts, pet stores, libraries, pumpkin patch, etc.)  We had ant farms, butterfly farms....oh, the memories! 

 Here's a great story for you....when we ordered the ant farm.  Live ants came in the mail.  HUGE LIVE ANTS!  We were supposed to put them into their new gel ant farm habitat.  THEN, they escaped!  They were crawling everywhere!  Where was the teacher (mom, me)?  Standing on the couch, screaming:)  My lovely little guys were not afraid at all. They ( then 5 & 3 years old) gentle picked them up and got them all contained in their little habitat!  Phew, that was a close call:)  Those were the best days ever!  We have some great memories:)

My Favorite Grade to Teach & Why:

I LOVE teaching pre-k through 1st!  I guess you could say I am kind of an

expert at it now because I have been teaching that specific grade for 12 years!  I love the hands on, arts & crafts, and the simplicity of learning:)  (Not to mention their cute little accents before they learn how to pronounce their words correctly:)  I attached a little widget with all my favorites...we still use them.  I absolutely love these teaching materials and highly recommend them!

Thanks for stopping by and traveling with us:)