Open-Closed Shape Sort

I love math.  To be honest though, when I was a student, I HATED math.  But as a teacher, I love it!  Maybe it’s because I get to teach it in a way that would have made so much more sense to me as a student.  Maybe it’s because kindergarten math is so much more fun than algebra.  But either way, it is probably my second favorite thing to teach (right behind science).

Shapes are a big deal in the primary grades, and one of the trickiest things for students is the concept open and closed.  I don’t know why, but it’s like their brains fill in the holes and they don’t recognize the difference.  Enter my open-closed shape sort.

This is a cut and paste activity, so it sneaks that fine motor practice in as well.  Are you noticing a theme here?  😉  I would definitely not use the open-closed shape sort as an introduction to this concept.  This is intended for practice after several days on this concept.

The shapes are either complete, closed shapes or open figures that have holes included.  Students will have to really look close to decide which category to put their shapes in.  The pieces can be glued either on construction paper or in a math journal.

There are many options for the open-closed shape sort, depending on grade level.  In kindergarten, I typically do an activity like this in a small group setting.  I also only give them the scissors at first.  They don’t get a glue stick until they have all their pieces laid out in the correct spots.  This allows for discussion as we sort and lowers the frustration levels because they’re not worried about it being stuck on the wrong side.  In first grade, depending on how deep into the concept you are, this could be a center activity with or without a teacher or even a simple assessment.  You could even use the open-closed shape sort in the beginning of second grade as a completely independent activity to assess retention of the concept or introduce a geometry unit.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Open-Closed-Shape-Sort-761400

120 Chart Mystery Picture

Everyone loves a good coloring page, right?  But how do you make that coloring time that is oh so important fit into a rigorous, standards-based curriculum?  You include math of course!  Now, there are a ton of math coloring pages out there, from 100 charts to addition facts to graphing plots.  So what makes these special?

Because they are 120 chart mystery pictures!  When I was in first grade, we loved the idea of the mystery pictures on the 100s charts because of the great practice with number recognition and place value skills.  Plus, our kids got some great fine motor practice as a bonus!  However, we were following the Common Core State Standards at the time, and the expectation for first grade was for students to be familiar with numbers up to 120.  So rather than miss out on this great practice, or only partially meet the standard using products that were already out there, I created these 120 chart mystery picture pages!

As you can see, there is a 120 chart mystery picture for just about any occasion you could wish.  I have them available In a year long bundle that includes everything from Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring, and even Summer!  There are currently 13 in all.  Students 2^nd grade and up could easily complete the year long 120 chart mystery picture set independently as practice, review, or even an assessment.

If you’re teaching first grade and think that your students may need a little more practice with number recognition before they dive in independently, I do offer the 120 chart mystery pictures in 2 other bundled sets: fall holidays and spring holidays.  Maybe you’re only working on that skill in the fall.  Or maybe you want to hit it hard in the fall and use the spring set to spiral, practice, or assess on an independent level.  Whatever works for you.

I actually still use these even though I’m in kindergarten now.  And you’re thinking, but how?  And why?  Let me share!

Why??  Easy.  First of all, some of them are just plain ready for it.  I always have at least one small group of students that is ready for “first grade” math.  So, why not expose them?!  Second, all of my students can use the coloring practice!  ALL. OF THEM.  And bonus, while they color they get more exposure to numbers and how to recognize them.  BAM!  Great plan!  Third, I love, love, love their conversations while they try to figure it out.  It is adorable.  Fourth, like I have mentioned before, any time I can bring in some art or social studies or speaking and listening, I’m going to do it.  Check, check, and check because most of these pages give a nod to a holiday, or at least a season.

As for the how, everyone’s favorite word: differentiate.  In first grade, I would give this activity independently (for the most part).  In kindergarten, we always do it small group.  That group that’s ready for it, let them at it.  I usually monitor fairly closely, and stay close for questions, but it’s a great time to help another group with their independent work if they need it. 

Then there’s the group that’s just almost there.  So I teach them how to match and mark the numbers with each color.

After they’ve marked all of one color, or even all the colors, they can go back and fill it in nice and neat.  Notice though I said teach them.  This is not something they’ll immediately catch on to.  But with good modeling and guided practice, they are capable.  I promise.  If most of your class is at this point, you could even show them on a document camera if you have one.

And there will be that group that just needs some extra help.  That’s ok.  It’s kindergarten.  Some of our babies just aren’t ready to go to 120.  But that doesn’t mean that we should exclude them!  So, a third way I differentiate is by helping them mark the colors.  This is a great opportunity still to discuss and practice the numbers as you do it.  But if the class is going to color a 120 chart mystery picture turkey, everyone should!  I do this type of scaffolding one color at a time.  I grab my own crayon or even colored pencil, and slash through all the boxes that need that color.  Then they go through and shade those marked boxes all the way in.  And we move on to the next color once they’re finished.  It sounds like a lot of work, but it really goes super quick.  You can even pre-prep the first color before that group gets to you (during planning, or even while that independent group is working).  It’s not as demanding as it sounds, I promise!

Once you’re finished, you have some great artwork to display, and you can even hang a math standard by it too!  If you’re looking for a way to include some art and fine motor practice in your math block, or if you just need a math activity to go along with your holiday activities, there is a 120 chart mystery picture for you!  And if you can’t find one that you need, leave me a comment and maybe that will be the next 120 chart mystery picture I add to the bundle!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/120-Chart-Mystery-Picture-Year-Round-Bundle-632078

Welcome to the Yellow Rose Garten!

For those that may not know, I’m Brittany Henderson.  I just finished my 7^th year of teaching, which was my 3^rd in Kindergarten.  I have also taught 1^st and 2^nd, as well as worked with 4s in a preschool/daycare setting.  Kindergarten has been my favorite so far, hence the “Garten.”

While we are currently living in coastal Mississippi, I was born and raised deep in the heart of Texas.  Actually, I was even born on Texas’ Sesquicentennial, or the 150^th anniversary of their statehood.  Texas is where I spent most of my childhood, where I met my high school sweetheart, where I graduated from both high school and college, where we were married, and where I began my career.  So Texas holds a pretty special place in my heart and is a large part of my identity, hence the “Yellow Rose.”

Teaching has always been part of my life, has always been my passion.  As early as I can remember, if given the choice I would play school (as the teacher obviously) over house any day.  Teacher was always my answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?”  My husband told me early on in our high school relationship that he already knew I’d be a teacher.  In fact, he even said kindergarten teacher.  There was never any other option for me.  Now that my goal has become a reality, it is my passion to do right by my students daily.  And I don’t just mean teach the standards.

I’m a firm believer in “let them be little.”  Kids need play, social learning, and to enjoy school to be successful.  So, I’m not just here for the basics.  In my classroom, if it can be taught through play, art, music, science, social studies, whatever, I’m down for it.  If it strengthens motor skills, speaking and listening skills, emotional understanding, or social skills, I’m all over it.  What I’ve found though, is that we’ve steered so far in the other direction in education, that a lot of those things don’t always exist.  I’m ready for that to change, and the only way to see that change is to start it.

There you have it.  Yellow Rose Garten, and a little me, in a nutshell.  Research states that learning something new takes 400 repetitions, unless it’s done through play, then it only takes 10 to 20!

So let’s play!!