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Math Strands

Types

for

Audience

Special Topics

Number Sense

Number sense is the ability to understand the quantity of a set and the name associated with that quantity. Strong number sense developed in the early years is a key building block of learning arithmetic in the primary grades, as it connects counting to quantities, solidifies and refines the understanding of more and less, and helps children estimate quantities and measurements.

Copyright: Erikson Institute’s Early Math Collaborative. Reprinted from Big Ideas of Early Mathematics: What Teachers of Young Children Need to Know (2014), Pearson Education.

Number sense involves some Big Ideas that can be explored with children, such as:

  • The quantity of a small collection can be intuitively perceived without counting.
  • Quantity is an attribute of a set of objects and we use numbers to name specific quantities.
  • Numbers are used in many ways, some more mathematical than others.
Series: Focus on the Lesson

Attendance Routine to Build Number Sense

September 26, 2016

This Spanish-language example of a rekenrek attendance routine demonstrates how one teacher can mathematize an everyday activity.

  • Topic: Number Sense, Counting
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
  • Tags Rekenrek, English Language Learner
Series: Focus on Play August 25, 2016

Matching Cards Game in PreK

A quick matching game with dot cards is a fun way for preschoolers to practice recognizing small sets without counting.

  • Topic: Number Sense
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade
  • Tags Dot cards, Subitizing, Games
EMTR012-2 online math curriculum,education
Series: Focus on the Lesson June 25, 2016

Number Arrangements

Students create visual representations of different numbers. All children will benefit most from exploring number arrangements by beginning with 3 and moving up from that.

  • Topic: Number Sense
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
  • Tags Subitizing
room on the broom activities
Series: Book Ideas October 13, 2015

Make Room for Halloween Math

Have some Halloween fun with the witch’s tale Room on the Broom. In this lively story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, a witch makes room for her animal friends to ride on her broomstick……

  • Topic: Number Sense, Number Operations
  • Age/Grade Level: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
  • Tags Place Value, Animals, Holiday, Books, Room on the Broom, Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, Seasonal
preschool books number sense
Series: Book Ideas October 6, 2015

3 Magic Cauldron Books for Kids to Mathematize the Season

One of the most classic images of the Halloween season is a witch's magic pot or cauldron. Singing about witches' brew and reading tales of magical pots can also be a great way to introduce…

  • Topic: Number Sense, Measurement
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
  • Tags Two of Everything, Lily Toy Hong, The Magic Porridge Pot, Seasonal, Paul Galdone, Food, Strega Nona, Tomie dePaola, Holiday, Books, Capacity
EMTR005-1 k-5 math teaching resources
Series: Focus on the Child June 11, 2015

Comparing Quantity with Child 4

A child compares two small sets of wooden cubes.

  • Topic: Number Sense
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
  • Tags Child 4, English Language Learner, Comparing, Gesture
Series: Focus on the Child June 11, 2015

Recognizing Quantity with Child 1

A child selects a card with a given number of dots.

  • Topic: Number Sense
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
  • Tags Child 1, Subitizing
Series: Focus on the Child June 11, 2015

Matching Quantity with Child 3

A child produces a small set of counters to match a shown quantity.

  • Topic: Number Sense
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K
  • Tags Child 3, Subitizing
EMTR010-1 teaching kids math
Series: Focus on the Child June 11, 2015

Estimating Quantity with Child 3

A student approximates the number of cubes in collections of increasing quantity.

  • Topic: Number Sense
  • Age/Grade Level: Pre-K, Kindergarten
  • Tags Comparing, Child 3, Estimation, Unifix Cubes
Series: Ideas at Work October 3, 2014

First Grade Number Talks Ideas from a First Grade Teacher

This blog post provides some great ideas for first grade Number Talks sessions. These 10-15 minute activities can be centered around the rekenrek or dot cards and are designed to reinforce students’ understanding of number…

  • Topic: Number Sense, Number Operations
  • Age/Grade Level: 1st Grade
  • Tags Number Talks, Rekenrek, Dot cards
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