Measurement & Data Centers

Hi Everyone!

I hope that your week is off to a great start!  I'm thrilled because I finished up my next set of Centers to the Core.  This one focuses on the kindergarten domain Measurement and Data.  I'm really excited for these centers and just wish I had a class to use them in.  Don't worry I've already sent them to my mom and asked her to try them out haha.  She's my guinea pig for all my products at the moment, not that she's complaining.  Now if only I can get her to remember to take pictures; but first I probably need to teach her how to use her smart phone to do so (just playing, sorta).  This is a set of 15 centers!  Yes, that's right 15 fun activities that can be pulled out whenever you're in need of a center from this domain.  And who doesn't love measurement and data fun!

One of the centers I'm excited about is called "Mystery Sort."  For this center you'd prep it by sticking the included title label to a bag and then filling the bag with "some"  item that students should sort.  (This can be anything... buttons, plastic animals, food, counters, colored shapes etc)  Now I'm calling it mystery sort because I like students to know that there is NOT just one way to sort but many.  The Mystery bag label reads "There's not just one way to solve this mystery.  Show me how you sorted these items for a mystery sort award!"   When students go to the center they dump the bag and get to sorting anyway they want!  I think it is so important for students to explore on their own and this gives them an opportunity to sort how they see fit.  It also gives me insight to their thinking.  The recording sheet asks for students to draw out how they sorted and also asks them to attempt to write how they sorted.  For fun I've included a 1/4 sheet award that upon completion I can attach to the recording sheet and send home for parents to see.  It asks parents to ask their child about how they sorted too, which is fantastic because it encourages communication about student learning at home.  Here's a picture...

This set includes a great variety of activities including measuring length, height, weight, and capacity.  It also includes a few sorting activities and even a mini emergent reader called I Can Measure.  Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think!  Here are a couple more photos...

Happy Math Monday!

What am I up to...Centers to the Core!

It's Friday!  You've just finished up another busy fun week of teaching and you are on the verge of enjoying a relaxing weekend, but you have to finish planning and prepping for next week before the clock strikes 5 or at least that is your goal.  Your math center bins are scattered around you and you are filling away at what seems like record speed, but then you get to the last two boxes and realize you still NEED 2 MORE CENTERS!  Ahhhhhh, everything comes to a halt as you start searching for those last two activities.  

I know this feeling all to well and that's why I decided that I wanted to start creating sets of common core aligned math centers based on the main domains.  For me the purpose of these centers is to be standards based aligned and not "theme" aligned so to speak.  I wanted to be able to think of a domain, pull out a packet, browse for the standard I need, and BAM!  Have a center ready to go!  Perfect for those weeks when you just need 1 or 2 more activities.  So I decided to start creating sets of what I call "Centers to the Core."  These sets of math standards will focus on the kindergarten common core domains.  They don't correlate with any specific "theme" although some activities definitely could and they focus on standards from that domain.  My first domain set is now in my TpT store and focuses on: counting and cardinality.

Click Picture to see it in my TpT store :)

I made it so that the set includes a reference sheet which lists each center name, along with the standards the center meets, activity directions, and a supplies needed list for that particular center.  I wanted something that I could easily grab, look for, and find.

In this set I tried to include a few activities for each of the standards in this domain.  Here's a few of the centers that are included...

Alligator Treat K.CC.6

Count! Create! Draw! K.CC.1, K.CC.3, K.CC.4

Skip Count Hat K.CC.1

Pick & Fill K.CC.4, K.CC.4a

Pocket Full of Sticks K.CC.1, K.CC.5

The centers have recording sheets for students to fill in and they vary in that some use number cards, some use manipulatives, and some are just printables.  My plan is to start working on the next domain this weekend and then continue from there in the coming weeks.  Let me know what ya think?  

Enjoy your weekend :)

Math Center Freebie!

Hi Everybody!  It's Thursday and a Happy Thursday it is!  

I just found out that I have now sold over 10 products on TPT!  Ha Ha That may not sound like much but hey I couldn't believe it and it made me happy to know that fellow teachers out there like my creations!  It means a lot to have people download my freebies, but it means even more to find out that someone actually chose to purchase something I made.  So cool!  I am so happy I have started on this journey and am really proud of the little things I have made.  My very own collection of items is slowly growing and each time I print something to check if it's just right I become excited knowing that I created something that I can use and maybe that others can use too.  So as a way to say THANK YOU to all those following along and checking out what I'm up to here's a math center FREEBIE!  Enjoy!

Click on the picture to download for free from my TPT store :)