Illustrative Mathematics
“Crossing the Decade” Concentration
Young mathematicians concentrate on learning to fluently count. Following the rules of the classic game Memory, children take turns flipping over cards in order to find pairs of numbers that cross a decade (e.g. 29 and 30). For younger...
Illustrative Mathematics
Counting Cup
Help your kindergartners develop counting skills using a 24 oz. plastic cup, counting manipulatives, and a paper plate. Start with a small group of learners and place a quantity of counting objects between the range of 5 to 10 into each...
Illustrative Mathematics
Growing Bean Plants
Plant growth experiments offer rich, cross-curricular learning opportunities that can really excite and engage young learners. In this series, children work in pairs planting, measuring, and comparing the height of bean plants in order...
Illustrative Mathematics
Measure Me!
How many unifix cubes tall are you? If you're not sure, then perform this math activity with your class and find out. Working in pairs, young mathematicians make measuring sticks out of unifix cubes in order to determine the length of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Size Shuffle
In the eyes of children the world is a simple place, objects are either big or small. This simple activity aims to expand the comparison language of young mathematicians as they use the words taller and shorter to compare their height...
Curated OER
Pick a Number, Counting On
This is a quick learning game that can be played on a daily basis during transitions or as a part of the morning meeting. Using number cards or numbers placed on sticks, pick a number at random. Read the number to the class and then ask...
Curated OER
The Pythagorean Puzzle
An engaging hands-on activity is presented. Learners of all ages are addressed in thie unique plan. K-5 learners identify, name, and define a rectangle, square, triangle, and the concept of area. Older learners prove the Pythagorean...
Curated OER
Size, Shape, and Color
Students demonstrate that they can identify simple geometric shapes and compare them by color and size accordingly: by the main shapes, sizes, and color. They comprehend the names of the sizes, shapes and colors in the target language.
Curated OER
Kente Cloth
Students explore patterns and identify, extend, and translate color patterns. They discuss the origin and function of Kente cloth from Ghana, and discuss the patterns they see in students' clothing. Students color in a variety of...
Curated OER
Where Should It Go? Recycle? Compost? Incinerate? Landfill?
Students discuss what happens to trash after it is collected. They sort "clean" trash into groups depending on whether it should be recycled, incinerated, placed in a landfill, composted or if it is something we could avoid using.
Illustrative Mathematics
Teen Go Fish
Kindergartners play the classic game Go Fish as they practice identifying numbers in the teens. A fun and engaging activity that develops number recognition skills in young learners. As added support, provide cards that include both the...
Illustrative Mathematics
“One More” Concentration
Help your primary learners develop an understanding of the concept of one more and one less using two sets of number cards. The first set of cards, all in one color, is the "one less" deck. The second set, again all in one specific...
Curated OER
Rainbow Number Line
Guide your kindergartners to create memorable, colorful number lines that they will use throughout the school year. Using sentence strip and a black marker or card stock printed in a teachers font, create traceable numbers from 1 to 20...
Illustrative Mathematics
Start/Stop Counting II
Take stroll around the classroom while teaching young mathematicians to count fluently with this whole-group math activity. The teacher starts things off by walking around the room while counting up from the number one and continues...
Illustrative Mathematics
Find The Numbers 0-5 or 5-10
In need of math station or center for your kindergartners? Model how to play this game with the whole class first and then make it into a center. Create a few sets of six number cards with 0-5 or 5-10 and then create a matching die with...
Curated OER
Yummy Gummy Subtraction
Here is a quick 15 minute lesson intended to introduce subtraction. Learners count and subtract gummy bears to complete 5 problems. The lessons suggest that the gummy bears can be saved and used the next day, but gummy bears get gross...
Curated OER
Comparing Numbers Up to 10 Step-by-Step Lesson
A teacher resource, this scripted lesson details how to explain to learners the steps involved in determining which numbers in a series are bigger or smaller than a given number. The referenced pupil learning exercise is not included.
Curated OER
Who Took the Cookies
Students find the missing cookies. In this language arts lesson, students solve the mystery of who is taking the cookies from the cookie jar. Students are read several books with the same mystery of cookies being taken from the jar.