LEARNING EXPERIENCE - Kindergarten Math

McONE HUNDREDTH DAY

1. Learning Context:

Standard 3: Mathematics

Benchmark 1: Students use mathematical reasoning to analyze mathematical situations, make conjectures, gather evidence, and construct an argument.

Benchmark 2: Students use number sense and numeration to develop an understanding of the multiple uses of numbers in the real world, the use of numbers to communicate mathematically, and the use of numbers in the development of mathematical ideas.

Benchmark 3: Students use mathematical operations and relationships among them to understand mathematics.

This experience fits in the school curriculum in teaching calendar, place value, patterns, counting by one and ten, writing numbers, and independent use of the computer.

The students’ prior knowledge should include participating in a group activity.

2. Procedure

This learning experience is a part of the daily calendar activities completed during circle time. This activity must begin on the first day of school and continue daily until the last. The class will be counting the number of days they are in school. Gather the materials needed prior to the first day of school. Pick up 3 large size McDonald’s french fry containers at your local McDonald’s. Label the containers Ones, Tens, and Hundreds. Have 180 craft sticks and some rubber bands. Secure the containers onto a writing surface (ex.. - an easel, chalkboard, etc.) in the calendar area. In word processing on classroom computer set up a chart entitled, "We have been in school ___________ days."

Sing the following song each morning at "Calendar Time". (Sung to the tune of "Three Blind Mice".)

"Counting up, counting up, 100 days, 100 days.
Today’s the _____ day, you know
Only ____ days to go.
Then we’ll celebrate and so,
We’re counting up."

On the first day of school, introduce the french fry containers and the names of each. Place one craft stick (one french fry) in the ones container. Explain why you put it in the ones first. Draw a horizontal line above the container explaining that we need to write the number of french fries we have, 1. Write the number 1 on the line. Choose one child to go to the computer and type in the correct number of that day on the previously set up chart and print out.

On the tenth day, explain that 2 numbers cannot fit on one line. Using a rubber band, bundle the 10 sticks together to make your first bundle of 10. Place in the tens bucket. Write the new number above in the correct place. This is the beginning of counting by 10’s.

All the sticks are counted each day. The bundles in the ten’s bucket are counted by 10’s, the single "french fries" in the one’s bucket are added to this. Therefore, the children are practicing counting every day.

Continue this activity allowing the students to put the "french fries" in the correct bucket and writing the new number. When you reach the 100th Day, have a grand celebration.

Since this is done at calendar time, we also write the number of the day on the calendar. We leave all the calendars of the month up in order on the wall so the children can refer to previous events and number of days.

3. Instructional/Environmental Modifications

*use of touch screen on computer

* count in both languages for bilingual students

*can be used anywhere in the classroom to accommodate all children regardless of their physical limitations

4. Time Required

*planning -- minimal

*implementation -- 10 minutes daily for length of school year

*assessment -- informal

5. Resources

* 3 McDonald super size french fry boxes

* 180 craft sticks

* rubber bands

* 100th Day chart with numbers 1 - 100

* computer

6. Assessment Plan

* Students demonstrate understanding by counting the craft sticks by tens and ones at circle time

* At centers, children will show knowledge of counting by ones and tens by using connecting cubes and doing dot-to-dot pages

7. Student Work

The only hard copy of student work in the learning experience takes place on the 100th Day. To celebrate the big day to which we have been counting, each child colors and then wears a "100th Day Badge". We make a paper chain out of 100 paper links. We exercise by doing 100 jumping jacks, hopping 100 times, clapping to 100, shrugging 100 times, etc. We make a list of 100 words that they can read (from word wall, their names, months of the year, days of the week, color words). In math, they measure how far 100 is by tracing their feet on construction paper and cutting out a few to equal 100. Count how many feet there are. Estimate how far down the hallway these feet will reach if placed end to end. Mark the spot guessed. Then perform task.

CALL YOUR LOCAL McDONALD’S AND REQUEST FREE FRENCH FRIES TO CELEBRATE THE 100TH DAY. Explain to the manager why you are asking for french fries. They generally are very generous.

8. Reflection

We have been using this learning experience in a modified way for 2 years. However, we saw the need to add technology to the lessons. Therefore, we have supplemented the original idea with the computer sheet made daily.