NUMBERS/PATTERNS

NUMBERS P-6

No matter what number your responsible for teaching (up to 10 or over 1000000) nature is calling to you to teach outdoors!

 

What can you count outside, oh so much; trees, leaves, sticks/rocks!  To add some physical health, if possible for all students, do these lessons while walking throughout the school property.  For older students a group of students could be tasked with recording using tally marks, adding another outcome. No nature no problem.  Count the lines on a basketball court, look at the school and count the windows, look at the neighbourhood count the houses or cars going by.  If the number is greater than 20 one tree or one window of the school could represent 10.  How many windows makes 100?

Estimation add on: If the number is 1000 or greater: Have students make a grid out of four popsicle sticks glued together in a square shape.  Place the grid onto a section of the school's field of grass.  Estimate how many blades are in that grid.  How many grids would we need to show 1000 or the chosen number.  Have students stand around that total section of the grass.  That section represents an estimation of that number of blades of grass.  No grass at your school, what could you use?  Please email and let us know.  

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​Skip Counting

Skip count objects outdoors!  Discussion: If the first tree (stick, rock, window etc) represents 0, and we skip count by 2 what does the next tree represent?

To add a physical element, if possible for all students walk, run, or wheel to the next object.

Remember to add in a few mistakes for grade 2 and higher as cited in the grade 2 outcomes:

N01.04  Identify and correct errors and omissions in a given skip counting sequence.

Cross curricular - Visual arts: have students draw the chosen object several times with labeling the object 0, then 2, then 4, etc.  

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Even and Odd

This is a fun lesson to do outside in the school neighbourhood.  I take my students for a walk around the block to observe the house numbers, what do you notice?  One side of the street has even numbers and the other street had odd numbers.  Discuss.  They get a walk, some shout out that's where I live, and others notice things about their community they might not have before the walk.  If you don't live in a rural community how could you show even and odd numbers in your community?  A visit to a local post office?  Email and let us know your ideas.

 

Guest Speakers:

Try to get a Canada Post employee to come in to explain the even/odd number house system or postal codes.  This becomes not only a math lesson, but also learning for potential job opportunities.  And you could take this outdoors, the employee could go on the neighbourhood walk with your class!  With any guest you could combine the visit with your learning buddies (a younger grade and an older grade learn together usually once a week)

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100 CHART

An effective beginning way to learn numbers is by using a 100 chart.  Click the tree to learn an activity

with 100 chart and bean bags from the Nova Scotia ASK program.  See the Inclusion tab

for more information on this program.  ​​​

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Patterns

Make patterns outdoors!  My students have used rocks and sticks to make simple repeating patterns to more complex ones.  If no objects are available have students use chalk to draw patterns on the concrete or bring outside cubes or another math manipulative.  If you have natural objects you can show patterns in nature, especially interesting for older grades.  An internet search will help you create a lesson for natural objects in your community.