Numbers, Numbers Everywhere

I am so excited to share this numbers webquest (and journey) with you and your students!

This webquest is designed for Kindergarten age children who are working on learning number skills.  It is packed with activities to reinforce current content knowledge and expand beyond what they know and can currently apply.  Through interactive games, videos, and activities, children will grow in their number sense.  The extension activities will take them beyond just number recognition, counting and matching. 

The instructions state that children are to work in pairs on these activities.  By working together, they can discuss the content and help each other in areas where they may need assistance.  They also can work together to complete the tasks and turn learning into fun and games.  By discussing activities they are also problem solving.  You may want to carefully consider the pairs of children you choose to enhance the learning experience.

It is expected that this will take more than one sitting at a computer to thoroughly complete.  Children should be given as much time as necessary as long as they are working cooperatively and taking turns.  That is one of the goals.  If they are interested and on task, they should continue.  If they are losing interest, they should save the spot where they stopped and continue another day or time.

Standards

From:
M A T H E M A T I C S
www.michigan.gov/mde
KINDERGARTEN: A Crosswalk to the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations

Know number names and the count sequence

K.CC.3 Write numbers from 0 to 20.
*Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
*Count to tell the number of objects

K.CC.4 Count to tell the number of objects.
*Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
a. When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with
one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.
b. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number
of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were
counted.
c. Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger.

K.CC.5 Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.

Above are the state standards that are addressed in this webquest. Do not forget that children may want to expand their current work into other areas of mathematical knowledge which may touch on other common core standards as well. Children should be encouraged to do so if they choose.

Credits

I would like to thank my professor, Kimberly Guerrazzi, of our EDU590TL graduate course for assigning this webquest as part of our work. Without the experience, I might never have invested so much time into this amazing piece of technology.

In addition, I wish to list the following sites where art was used in this presentation:
Resources:
Picture of numbers from http://picturesforcoloring.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/numbers.jpg
Cheerios counting book picture from http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol5/no15/cheerioscountingbook.jpg
Number clip art from http://www.kidsmuralstore.com/products_pictures/normal_MT851set.jpg
Taking turns clip art from http://lessonpix.com/drawings/7818/100x100/Take+Turns.png
Numbers sheet from 1 to 20 http://www.studenthandouts.com/01-Web-Pages/001-Pages/numbers-1-20-printable-circles-for-school.htm
And http://www.studenthandouts.com/01-Web-Pages/001-Pages/numbers-1-20.pdf
Image of dry erase board http://images.discountofficeitems.com/orig/da7/fc0/3c7cc8a18a39e7bbdece5c164fd460c612.jpg
Pair of Children clip art http://www.mochadad.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/stick_people_boy_friend_and_girlfriend__black_boy_and_white_girl_holding_hands_0515-0910-3113-3749_SMU.jpg
Play button at http://startupweekend.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/04/Button-Play-icon.png
Unifix cube art from http://www.smartfirstgraders.com/image-files/unifix-counting.jpg
Question mark from http://idontsmoke.net/images/questionmark.jpg
Teacher and computer at http://www.tevice.com/images/teaching_tech/teaching-technology-classroom.jpg

Other

Keep digging for the good stuff. There are many amazing interactive sites for kids out there that are high quality and engaging for just about all ages. You need to search to find some of them. If you put in the time in advance, it will pay off when you see how far your students will take what you give them. Starfall.com has been one of our favorite early childhood sites! My students are learning more by interacting with each other in pairs and working side by side at computers than I could possibly present to them in the classroom alone. They are also able to work at their own pace and progress at their own pace. The things they can do on this website alone is amazing. Never underestimate potential!!!