Math Bag (Grade Primary)

Our theme for this math bag is counting and we will be focussing on a primary classroom.  All activities are adaptable for various needs.  The math bag will be sent home once a week.  Students will be divided into three groups depending on their abilities, the bags will be adjusted accordingly.  Each group will take the bag home one night and bring it back the same day of the next week and change for a new math bag.
 

Contents

• Letter to family
• List of materials
• Title, Author, ISBN and Synopsis of book(s)
• Instructions and print materials for activity 1
• Instructions and print materials for activity 2
• Special instructions and/or materials for special needs
• Curriculum outcomes for each activity

Letter to family

This letter is to introduce a new learning tool into our grade primary class. Each week the students will be taking home a math bag that contains different subject concepts. The math bag is an interactive learning kit that your children will use to complete assigned activities. There are sets of instructions for each activity that the children are required to complete. The math bag is an interdisciplinary learning tool that encompasses subject areas such as language arts, social studies, art, and primarily math. The language arts focus for this math bag is centred on the reading of the book Too Many Cars. To introduce the subject of social studies children will discuss the benefits of walking compared with driving in a car and its effects on the environment. To incorporate art, children will be introduced to the primary colours (i.e. red, yellow, and blue) for completing the graphing exercise. The graphing exercise will also incorporate math. There will also be a math activity that incorporates counting.

The theme for the first math bag is centred on counting. The children will read a book entitled Too Many Cars by Susan Hartley and Shane Armstrong, and illustrated by Celina Musbauer. A series of activities will follow the reading of this book. The children are encouraged to read the book through twice out loud with you the parent or guardian, before proceeding with the activities. There is a series activities that accompany the reading of this book. The children will complete a graphing exercise, as well as a game. Children are asked to return their activity sheets with the math bag each week as a form of assessment.

If you have any questions concerning this new teaching tool please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Laura, Sonja, Carolyn and Stephanie

List of materials

Title, Author, ISBN and Synopsis of book(s)

Instructions and print materials for Counting Cards

Card game number one:
Number Sequencing

• Lay out all the cards with the question mark side facing upwards.
• One player begins by turning over a card, if that card is the number one, they can continue to pick up again in hopes of getting a two so that they can continue their number line which they will place in front of them.
• If the number is not two, then the other player picks up a card.  If it is a one they can keep it and pick again.  If the next number they pick up is a two, they can add it to their line and continue.  If not, then it is the first players turn to flip a card.
• The goal is for a player to get to 15 first.
• The number line must be picked up in sequence.

• Lay out all the cards with the question mark side facing upwards
• One player begins by turning over two cards in hopes that they will be the same number.
• If they are the same, they keep them and turn over two more cards
• If they are not the same, the other players turns over two cards
• The goal is to get as many pairs as possible until the cards are gone.

Instructions and print materials for activity 2

1. Read Too Many Cars two times with your parents.

2. Count all the cars you find in the book.
* How many did you find?

3.   Talk with your parents about why walking and not using a car all of the time is better for the environment.  Ask your parents to help you write a sentence about why it is better to walk sometimes.

4. *Use the Incas survey “What colour is your car?” to make
a pictogram on the next page.

5. The red activity is the basic level.

 *Colour each car line of the pictogram the same colour of the car you are graphing.

9 people have RED cars
5 people have BLUE cars
3 people have GREEN cars
6 people have BLACK cars
2 people have YELLOW cars
4 people have WHITE cars
2 people have GREY cars
 

Colour of Cars              Red Activity

Red

Blue

Green

Black

Yellow

White

Grey

   1              2            3             4            5            6            7            8            9

Math Bag     Green Activity

1. Read Too Many Cars to your parents two times.

2. Count all of cars you find in the book.

• How many did you count?
• Make a list of the different colour cars you found.

4. *Use the in-class survey “What colour is your car?” to make
a pictogram on the next page.

5. The green activity is the middle level.

 *Draw the number of cars the same colour of the car you are graphing.

9 people have RED cars
 5 people have BLUE cars
 3 people have GREEN cars
 6 people have BLACK cars
 2 people have YELLOW cars
 4 people have WHITE cars
 2 people have GREY cars

Colour of Cars                                Green Activity

Math Bag     Yellow Activity

1. Read Too Many Cars to your parents.

2. Count all of the cars you find in the book.

• How many did you find?
• Make a list of the different colour cars you found.
• How many Red, Yellow and Blue cars are in the book.

4. *Use the in-class survey “What colour is your car?” to make
a pictogram on the next page.

5. The yellow activity is most advanced level.

9 people have RED cars
5 people have BLUE cars
3 people have GREEN cars
6 people have BLACK cars
2 people have YELLOW cars
4 people have WHITE cars
2 people have GREY cars
 

Colour of cars            Yellow Activity
 

Special instructions and/or materials for special needs

Curriculum outcomes

•  Students will be expected to sort sets on the basis of number
•  Students will be expected to determine the number in a group
•  Students will be able to create sets of given numbers
•  Students will use number patterns to help solve addition and subtraction questions (Grade One)
•  Students will be able to create and recognize physical configuration for numbers (Grade One)
•  Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of addition (Grade Two)

Language Arts:

•  Students will be able to read selected texts and view with understanding
•  Students will be expected to interpret, select and combine information using a variety of strategies, resources and   technologies

Social Studies:

•  Students will be expected to describe characteristics of their environment
•  Students will identify ways people depend on, modify and are influenced by the physical environment

Art:

•  Students will create works in the arts to explore topics and issues
•  Students will experiment with a range of materials