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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Quick First Day Math Game

I know I’m blaspheming by talking about heading back to school…but here’s a quick math game I introduce my students to on the first day of school. It’s called Color Squares.
The students partner up, and they each pick a different crayon. They roll a die and color in that many squares. Their partner does the same thing. Play continues until all the squares are filled. The person with the most squares filled wins the games.
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You can tell a lot about your student's counting and number sense ability when you observe them playing. Does the student have one to one correspondence? Are they filling in squares one at a time or is there a strategy? Can they count in correct sequence? Do they actually know the names for numbers? Are they grouping squares as they count? Are some students able to keep a running number as they play or do they have to start over from one each time they color in new squares?

I usually make front to back copies so that students can play twice, then I circulate among the partners and observe. Click on the pictures above to download.
Don’t forget today is the last day to take advantage of my Christmas In July Sale!
Happy Sunday!!
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18 comments:

  1. Loving the cuteness of your site! Thanks for sharing these freebies. Happy to have found your blog and be your newest follower! Come checkout my blog & enter to win my sunflower life cycle giveaway while you're there - wishing you the best WINNING luck! :)

    Antonia
    forkin4th

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  2. Looks fun! Thanks for sharing. I love your Christmas in July graphic. Did you make it or find it? I would like to run a similar sale soon and this would be perfect. Please let me know where it's from! Thanks!
    Mrs. Wheeler’s First Grade
    Mrs. Wheeler TpT
    meganwheeler44@yahoo.com

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  3. What a cute and simple game--thanks for sharing! :)

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  4. Well, this is easy enough and fun, too! Thanks so much!

    Laura
    Peace, Love, and First Grade

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  5. This looks like it's totally doable for the first week!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Swamp Frog First Graders

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  6. Definitely pinning these ideas! Thank you for sharing! Congrats on entering your 19th year of teaching! I will be entering my 11.5 year! If you have not done so, please check out my Blog! THANK YOU!

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  7. Thanks for sharing! That is a perfect game for the first day/week!
    Sample’s Superstars
    Erin

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  8. Thanks for the freebie! I love this simple partner game...you are right...perfect for a quick beginning of the year assessment...and fun!
    Michelle
    mcoop11125@gmail.com

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  9. Thanks so much! This will be a great game to play the first week with my students.
    ஐRikki
    The Hive

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  10. I didn't see how to sign up by e-mail. Can you do that for me? My new 2nd grade classroom will be decorated "ocean stuff." Thanks.
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

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  11. I found your blog off of Tamera's giveaway! I love your design. Happy to be your newest follower :)
    Twins, Teaching and Tacos.

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  13. I am a 1st grade teacher in Las Vegas and I have been following your blog. Thank you for all of your inspirational ideas! At the end of this last school year, I began handing out BRAG TAGS to my kids for their citizenship and attendance. These tags are so much fun and my kids LOVE them! They are so economical and better than a silly toy or candy. Just a thought :) Renee

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  14. Great game! This will be a great game to use while I am trying to get all that bus information figured out!!
    Thanks for sharing,
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com

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  15. I stumbled upon your blog today. Too cute. I love this counting/coloring partner activity. It's going to let me observe so many things that I need to know...and they just think they're playing a game. Oh, tricky teachers.

    Brenda
    You Might Be a First Grader...

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