A teacher friend of mine taught me the game of countdown and I have been forever grateful! It teaches students count bys, they think it is a fun game, and it fills those awkward 10 minutes that sometimes present themselves!
The basic idea is to give your students a count by rule (like count by 5s) and an ending number. (end on 45) It ensures that everyone is engaged and it is so repetitive that they can’t help but learn their count bys! I start on the first day of school with just counting up or back by 1s…Here’s our game of countdown today.
Back to Science and Oceans…
Shark week continues and we made a Venn comparing sharks to fish.
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| this is the venn |
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| It goes on the second layer of doors in our GIGANTIC ocean foldable. |
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| Here’s another angle. It’s hard to understand it the way it is pictured here. |
This is how it started
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| before students… |
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| The coolest part is that it has a pocket built in….sigh…it’s the little things in life that make me happy |
Anyway…now that I have been reunited with my camera cord I can show you the January Quilt Lesson we did too!
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| January Quilt Patches |
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| Everyone at Table 3 Working on the Quilt |
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| Two folds corner to corner to make the small triangle out of the large square |
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| almost done! |
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| As we finish we build it on the rug…we have to keep the pattern going! |
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| Wall O’ Quilts |
I just finished PiYo (pilates yoga) in the gym. About 12 of us pay a trainer to come to our school on Tues. and Thurs. and beat the crap out of us work us out. We look something like this
except we are on the dirty school gym floor, with skinny mats, non-coordinated workout clothes and no mirrors. (thank goodness) We have been doing this for two years and are able to do some really tough positions and circuits! It’s an hour long and let me tell you I feel stretched and relaxed. But it’s not an easy workout. It makes you sweat and curse and wish that it would end the whole time!
But that’s ok because it’s date night for hubs and me! Nana has the kids for the entire night!!! We are going out to Mexican food! TGIF Ya’ll!!!!
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Ahhh, I love the game idea! I will definitely have to use it sometime!
Oh I am so jealous..I love Mexican food! Have fun!!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
oh I love the idea of using that game for counting! We do a similar one with spelling called sparkle…if the word is and for example a-n-d-and the next person gets sparkled down. you also get down if you say the wrong letter, so they totally have to listen and pay attention! but i just love this for counting. thanks so much for sharing. and i love your quilts!!!!
Oh, I love that game idea! I am going to have to use it when we have a few extra minutes. Thanks for sharing!! I love the video, too!
Jennifer
The First Grade Dream
I love your 10 minute filler. It is a great idea. I love your shark stuff too. I bet your kids have enjoyed learning about sharks.
I loved the Countdown game! It's always great to have activities like that in your mental tool box for when you have unexpected gap time. 🙂
Love the fact you take Yoga at school! Enjoy your date night, those are always so special!
Stories From Second
What a great game, thanks for sharing, my kids will love it!! Love your ideas!!
Great sponge activity!!! If your looking for some more "fillers" check out my Sponge Activities post. You Jan. quilt came out SUPER cute!!!
I'm loving the Science lapbook & foldables! It's wonderful that your kids have so much hands-on opportunities!
We {5 of us} started paying a trainer to come in twice a week for a boot camp class right after school. WHAT was I THINKING?!?! I wanted to DIE the entire session on Tues.!!!!! haha
Hope you're having great week!
❤ Mor Zrihen ❤
A Teacher's Treasure
Sydney beat me to it but I was going to say that this is like Sparkle for math!! I think my students will really love this game. I am envious of your beautifully quiet students. I might only have 12 but they sure sound like 35… ay yi yi.
Marvelous Multiagers!
Thanks for all of your helpful posts!! I've just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Stop on by http://www.yoursmarticles.blogspot.com to see what it is all about!
I might have to try this game tomorrow! Thanks for the good tip! : )
What a fun way to count – love it. Pilates/Yoga – great combo. I love yoga, but stink at it because I am SO inflexible!!!!!
Happy almost Friday!!!! {We made it!!!!}
Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade
I love the countdown idea…going to start using it tomorrow…thank you.
I love the game. I don't teach math, but I bet I could do it with different spelling words and have them sit on the last letter. Your kiddos are too cute!
Miss Klohn
Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher
TOTALLY starting the sitting county-bys tomorrow! AND I want someone to come to our school and beat the crap out of …i mean work us out! Awesome idea.
♥ Dragonflies in First ♥
I think that counting game is great!! 🙂
I played the game today with my kids…they are OBSESSED!!! Thank you!!
We play a game just like that and call it Magic Number. The winner gets to pick the next number. At the beginning of the year, we do it with letters. My kiddos love it!
I have added your wonderful blog to my blog roll. I would love for you to come check it out!
Heather
Heather's Heart
I like all your classroom stuff, but I really like your workout at school! So many of the teachers at my school do things like weight watchers, etc. But it seems so difficult for most of us to get to the gym. I'm going to pitch this idea to the ladies at lunch on Monday. Thanks for sharing!!! 🙂 ~Heidi V.
LOVE countdown – I used it in my classroom 5 mins after I saw your post and my kiddos went crazy for it! THANK YOU! 🙂
Just found this thanks to Marvelous Multiagers blog. Do you still have this on YouTube because the link isn't working? Thanks so much!
Erin
First with Franklin