First Grade Math Center Activities
Math centers give students the opportunity to explore, practice and extend on what they learned. According to research gathered by "All Children Can Learn," math centers provide the opportunity for students develop their math abilities by solving problems and having conversations about math with their peers. While students work in centers, teachers have the chance to work with other students in small groups to address areas that in which some students may need extra support.
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Add and Subtract
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Once students know their math facts, allow them to practice their math facts with flash cards. For those who do not know their math facts automatically, they can practice their addition and subtraction facts using flash cards and unifix cubes. Another way students can practice their addition and subtraction facts is by making fact families. Students can roll one dice twice, then add the two numbers together to determine the three numbers that will be used to create their fact family. Provide paper students can write their equations on while they're at the center.
Make Skip Counting Sets
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Skip counting is a skill that's used when learning to count money and multiply. If students can skip count easily, the easier it will be for them to apply the skill in other areas. Give students unifix cubes to make sets as they skip count. For example, if skip counting by twos, use two cubes for the number two, four cubes for the number four and six cubes for the number six. Students continue the pattern as far as they can go.
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Create Graphs
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Many types of graphs are introduced in first grade. Students learn to read graphs for information and gather information to make graphs. Once students have these skills, they can practice them in a center. Provide paper and a bag with buttons in it. Use buttons that are different colors and different shapes. The more of a variety there is, the better. Students can create a graph based on the color of buttons or shape. Use other things in place of the buttons, such as beads, beans, coins or small toys.
Telling Time
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Telling time is a skill students will need the rest of their lives. During center time, students can practice telling time to the hour and half hour. Use flash cards that show the time on an analog clock and the time on a digital clock. Students can mix the two sets up and practice matching the time on the analog card with the time on the digital card. More advanced students can go to the same center to create and solve their own word problems about time.
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