- First-grade math students should be learning how to measure weight and height, as well as measuring items in comparison to each other. The AAA Math website suggests giving each student a variety of items with varying lengths and having them line the items up in order from shortest to longest. (See reference 2.) Time this activity and offering a reward for the child who can order the items the fastest will make the students think quickly. You can do the same activity for comparing weight. Put the students into groups and give each group a kitchen scale. One child can be in charge of weighing the items, while another child records the weights. The items can then be ordered heaviest to lightest.
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Set up a "store" for the students to shop in. Make sure to list visible prices on each item, with nothing over a dollar. Give the students play money in a variety of denominations, and have them buy something using at least three nickles or five dimes. You can make up an endless combination of rules for coins they must use.
As the children better understand money and are learning subtraction, have the students take turns being the cashier in the store. Then have the "customers" pay with larger amounts so that the cashier has to make change for the item. - Put four baskets at the front of the classroom. On the front of each basket, put a sign with one geometric shape on it. For example, you can have a circle, triangle, square and oval. Then have a collection of differently shaped items on a table in the back of the room covered with a table cloth or sheet. Divide the class into to teams. Have the teams line up behind the table. When you uncover the table, one member from each team has to take an item, bring it to the front of the room and place it in the corresponding basket, then return to the table. When the first player returns, the next player goes. The students keep doing this until one team has completely gone, and that team wins. If a player puts an item in the wrong basket, they have to come back and pick a different item to try again.
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AAA Math recommends having children practice describing items based on their mathematical features such as height, weight, shape, location, and so on. (See Reference 2.)
Have the children play I Spy, but instruct them to only describe the item in turns of shape, length, height, weight or location in the room--as in near, far, high or low.
