Learning Resources LER 6226 User Manual

LER 6226

Ages

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Activity Set

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™

Grades

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PreK

This math activity set is sure to make magical mathematical moments
happen as students explore numbers, counting, sorting, estimation,
graphing, probability, and much more. Activities highlighted below align
with the NCTM Standards and can be used with whole-class lessons, small
groups, learning centers, or for individual skill reinforcement.

Contents:

1 Hat, 18 small rabbit counters in three colors, 18 large rabbit counters in
three colors, and spinner

Number and Operations

Counting and Numbers

Put all the rabbits into the hat. Say a number and ask students to reach
in the hat and pull out that many rabbits. Count the rabbits to
emphasize one-to-one correspondence and sequence of numbers.

Skip Counting

Group the rabbits by twos to work on skip counting. Line up the rabbits
in pairs and count aloud. Try additional skip counting groups such as
threes and fives.

Add it up

Develop addition skills and practice math facts. Ask students to pull a
specific number of rabbits out of the hat (for example, five rabbits).
Make a number sentence of these rabbits, such as two green rabbits plus
three purple rabbits equals five rabbits altogether. Repeat this activity to
work on other numbers and math facts.

Spin, Take and Count

Put all the rabbits into the hat. Place the hat in the center of the table
and place the spinner next to the hat. One student spins any of the
spinners, reaches into the hat, and tries to pull out one rabbit that
matches the color on the spinner. If the color matches, keep the rabbit.
If it does not match, put it back in the hat. Each student repeats this and
takes five turns each. At the end of five rounds, count the rabbits that
each student has. Discuss who had the most rabbits, the fewest rabbits,
or did anyone have the same number of rabbits?

Algebraic Thinking

Sort and Classify

Pull 10 rabbits out of the hat and have students sort the rabbits by color
or by size. Discuss how the rabbits were sorted.

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Patterning

Have students use the rabbit counters to make a pattern. Work on
simple patterns (AB patterns) and then move on to more challenging
patterns such as ABB, ABC, and AABB.

What Comes Next?

Pass out one rabbit to each student. Form patterns using these rabbits.
Have students line up to form a pattern with their rabbit counters and
ask questions such as: “What comes next in the pattern? Can we label
the pattern that was made? Can we make a different pattern?”

See and Think

Pose questions that require higher-level thinking skills and promote
algebraic thinking.

For example:

There are two ears on one rabbit. How many ears are on three rabbits?
There are two eyes on one rabbit. How many eyes are on four rabbits?
If each rabbit has four legs, how many legs are on three rabbits?
Use the rabbit counters to check your answers.

Geometry

Where Does It Go?

Have each student reach into the hat and pull out one rabbit to hold.
Give commands as to where the rabbit can be placed. Use positional
words such as under, on top of, between, next to, etc. Work on left and
right commands as well.

Match Me

Pull two rabbits out of the hat. Look at the two rabbits and find how
the two rabbits are alike. Are they the same color? Are they the same
size? Are they a perfect match?

Measurement

Measuring Fun (Non-standard Units)

Place the hat and the large rabbits at a table along with objects to be
“measured” such as a marker, a book, a piece of paper, a pencil, a
stapler, etc. Ask students to measure the length of the objects by lining
up rabbits next to the objects. How many rabbits long is the pencil?
How many rabbits long is the book? Which object is the longest?

Estimation

Place all the large rabbits in the hat and ask, “How many large rabbits
do you think you can pull out of the hat with one hand?” Record

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estimates and then have one student reach into the hat to see how
many large rabbits he or she can pull out. Count and compare the
actual amount with the estimated guess. Repeat this activity using only
the small rabbit counters.

Data Analysis and Probability

Graph it

Pull ten (or twenty or more) rabbits out of the hat and sort the rabbits
by color or by size. Line up the rabbit counters to simulate a graph.
Then, make a graph on paper that shows the results.

Rabbit Tallies

Show students that you are placing nine orange rabbits and one purple
rabbit into the hat. Then ask the students, “When I reach into the hat,
what color rabbit do you think is most likely to get pulled out of the
hat?” Discuss responses from students, then pull one rabbit out of the
hat and make a tally mark for the color. Put the rabbit back in the hat
and pull another rabbit out. Continue pulling rabbits and tallying for 10
pulls. Discuss the results.

Repeat this activity using different combinations of rabbits.

Math-a-Magician Game

Start the game with all the rabbit counters in the hat. Players reach into
the hat and take out 10 rabbits each. Place the hat back in the center of
the playing area and place the spinner next to the hat. The object of
this game is to be the first player to put all your rabbits back in the hat.

The youngest player goes first. Player 1 spins and then puts one rabbit
back in the hat that matches the color on the spinner.

Player 2 spins and puts one rabbit back in the hat that matches the color
on the spinner.

Play continues with players choosing a spinner and putting a rabbit back
in the hat. If a player does not have any rabbits that matches the
spinner color, find a player with that color rabbit and put it into the hat.

The first player to put all the rabbits back in the hat is the winner!

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