Hummingbird Educational Resources

USING ALL SENSES TO COUNT
using a pie tin and paper clips. The answer/number is: and they have to listen to the number of drops (clinks) of paper clips in the metal pie tin. Have a checker come up and count the number in the pie tin.
Use other props, balloons, puppetts, etc.

TEACHING EVEN ODD NUMBERS
Chant
0-2-4-6-8 Even numbers are great!
1-3-5-7-9 Odd numbers are mighty fine!

TEACHING ORDINAL NUMBERS
Take 5 colored cube blocks and a clear transparency from the copier supplies. Using clear scotch tape, I made a tube out of the transparency the right size for the blocks to slide in and out of.

The children watch me put one color cube in the clear tube and tell me that it is the first one to go in. I repeat it with the other 4 with the children saying "second, third, etc." Then I slide them out the other end so that the same color comes out first.

After a while, I slide them out in reverse order so that the children understand that it's the order that is important, not the blocks.

When they get really good at figuring this out, I do the same activity only using a paper towel tube so that they can't see the colored blocks once they are inside the tube.

MATH BOXES
Store items in plastic shoe boxes. Also set out plastic bowls, small cups, spoons, ice cube trays, plastic
100s board, small plates for the students to use with the boxes.

colored tongue depressors
colored popsicle sticks
colored dominoes
black dominoes
farm animals (2 or 3 different sets)
zoo animals
dinosaurs
2 colored counters
several boxes of different fishbowl rocks-like you find at dollar store
dogs
cats
pattern blocks (several boxes)
unifix (several boxes)
buttons
snap cubes
wooden inch cubes
ones blocks
large snap cubes
insects

Add new ones that go with thematic units (like ladybugs, frogs, pumpkins, etc)

Counting to 10 in Spanish
Tune: Clementine
Uno dos, tres cuatro (Oh my darling, Oh my darling)
cinco seis, siete  ocho  (Oh my darling, Clementine)
nueve diez this is how we  (you are lost but not forgotten)
count in Spanish from 1 to 10 (dreadful sorry Clementine

ESTIMATION JAR
I send home an estimation jar with my students as one of my take home bag activities.  Everyone gets 2
turns.  The children fill the jar, count the items, and fill in the blanks on a class book that's included
with the jar. " _____(name) put ___(number) ____(item) in the jar.  (e.g. Suzy put 87 paperclips
in the jar.)  We estimate the number of items in the jar during our calendar time, count the actual number,
and then check the book to make sure we're correct. I really like doing it this way. I used to always do it
myself, too, but found this method much better! 

MATH
I used to teach 1st grade and I used the calendar shapes each month from the 
calendar. Instead of throwing them out (I used different ones each month) I 
passed them out in random order to the class. I started the game by saying,"I 
have 1, who has 2?" That person had to hold up their number and say, "I have 2, 
who has 3?". You can make it more difficult by using higher numbers. 
Also..."I have 3, who has 3+2?" "I have 5, who has 5-1?"  there are all sorts of ideas 
that come to mind.

FRACTIONS
For fractions, I bought graham cracker cookies and a can of cake frosting.  I introduced materials and we talked about how nothing is eaten until I say so.  We looked at the cookie, what could we see... It's cut in forths.  First we talked about a whole, then we broke it in half, then forths.  Then we frosted one forth, 2 forths, now it's half, then 3 forths, then 4 forths, now its a whole again. The lesson went great and some kids who were not getting it at all really got it.  We are doing it again next week.  I have 20 students and only needed 2 boxes and 1 can.

BAZOOKA BUBBLEGUM (a money song)
Ask any Girl Scout for tune
Chorus: 
Bazooka-Zooka bubblegum
Bazooka-Zooka bubblegum
Instead, I bought some bubblegum

My mom gave me a penny
She said to buy a henny
I did not buy a henny
Instead, I bought some bubblegum

Chorus

My mom gave me a nickel
She said go buy a pickle
I did not buy a pickle
Instead, I bought some bubblegum

Chorus

My mom gave me a dime
She said go buy a lime
I did not buy a lime
Instead, I bought some bubblegum

Chorus

My mom gave me a quarter
She said to pay the porter
I did not pay the porter
Instead, I bought some bubblegum

Chorus 

My mom gave me a dollar
She said to buy a collar
I did not buy a collar
Instead, I bought some bubblegum

Chorus 

My Mom gave me a five
She said to stay alive
I did not stay alive
Instead, I choked on bubble gum

MONEY SONG and BOOK
"Christmas is coming,
The goose is getting fat.
Please put a penny in the Little Elf's hat!"

Run a picture of a little elf and change the word 'penny' to nickle, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar.  Have each child color one picture and laminate 
them.  Bind them into books that will have one of each coin named inside and put a small piece of velcro in each hat.  Send them home in an envelope with a 
baggie containing a penny, nickle, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar with the opposite velcro piece on the coin.  Children do not keep the book...just 
borrow it.  HOWEVER....it might be possible to make individual books with paper money pieces to slip into a slot cut in the hat......just a thought.

NUMBER FORMATION POEMS
A straight line 1 is fun
2 goes around and back to a railroad track
Around a tree and around a tree that's the way you make a three
Down and over, down some more that's the way you make a four
Fat old five goes down and around, put a flag on top and see what you've found
Down to a loop, six makes a hoop
Across the sky and down from heaven, that's the way to make a seven
You make an s but do not wait, go up again to make an 8
A loop and a line, that's the way to make a nine
A line and an oval see how easy it's been, that's how it goes when you make a 10

MATH GAMES
This is a game called "Count and Sit" and is a great game to \play when you have just a few minutes to kill or I often use it as a warm-up activity to begin our math time. We stand in a circle (me included) and I determine what skill we will practice. Quite often it's counting by 2's, 5's, or 10's. The leader of the day begins counting in the chosen way and then each child continues the counting in turn as we go clockwise around the circle. When we reach the pre-designated number (usually 100 if we count by 5's or 10's), the child who says 100 sits down. The next child then starts the counting again and it continues around the circle. We keep doing this until only 1 child is left standing and they are the winner for that round. 
We have even played it just saying the alphabet and the person who says "z" has to sit down. Sometimes it's a sentence that they repeat one word at a time and the last word person sits down. Could also be used for days of the week, months of the year, etc. 

"Number Ball":
I have taken a child's ball (about $1 at Wal-Mart) and used a permanent marker to divide it into many sections, each with a number from 0-10 in it.  We stand in a circle, announce a name that we are going to gently bounce the ball to, then bounce it. 
The designated child catches it, then looks to see which numbers their thumbs are on.  They say these numbers, then say which is more and which is less.   Then they say another child's name, bounce the ball to them, and sit down.  Keep going until every child gets the ball.  This can also be used for addition or subtraction of the two numbers under the thumbs.  You could just use the number under the right thumb and tell if it's odd or even, or I have used it for place value:  if the numbers under their thumbs are 3 and 7, the smallest number they can make is 37 and the largest number is 73.  Older kids could use it for multiplication or fractions as well.

"Flip One":
Partners use a deck of cards with face cards and jokers 
removed.  Deal out all cards.  This is played just like "War" with 
each child flipping over a card and the highest card takes both.  If 
they tie, each child lays out 3 cards and flips the fourth to 
determine the tie-breaker. 

"Flip Two":
Play just like "Flip One", only each child flips two cards each time 
and either add or subtract to determine who gets to keep the 
card.  Sometimes we use a "more or less spinner" to determine 
which gets to keep the cards.

Cognitive Math Skills
Submitted by Betsy
 I drew a large face of a boy on a sheet of poster board. At the bottom of it I put the name "Frank Freckles". Then I gave the children a bowl of buttons to use as freckles. The child rolls a large dice and whatever number shows up, that is the number of "freckles" he/she puts on Frank's face. My class loves this game!! It is a great way to get children to practice math skills.

AROUND THE WORLD
Around the World can be used for math - number recognition, addition, subtraction, etc - or language arts -sight words, alphabet recognition, etc.  The kids begin in their regular seats.  Student 1 stands behind Student 2.  You show a flashcard for the desired skill. If student 1 answers correctly first, he/she moves behind the next student and repeat. If student 2 (the one who is sitting) gets it first, he/she moves to stand behind student 3, and student 1 sits in student 2's seat.  They love to count how many seats they have moved from their own!  I hope this makes sense - it's really very simple :-)

NUMBER POEMS
Number 1 is like a stick. A straight line down that's very quick!
For number 2 go right around Then make a line across the ground!
Go right around What will it be? Go round again to make a 3!
Down and over and down some more That's the way to make a 4!
Go down and around Then you stop Finish the 5 with a line on top!
Make a curve Then a loop There are no tricks to making a 6!
Across the sky and down from heaven That's the way to make a 7!
Make an "S" And then don't wait Go up again to make an 8!
Make a loop And then a line That's the way to make a 9!
Make a 1 and then an 0 10 are all your fingers you know!

NUMBER CARD GAME
early childhood game that helps with number recognition. Plus, an added benefit, it can be used to smooth a transition time.

You will need: Index cards, black felt tip marker and your entire class.
I played this game with my 4 and 5 year old children today and they loved it!
I made cards with the numbers 1 - 15, (I have 15 students in my class).
After shuffling the cards I gave each child a card. They then had to line up in number order based on the card they had. The first time we did the activity it required a little coaching on my part, like asking each time who had the next number. We played the game 3 times and by the 3rd time, all I had to do was shuffle and pass out cards, they knew just what to do next!"

The Fantastic Five (hold up the appropriate number of fingers and make the motions)
One, one, this is one.
Come on, one, let's have some fun.
Two, two, this is two.
Hopping, hopping, me and you.
Three, three, this is three.
Wave your branches like a tree.
Four, four, this is four.
Can you make us sweep the floor?
Five, five, this is five.
Squeeze us tight, then take a dive.

Guess the Number
Use a set of number cards to play this counting game with  your little ones.  During circle time have a volunteer pick a card from your hand and instruct him not to show it to the rest of the children.  Direct him to select a set of students to stand in front of the group to match the number on his card, and assist him if necessary.  Ask a seated volunteer to guess the number on the child's card.  If he is correct, give the guesser the next turn to pick a card.

Housekeeping Counts:
Pair items in your housekeeping corner with  number cards to provide lots of opportunities for little ones to match, sort, group and count.

Stock the shelves with empty food boxes.  Label each of ten paper grocery bags with a different numeral from one to ten.  Instruct a student to pick a bag and fill it with the correct number of boxes.

Fill a box with five of each of the following; paper plates, napkins, plastic forks, plastic spoons and paper cups.  Have a child choose a number card from one to five, lay in the center of the table, and then set the table for the correct number of guest.

Hang a clothesline in your housekeeping center.  Place baby or doll clothes, clothespins and the number cards inside a basket.  Invite the children to hang a number card along with the matching number of clothing items on the line to "dry".

Up, Up, and Take-Away
 Watch the excitement in your classroom soar when reinforcing subtraction skills with this approach. Attach an extra-long length of curling ribbon to each of five helium balloons. (Make the ribbons long enough so that your students can easily pull the balloons down from the ceiling.) Select one youngster to stand in front of the room, holding all five balloons. Have a student volunteer tell the youngster how many balloons to release. After the released balloons float to the ceiling, guide your class in verbalizing a correlating subtraction story such as, "Connie had five balloons, but two floated away. How many does she have left?" Repeat this process until all the children have had a chance to hold and release the balloons.

MATH MIX UP
This activity provides lots of opportunities for numeral sequencing as well as numeral writing. Have each child tear a piece of paper into ten pieces (adapt this number as desired). Have each child count to be sure that he has ten pieces; then direct him to write a different numeral from 1 to 10 on each piece. Next have each child arrange the numbered pieces in numerical order. Store each child's pieces in a different resealable plastic bag. When you need a five-minute filler or a math warm-up activity, have each child select a bag, shake up the pieces, and place them in numerical order.

Counting Tune
(sung to the tune of "Clementine")
One, two, three, four; five, six, seven;
Eight, nine, ten; come count with me.
We will count things all around us.
It's as easy as can be.

One, two, three, four; five, six, seven;
Eight, nine, ten; you do it too.
We like counting with each other.
We like counting; yes, we do.

SIMPLE PUZZLE
Purchase two identical vinyl placemats that display letters, numerals, characters, or seasonal designs. Cut apart one placemat to create individual pieces. Store the pieces in a zippered plastic bag; then clip the bag to the uncut
placemat. To do the activity, a child simply matches the pieces to the identical figures on the placemat.

CLINK CLANK
Collect a supply of lids from frozen-juice cans. Then decorate an empty coffee can as desired. Place the plastic top on the coffee can; then cut a slit in the top that is wide enough to accommodate a juice-can lid. Invite youngsters to fit the lids through the slot and to count as they hear the clanking sound of each lid hitting the bottom of the coffee can.

DICE GAME
place 2 dice in a baby food jar filled with water or kero syrup.  They turn the jar upside down and add the numbers together.
odd and even
more and less
subtraction problems
bingo with 2
any type of yahtzee games

MUSICAL NUMBERS
Submitted by Jan
My class loves this fun way of learning to recognize their numbers. On the front of paper plates, I write all the numbers we have learned so far. (Make several sets).  I then spread them all over the floor (usually in a circle around the room), number side down.  Have all the children stand on top of a plate.  As I play music, the children walk around the room, stepping from plate to plate.  When the music stops, they stop on the plate, and pick it up.  We then go around the room allowing each child to say the number they landed on.  This could also be used to identify the number after/before the number landed on.

NUMBER LADDER JUMPING
This was a big hit with our 3 yr. old children! You could use it for the letter "L",  numbers, etc. But we did it as a part of a community helpers theme as a fireman's ladder. Take some masking tape and tape a ladder form to the floor, with each
"step" about 1' apart.  Put the numbers 1-10 on index cards with a magic marker and tape them in the upper left hand corner of the rung/step. Use flash cards to have the student draw (or hand them any number). They then have to jump "up the ladder" a step at a time, counting as they go, until they reach the number on their card. Students who are observing can help
with counting to reinforce their numbers.

FINGERPLAYS FOR LEARNING TO COUNT
I Can Count
You put one finger up
You put one finger down
You put one finger up
And you shake it all around
You give it a shakey-shakey
And you turn it all about
That's how you learn to count!
(continue singing about as many number as desired)

Learning to Count
One, two, three, and four (touch the tip of each finger of the right hand with the index finger of the left hand)

I can count even more.

Five, six, seven, eight. (touch the tip of each finger of the left hand with the index finger of the right hand)

My lady fingers stand up straight. (hold up eight fingers with thumbs against palms)

Nine and ten
Are my two thumb men. (hold up thumbs; fingers curled.)

SORTING
Collect lots of bottle top lids in a variety of colours and then put out
enough little containers so that there is one for each container. The
children can then take turns in sorting these into colour groups using
spoons, tongs,chopsticks for example to pick the up. Good for colour skills,
fine motor and early literacy skills.

"My Big Glass Jar":
A Number Song
Numeral recognition and counting skills come into play in this little
jingle. Program each of five large cards with a different numeral from 1 to
5. Provide a large, transparent glass jar and a supply of objects to use as
counters. Sing the first verse of the song. As you begin the second verse,
place the appropriate numeral card in the jar. Choose a child to place the
respective amount of counters in the jar. When the song is over, remove the
counters and the card; then repeat the process for each number.

(sung to the tune of "The Muffin Man")
Look and see my big glass jar,
My big glass jar, my big glass jar.
Look and see my big glass jar
As empty as can be.

Now I have the number one,
The number one, the number one.
Now I have the number one
In my big glass jar.

NUMBER REINFORCEMENT
Submitted by Diane
During play time, I set one of tables up with 5 snowmen which I
have laminated.  Each has a black hat with a number (1-5) and the
corresponding number of dots for buttons.  I then put out a dish of buttons
and they match up the number and place the buttons on the dots.  I also put
out a  mitten matching game.  I laminated 11x 14 pieces of paper on which I
traced mittens and colored them in various colors.  I made corresponding
mittens and they match them.  Great for number and color reinforcement.  I
also like to put out some "quiet" toys to keep our room "sane."

FISHING GAME
Supplies:
Dowel
Narrow Ribbon
Magnet
Juice Can Lids
I used a dowel (cut in half) and tied a piece of narrow fabric ribbon around one end and tied a magnet to the end of the ribbon ... to make a fishing pole. (I used string at first, but they kept tangling their lines, so the ribbon works a lot better.) Then I took a bunch of the juice lids and colored fish, shaped, letters, numbers, and their names on them. What they do is sit on the couch and fish into the carpet(water) and then identify the fish they caught (I caught an "L", or, I caught a red fish).

Number and Colors
Submitted by Verlona
We have been working on colors. One of the projects we are going to do is send home a piece of white construction paper. The children's "homework" is to find pictures of blue things in magazines or newspapers and cut and paste them on the paper. You can use all the colors. This could also be done with numbers. Find things that are one, two or three, etc...
The children in my classes love the idea of Homework, like big brother or sister. This also gets the child some one on one time or even family time.

NUMBER SONGS
Submitted by Carol
Tune: Mulberry Bush

1 - Go straight down and that is all,
     Go straight down and that is all,
     Go straight down and that is all,
     To make the numeral 1.

2 - Curve around and go straight back,
      Curve around and go straight back,
      Curve around and go straight back,
      To make the numeral 2.

3 - Half around and half again,
      Half around and half again,
      Half around and half again,
      To make the numeral 3.

4 - Down across and down again,
      Down across and down again,
      Down across and down again,
      To make the numeral 4.

5 - Across and down and half around,
      Across and down and half around,
      Across and down and half around,
      To make the numeral 5.

6 - Curl around and touch the curl,
     Curl around the touch the curl,
     Curl around and touch the curl,
     To make the numeral 6.

7 - Across and down diagonally,
     Across and down diagonally,
     Across and down diagonally,
     To make the numeral 7.

8 - S around and go right back,
      S around and go right back,
      S around and go right back,
      To make the numeral 8.

9 - Circle round and go straight down,
     Circle round and go straight down,
     Circle round and go straight down,
     To make the numeral 9.
   .........................................

Around we go with our hero
around we go with numeral zero

Down the slide, lots of fun . .
Now you've made the numeral one.

Around and back, go to the zoo
Now you've made the numeral two.

Around a tree, around a tree
Now you've made the numeral three

Down, over, down some more
Now you've made the numeral four

Down the street, dance some jive
Put on your hat with numeral five

Silly six stands on his head
Drinks some water then goes to bed.

Across the sky and down from heaven
That's the way to make a seven.

Eight makes and "s" but do not wait
go back up and close the gate

Make a loop and then a line
Now you've made the numeral nine.
................................................
Tune:  Skip To My Lou

 1:
 Come straight down and that is all
 Come straight down and that is all
 Come straight down and that is all
 To make the number one

 2:
 Swing it around and then go right
 Swing it around and then go right
 Swing it around and then go right
 To make the number two

 3:
 Swing it around and then once more
 Swing it around and then once more
 Swing it around and then once more
 To make the number three

 4:
 Down, slide, cut in two
 Down, slide, cut in two
 Down, slide, cut in two
 To make the number four

 5:
 Down, around and put on a hat
 Down, around and put on a hat
 Down, around and put on a hat
 To make the number five

 6:
 Come straight down and give it a curl
 Come straight down and give it a curl
 Come straight down and give it a curl
 To make the number six

 7:
 Go to the right and then slant down
 Go to the right and then slant down
 Go to the right and then slant down
 To make the number seven

 8:
 Make and "S" and then go home
 Make and "S" and then go home
 Make and "S" and then go home
 To make the number eight

 9:
 Swing it around and come straight down
 Swing it around and come straight down
 Swing it around and come straight down
 To make the number nine

NUMBER SONG
Submitted by Michele
0. Make a circle, be a hero  that's the way to make a zero!
1. Just a line and then you're done  that's the way to make a one!
2. Around and over, then you're through  that's the way to make a two!
3. Around the tree, around the tree  that's the way to make a three!
4. Down and over and down some more  that's the way to make a four!
5. Down, around, put a hat on top!
6. Around and around until it sticks  that's the way to make a six!
7. Across the sky and down from heaven  that's the way to make a seven!
8. Make an S and close the gate  that's the way to make an eight!
9. First a circle, then a line  that's the way to make a nine!

SORTING IDEAS
Submitted by Nancy
Here is a fun sorting game to make. I can guarentee they will spend alot of time with this one. It is relaxing and a great learning experience at the same time. I found 8 different types of pasta, like bows, large shells, small shells, curly, hollow tub kind large and small. Anyways 8 different kinds of different sizes. The same amount of each kind.
I colored each kind a different color. I made a sorting tray for them. I used 8 containers (microwave square thick paper containers) and fastened them on a covered piece of cardboard(contact paper that was cute for kids) Iused brads, I put them through the container and cardboard.  you could use any containers though that you choose. They have neat bowls of syrafoam now.They could sort the mac by shapes, or colors.Then when the containers are full, you can ask which container holds the most or least. It looks like the large shell mac has the most(or any large ones) Then count with them, they see the container with the small shells is the same, but it looks like less. They have fun just putting the pasta in the containers.   They still love this. Even school age kids do this. It is a relaxing thing to do like playdough or sand. I have had it for 13 years, replacing just some of the pasta.

OPPOSITES
 Submitted by Betty
SONG
Two little birds sitting on dad,
One named "Happy"
One named " Sad"
Fly away "Happy". ( Use voice to make it dramatic)
Fly away "Sad".
Come back, "Happy".
Come back, "Sad".

Two little birds
Sitting on a gate.
One named "Early"
One named "Late"
Fly away, "Early" (put thumb behind your back early!)
Fly away, "Late" ( let your thumb sit there a bit. Be dramatic! Make it act late!)
Come back, "Early"  ( have the thumb back before you finish the line)
Come back, "Late"  ( leave your thumb behind your back and keep calling him)
Why are you always so late? (have thumbs talk to each other)
Because that's my name.
Why are you always so early?
Because that's my name!

Money poems
Penny, penny,
Easily spent
Copper brown and worth one cent.
Nickel, nickel,
Thick and fat,
You're worth five cents.
I know that.
Dime, dime,
Little and thin,
I remember,
You're worth ten.
Quarter, quarter
Big and bold,
You're worth twenty-five
I am told!
Teach the following rap:
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Well a penny is one and a nickel is five,
A dime is worth ten and a quarter twenty-five.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Five pennies make a nickel,
Two nickels make a dime.
Two dimes and a nickel
make a quarter and it's mine.
Pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.

  Carson Dellosa lovers-game
Submitted by Nancy
I just made a game off the a Carson Dellosa border. It is so easy and the kids love it.CD-1430 Multictural Kids with books. I cut each child a strip of (7) kids holding a book,each book a different color. One strip I started with orange and ended with orange, the next one  I started with red, ended with red, the next blue etc.(there are seven colors so I have 7 strips) For the playing cards I cut between each kid. The pkgs comes with 12  3"X3" borders. It took 6 (half) to make this game. The pkgs cost 3.25. Cost of game 1.63. Time to make about 10 minutes. Keep kids busy for a long time. I find if I play the ganmes with the kids they play longer. I always play the first few times I introduce a new game. This game teaches colors, patience and it is easy and kids love it. I didn't even laminate it because it seems sturdy enough and cheap to make. If it wears out I'll make it again.
Object of the game and how to play.
Give each child a strip, this is there bingo card or board strip(whatever you want to call it)
Stack the playing cards facedown in the middle of the table. First child draws a card and puts it on his strip(like lotto). the next child takes a turn, etc. If they already have the card they put it in the discard pile facedown. First to fill the strip wins. Easy!!!!!!!!!!!!the strip is so cute and you get your multicultral in to. Enjoy, You can make this game with different strips for holidays  or themes. www.tttools.com  is the Carson Dellosa site. Reguest a atalog too and you can see  and imagine different games. Create, it is fun.