Common Core Math Freebies

This year my district started implementing Common Core Math. I spent the summer learning all about problem based math. One of the things they stressed was providing students with a Math Tool Kit. Students are to decide  for themselves what tools they need to solve their math problems. In their Tool Kits (plastic baggies),  I've included two sided counters. [These can easily be made with a circle punch and scrapbook paper. Purchase a solid color, laminate, and punch out the circles. The front will be colored and the back will be white.] I also included some math reference cards from Really Good Stuff. [ You could make your own or take pictures of math anchor charts, laminate, and put on a ring.] Basically you put anything you think would help students be able to independently solve word problems in the Math Tool Kit. I try to make most of the items cheap because manipulatives tend to get lost as time goes by. Even though I stress being careful and looking all around for pieces before we put the kits away, pieces still occasionally come up missing.  I keep a spare parts kit available for replacement. I stick those items found laying around after the kits have been put away in the spare parts kit, too. It makes me less grumpy that way:)

Have you seen these? They are place value disks and are intended to replace the base-ten blocks for older students. I love them, but they are way too expensive to buy for an entire class, so I created my own.  After I created them, I thought about how hard they would be to cut out. If I had just the right circle punch I could do it a lot easier but still it's not something the kids could do. SO..... I created place value squares! Print each disk or square on a different colored paper, laminate, and cut out.  My students were able to cut the square ones out themselves. I had them put them in bundles of ten and clip with a paperclip. We keep them in plastic baggies. You may pick a free copy of each by clicking on the pictures below. The disks have a place value mat included, in case you don't have any.

Another thing I've created for my classroom is a floor number line. USE PAINTERS TAPE for the line!!! When you are ready to remove it comes off very easily. I used masking tape last year and it was so hard to remove. Use clear tape for the numbers.
To introduce the number line, I have my students dance the Number Line Hustle. I use the music The Hustle by Van McCoy. I call out different numbers on the number line and they count the steps as they dance to that number. I only call a few students students to dance at one time. Then we play Number Line Taste Test. I have a variety of candy (some sour and some sweet) and they rate the taste of it by standing on the number they think it represents. You can find some gross candy at Halloween time, to insure you get some negative numbers represented. Click on the picture for your free copy.

Good luck as you continue to make magic in your classroom!