Display the
Numeral Card for 5, and ask students to look at the numeral card you have displayed. Review with the students how to make the numeral by turning your back to the class (so you will be writing in the same orientation as the students) and tracing the figure in the air with large strokes. Then encourage the students to do it with you.
To make the number 0, the following verse can be sung to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush":
Start at the top and go around,
go around,
go around.
Start at the top and go around,
to make the number 0.
The lyrics for all ten verses of this song can be used to foster the ability to make the numerals up to 10.
| 0 | Start at the top and go around [repeat two more times]
to make the number 0. |
| 1 | Start at the top and go straight down [repeat two more times]
to make the number 1. |
| 2 | Halfway round and then straight out [repeat two more times]
to make the number 2. |
| 3 | Halfway round and halfway round [repeat two more times]
to make the number 3. |
| 4 | Down and out and then straight down [repeat two more times]
to make the number 4. |
| 5 | Down, around, then make a hat [repeat two more times]
to make the number 5. |
| 6 | Down, around, then close the loop [repeat two more times]
to make the number 6. |
| 7 | Go across and then slant down [repeat two more times]
to make the number 7. |
| 8 | Make an "S," then go right back [repeat two more times]
to make the number 8. |
| 9 | Go around and then go down [repeat two more times]
to make the number 9. |
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The following are suggested activities that you may wish to do with students to help them practice writing numerals.
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Suggestions for Numeral Writing Practice
Here are a few suggestions of fun and different ways to practice numeral writing with you students.
- Allow students to write the numerals on a friend's back.
- Encourage students to draw the numerals at the easel using a large brush with paint or water.
- Provide giant markers and newsprint so students can make large copies of the model numerals.
- Invite students to mold the numerals with clay, cookie dough, or pipe cleaners.
- Encourage students to draw the numerals in chocolate pudding or shaving cream.
- Suggest that students write the numeral with roll-on cologne on a friend's arm.
- Ask students to form the numerals with yarn.
- Have them glue popcorn kernels or small pieces of pasta on a tracing of the numeral.
- Have them sing the song above to help them remember the numbers.
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Now show the students a box cover in which you have placed some rice or play sand. Put the numeral card for "5" next to the container. Ask them to watch you as you draw a 5 in the sand tray. Then encourage several other students to draw a 5. (Throughout this unit, each new numeral should be written in this way. To facilitate practice, you may wish to make the sand or rice tray available in the classroom throughout the week.)
To help students develop an understanding of rational counting, give each student a copy of the 10 Frame activity sheet and a supply of connecting cubes. Ask the students to model the number you show by placing one cube in each section in the 10 Frame, beginning at the smiley face and moving in the direction the arrow is pointing, until the top row is full.
Display a numeral card, and observe the students as they place the connecting cubes. Ask them to remove the cubes before they model the next number. You may wish to have the students write on a separate piece of paper each number they model in the "10" Frame.
Students may also use the Ten Frame tool to explore numbers up to 10.
Next, distribute the Steps to 10 activity sheet. This activity sheet will help the students see the relationship between the numbers in a different way.
Invite those who are able to write their names to do so at the top of the sheet. When the whole class is ready, ask the students to choose one crayon and put a finger on the column with "2" at the top. Then tell them to color in two boxes in that column, starting with the bottom row. Demonstrate this and circulate as they work, encouraging them to count aloud softly as they color the boxes. Then ask them to show the meaning of the other numbers from 0 through 5 in the same way. Collect the charts so they will be available for the next six lessons.
So that students can record their learning, provide each with a copy of Showing Sets of 5 and one crayon.
Ask them to color up to five boxes in each row and write how many they colored under the row of five boxes. Encourage them to share what they have done with the class. Encourage the students to take these sheets home to share with their family. Finally, as a home activity, ask the students to look for objects at home that they can find in sets of two, three, four, or five [bicycle wheels, plates at the table, pairs of shoes].
