Building Tens Family With Duplos

In first grade math, Rebekah had to add a column

of three numbers for the first time.

One of the tricks they taught

was to find  combinations of ten first.

We call these facts

The Tens Family.

Every member of this family has to = 10.

 
 

 

 First, I had Rebekah make stacks of Duplos,

from 1 to 10,  in two colors.

 

 While she was busy placing the stacks

neatly on my Quilting Mate,

I made a simple worksheet using Word.

 

Next, I had her fill in the worksheet,

combining the stacks of Duplos,

to find the answers.

From Left to Right

10 + 0 = 10

1 + 9 = 10

2 + 8 = 10

up to

10 + 0 = 10

I love how the Duplos clearly show the members

of the Tens Family,

and the beautiful patterning of numbers. 

They are bright, easy to use,

and make Math class feel like play time.

You could also use Legos,

if you don't have crawlers around,

who would feast on your manipulatives.

Next, I had her match up problems with the same addends.

(The numbers you add together are the addends.

The answer is the sum.)

This is the Commutative Property for Addition.

Remember that from Algebra?

a + b = b + a

so

1 + 9 = 9 + 1

2 + 8 = 8 + 2

For each math fact they memorize,

because of the Commutative Property,

they usually are learning two problems.

The exception?

You're right.

The doubles.

In this case, 5 + 5.

I use the term Commutative in first grade. 

Kids love big words.

If they can't remember the word, fine.

But, they can still understand the concept.

I tell my kids the smarter they are,

the less math they have to learn.

By using the Commutative property,

they only have to learn 6 problems

in the Tens Family, instead of 11.

Again, the Duplos clearly show the beautiful patterning

of the Commutative Property.

Scroll back up and admire the picture.

This is one of the reasons I love math!

You so easily see we have a God of order.

 We finished off the math lesson by easily tackling the math worksheet.

You can see where she swooped the numbers together,

to first make ten,

then add the third number.

(The other swoops were for doubles.)

I was so excited about this lesson,

especially since it is the end of the year,

and I am really, really, ready to quit.

 Beka later said,

"Math took a little longer than normal, Mom,

because you really got carried away."

To soften the blow, she added,

"But that's OK, Mom, because I like Math,

especially when you get to play with Duplos."

SCORE!

Counting By Tens

I was a little frustrated that I couldn't find my 1-100 number chart when I needed it.

I know I had touched it several times earlier in the year when I didn't need it.

I looked in a few obvious places, then gave up.

We made do.

Using a piece of posterboard, I just markered in the first rows of numbers.

As I taught Rebekah how to count by tens, I filled in a few columns.

Then, I had her fill in the rest of the rows.

I was pleasantly surprised that she caught on quickly

and enjoyed being able to use the PERMANENT Magic Marker.

It bothered my type A personality that it wasn't perfectly ordered,

but it worked.  Sometimes my rubber bands are just too tight.

An unorgainzed disappointment turned into a blessing,

because writing out the numbers cemented the concept more quickly

than just reading along with the store-bought chart.

Of course, a few days later  I found the chart in my bedroom,

in a pile that should have been dealt with months ago, 

 so I will use it to reinforce the concept.

ABC Jars - Part 2

These are the additions I've developed for the ABC Jar Project.

I made an extra set of vowels, "blanks" and a question mark.

You can make them find the missing vowel in the middle of small words,

or you could leave off either the beginning or the ending consonant.

I began collecting mini things to begin sorting when school begins this week.

I raided the Barbie accessories, the bathroom, my sewing cabinet and the junk drawer.

Have fun crafting!