For this part of the lesson, you will need a set of the Dice Dot Patterns. I printed them on white paper and laminated them so I could reuse them.
I gather the children around the SMARTBoard and I bring out an oversize die that I have. I show it to the students and ask if they know what it is. The majority of the class shouts..."a dice!" I tell them, you're right it is a dice or a die. Raise your hands if you have ever played a game with one before.
This little introduction allows the students to make a quick connection to the activity that we are going to do together.
I then hold up one of the dice dot patterns sheets and ask the students if they know how many dots there are. Students with a strong number sense will know the answer without counting, but I model counting for the students who need that support. I say to them, remember I touch one spot for each number that I say. Count with me...1-2-3, etc.
After we have gone through each dot pattern, I tape them to the wall in random order next to my SMARTBoard, I then introduce the activity that we will be doing together.
To complete this part of the lesson, you will need the SMARTBoard Kooshball Number Review 1-6 file included with this lesson. If you another type of interactive whiteboard, you can open the file using Smart Notebook Express. If you do not have an interactive whiteboard, you can recreate this lesson by printing the numbers 1-6 individually on pieces of paper. You will also need a Koosh Ball.
The SMARTBoard file has a main screen with several buttons. I explain to the students that they will gently throw the Koosh ball at this screen, hitting one of the buttons. When the button is hit, it opens a new screen that shows a number. The student who throws the ball then needs to find that same number as a "dot pattern". I demonstrate this for the students, modeling how to count the dots to make sure I have the correct number. After the student finds the correct number, they just need to touch the button on the SMARTBoard screen to bring the SMARTBoard back to the main screen. If you don't have an interactive whiteboard, you can tape number cards 1 - 6 on the wall. Make sure they are large enough for students to hit! The resource provided here will have to be enlarged. Students can throw the Koosh ball at the numbers and the teacher can decide what number the Koosh ball hit. Click on Video to see the students in action.
I use my classroom name cards to pick who will be going up to the SMARTBoard first. I go through all the cards, making sure every student has a chance to come up to the SMARTBoard.
For this part of the lesson, you will need copies of the 1-6 Fall Leaf Review (1 per student). You will need one, 6-sided dot die for every two students.
After we are done at the SMARTBoard, I have the students gather around a table. I invite a paraprofessional who works in my room to help with this activity. Prior to the lesson, I tell her that we will be modeling how to play a game for the students. I discuss what aspects of the game I want to enhance when modeling (manners, turn taking, honesty, good sportsmanship).
The paraprofessional and I sit at a table together, the class gathers around us. I talk through playing the game. The following is the dialogue that occurs as we model the correct way to play the game.
Me: Now, we are going to play again together. Miss Cindy will help me show you how to play the game. The first thing we need to do is put our name on our paper (we both write our names). Now we each need a color crayon and we need one die.
We need to decide who goes first. We will each roll the die once and whoever rolls the biggest number will go first. (I roll the die and model counting each dot) 1-2-3. I got a three.
Cindy: 1-2-3-4. I got a four.
Me: Okay, you get to go first. (Cindy rolls the die).
Cindy: Let's see. I got a 1-2-3-4-5. Five. So now I will color in a leaf on my sheet with the number 5 on it. I only get to color one leaf.
Me: My turn. One-two. I got a two. I will color a leaf with the number two. Here, it's your turn now Miss Cindy.
Cindy: 1. There is only 1 dot so I know I got a one. I need to color in the leaf with a one on it.
Me: Boys and girls, do you see how the game works? What do you think would happen if I colored in all the leaves with 2s on them and then I roll another two..
There are several different answers. No one says the response I want, so I tell the children..
I would have to say "PASS" and give the die to Miss Cindy. I would not get to color in a leaf this time. Is that okay? Sure it is. There might be a time that Miss Cindy will need to pass.
Now, when we get all the way to the end and someone colors in their leaf, they are the winner. Should we get upset or mad? No! We just say...good game! Thanks for playing! We want to be a good sport so people will want to play with us again. Give me a thumbs up if you can be a good sport.
(This may seem like a drawn out explanation, but very few of my students have had exposure to playing games prior to kindergarten, and so teaching social as well as game playing skills is critical to the success of this model.)
I then partner the students up randomly by picking names from my pile of name cards. The students play the game together.
As the students are playing, I circulate around the room, helping students who are having difficulty. I reinforce one-to-one correspondence, helping the students count the dots on the die.