Books About Math
Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham
This is a follow up to the book Z is for Moose. In this story, Moose takes over a book about shapes and his friend, Zebra, has to save the day. Give each student pipe cleaners or wiki sticks and have them create various shapes from the story. After reading the story, have students go on a shape hunt. Using a device with a camera, have students find various shapes using real-world objects. Display the pictures in the classroom, create a classroom book, or try an Animoto video showing the various shapes.
You can find these ideas and more using the activity guide below:
csm_guide_by_hc.pdf | |
File Size: | 143 kb |
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Circles, Stars, and Squares: Looking for Shapes by Jane Brocket
This is part of a series of books called Clever Concepts by Jane Brocket. In this book, it shows photographs of various objects that represent shapes in our world. It introduces both 2D and 3D shapes and explains the difference. It is very bright and colorful and uses objects children will recognize. A fun activity after reading would be to have children use a camera and take pictures of the shapes they see throughout their school. A list could be provided for children to check off to make sure they have gotten a variety of shapes. The pictures could be printed and placed in a class book.
Other books in this series include: Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What are Patterns?, Spiky, Slimy, Smooth: What is Texture?, and Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color.
This is part of a series of books called Clever Concepts by Jane Brocket. In this book, it shows photographs of various objects that represent shapes in our world. It introduces both 2D and 3D shapes and explains the difference. It is very bright and colorful and uses objects children will recognize. A fun activity after reading would be to have children use a camera and take pictures of the shapes they see throughout their school. A list could be provided for children to check off to make sure they have gotten a variety of shapes. The pictures could be printed and placed in a class book.
Other books in this series include: Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What are Patterns?, Spiky, Slimy, Smooth: What is Texture?, and Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color.
Windblown by Edouard Manceau
This book is an introduction to shapes. The wind has blown and several shapes have blown away with it. The shapes are put together in a variety of ways to make the animals of a chicken, a bird, a snail, and a frog. In the end the wind blows one more time and all the shapes are blown into a pile for the reader to put together. Have the various shapes made and laminated before reading. As you read build the animals that are in the story with the shapes. This would work best on a white board so that you could draw in the extra parts. Then give students each their own bag of shapes and have them build something new with them.
See this activity in action at: http://childhood101.com/2013/09/windblown-by-edouard-manceau-review/
This book is an introduction to shapes. The wind has blown and several shapes have blown away with it. The shapes are put together in a variety of ways to make the animals of a chicken, a bird, a snail, and a frog. In the end the wind blows one more time and all the shapes are blown into a pile for the reader to put together. Have the various shapes made and laminated before reading. As you read build the animals that are in the story with the shapes. This would work best on a white board so that you could draw in the extra parts. Then give students each their own bag of shapes and have them build something new with them.
See this activity in action at: http://childhood101.com/2013/09/windblown-by-edouard-manceau-review/
Mice Mischief: Math Facts in Action by Caroline Stills
Ten colorful circus mice teach addition, specifically combinations that add to 10. This book also introduces the Commutative Property of Addition to the youngest learners. For some extra fun while reading this book give students each ten plastic disks that can stand for the mice. As you read have them create the combinations of ten using the mat provided.
additionchartformice.pdf | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
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You Can, Toucan, Math by David A. Adler
This book is a bit older, but a prefect option when you are teaching word problems! It includes word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The answers are written in small print at the bottom of each page. You could share one problem each day as a math warm-up or pair students up and have them solve problems in teams.
Full House: An Invitation to Fractions by Dayle Ann Dobbs
Do you need a book to use as an introduction to fractions? This book is a perfect match! In this story, Miss Bloom has a house with six rooms and as each guest enters a new fraction is given. Before reading this book give each student a hexagon pattern block piece and six triangles. Tell students the hexagon is Miss Bloom's Strawberry Inn and as each guest arrives in the book add a triangle piece. As you read discuss that 3/6 is also 1/2 and that 6/6 is a whole. This could be paired with My Half Day by Doris Fisher.
Splitting the Herd: A Corral of Odds and Evens by Trudy Harris
Read this book while teaching children about odd and even numbers. It is a rhyming story that begins with the problem. Miss Emma's cows keep getting out and ending up in Cowboy Kirby's pasture. Miss Emma and Cowboy Kirby must now split the heard and so begins a discussion of odd and even numbers. After reading have students work with a partner and give each a set of number cards from 1-20. Have one student be the odd partner and one by the even partner. Use the examples from the book and have them find the numbers that are odd and even.
Read this book while teaching children about odd and even numbers. It is a rhyming story that begins with the problem. Miss Emma's cows keep getting out and ending up in Cowboy Kirby's pasture. Miss Emma and Cowboy Kirby must now split the heard and so begins a discussion of odd and even numbers. After reading have students work with a partner and give each a set of number cards from 1-20. Have one student be the odd partner and one by the even partner. Use the examples from the book and have them find the numbers that are odd and even.
My Even Day and One Odd Day by Doris Fisher Have you ever woken up and felt a bit odd? Well, the books My Even Day and One Odd Day a boy wakes up to find that everything is either even or odd. These books are both entertaining as well as educational. If you teach about even and odd numbers then these should be a part of your classroom. Here are some fun even and odd activities you can try: http://www.smartfirstgraders.com/even-and-odd-numbers.html |
Perfect Square by Michael Hall
This story is a wonderful way to teach shapes, colors, and days of the week. Squares and triangles are the most popular shapes throughout the story. Each day of the week the square changes into something new and in the end just likes being a square. After reading give students a square and have them manipulate it like they did in the story.
Check out ideas at: http://www.teachpreschool.org/2012/09/the-perfect-square-in-preschool/
This story is a wonderful way to teach shapes, colors, and days of the week. Squares and triangles are the most popular shapes throughout the story. Each day of the week the square changes into something new and in the end just likes being a square. After reading give students a square and have them manipulate it like they did in the story.
Check out ideas at: http://www.teachpreschool.org/2012/09/the-perfect-square-in-preschool/
Doggone Feet by Leslie Helakoski
A dog follows a new owner home from the park one day. Then two more feet show up and as the family grows more feet are seen under the table. This would support a math lesson about pairs, multiples, and more. It is also a great story to teach point-of-view as it is seen through the eyes of the dog.
A dog follows a new owner home from the park one day. Then two more feet show up and as the family grows more feet are seen under the table. This would support a math lesson about pairs, multiples, and more. It is also a great story to teach point-of-view as it is seen through the eyes of the dog.
Wumbers by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This is a great problem solving book for your puzzle-minded children. Numbers are placed throughout the letters in the text to create words. For example: "We have the 2na salad and the pl8s. What have we 4gotten?" The pictures are wonderful and provide a clue as to what the number word might be. This would be great book to give your quick finishers. You could also have students create wumber puzzles of their own.
For more about this book check out: http://bit.ly/1sWHyGp
This is a great problem solving book for your puzzle-minded children. Numbers are placed throughout the letters in the text to create words. For example: "We have the 2na salad and the pl8s. What have we 4gotten?" The pictures are wonderful and provide a clue as to what the number word might be. This would be great book to give your quick finishers. You could also have students create wumber puzzles of their own.
For more about this book check out: http://bit.ly/1sWHyGp
Just a Second by Steve Jenkins
This book is a great introduction to the concept of time. It tells what can be done in one second, one minute, one day, one week, and so on. In tells about animals, people, machines, and much more. For example: In one second a hummingbird beats it wings 50 times. Or in one hour an adult take about 900 breaths. Before reading have children make predictions about some of the stats in the book. As you are reading point out how close or far off their predictions where. Additionally, have students identify how many seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour, hours in a day, etc. You may also want to visit the author's website at http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/.
This book is a great introduction to the concept of time. It tells what can be done in one second, one minute, one day, one week, and so on. In tells about animals, people, machines, and much more. For example: In one second a hummingbird beats it wings 50 times. Or in one hour an adult take about 900 breaths. Before reading have children make predictions about some of the stats in the book. As you are reading point out how close or far off their predictions where. Additionally, have students identify how many seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour, hours in a day, etc. You may also want to visit the author's website at http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/.
The Great Graph Contest by Loreen Leedy
This book has the characters of Gonk and Beezy in a contest to make the best graph. This book includes examples of a quantity graph, circle graph, venn diagram, bar graph, and pictograph. At the back of the book it has a bit of an explanation of each type of graph. The book uses ideas that kids would enjoy and could easily be replicated based on class results. You could even have students have their own graph contest!
Check out the author's website at: http://loreenleedy.com/index.html
This book has the characters of Gonk and Beezy in a contest to make the best graph. This book includes examples of a quantity graph, circle graph, venn diagram, bar graph, and pictograph. At the back of the book it has a bit of an explanation of each type of graph. The book uses ideas that kids would enjoy and could easily be replicated based on class results. You could even have students have their own graph contest!
Check out the author's website at: http://loreenleedy.com/index.html
Farmer's Market Day by Shanda Trent
This rhyming text is a great introduction to money. The little girl in the story is excited to visit the farmer's market. In the pictures the prices are listed for the items that she plans to buy. This is a quick read, but has endless possibilities! You could have students create their own farmer's market in a play area. Or you can make up a variety of money math problems using the prices in the the pictures. You could have a math center where students identify coins and count money. Finally, you could bring in something you might find at a farmer's market as a snack. Give each student a variety of coins and have them buy their snack for the day.
This rhyming text is a great introduction to money. The little girl in the story is excited to visit the farmer's market. In the pictures the prices are listed for the items that she plans to buy. This is a quick read, but has endless possibilities! You could have students create their own farmer's market in a play area. Or you can make up a variety of money math problems using the prices in the the pictures. You could have a math center where students identify coins and count money. Finally, you could bring in something you might find at a farmer's market as a snack. Give each student a variety of coins and have them buy their snack for the day.
Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers by Dianna Hutts Aston
This is the story of a man named Simon Rodia or Uncle Sam who created the Watts Towers in California. When he started the towers he began putting bits and pieces together without drawing plans, using nails, blots, or a ladder. These towers stand between 55 - 99.5 feet tall. They took 34 years to build. The Watts Towers are now a national landmark and it all started with just one piece of tile. After reading this book go into a long hallway or outside on the playground and measure out the height of each tower. Explain that he made all of this piece by piece. Teach concepts of measurement by having students create their own Watts Towers. Have them write down the height of each of their towers in inches and centimeters.
This is the story of a man named Simon Rodia or Uncle Sam who created the Watts Towers in California. When he started the towers he began putting bits and pieces together without drawing plans, using nails, blots, or a ladder. These towers stand between 55 - 99.5 feet tall. They took 34 years to build. The Watts Towers are now a national landmark and it all started with just one piece of tile. After reading this book go into a long hallway or outside on the playground and measure out the height of each tower. Explain that he made all of this piece by piece. Teach concepts of measurement by having students create their own Watts Towers. Have them write down the height of each of their towers in inches and centimeters.
Zero the Hero by Joan Holub
This book would a be great read-aloud. It shows the power of the number zero. When the other numbers get into trouble he is there to save the day. This would be a great supplement when discussing number concepts, like place value. This book could be paired with Zero, Zilch, Nada: Counting to None by Wendy Ulmer.
Other ideas can be found at:
This book would a be great read-aloud. It shows the power of the number zero. When the other numbers get into trouble he is there to save the day. This would be a great supplement when discussing number concepts, like place value. This book could be paired with Zero, Zilch, Nada: Counting to None by Wendy Ulmer.
Other ideas can be found at:
That's a Possibility! A Book About What Might Happen by Bruce Goldstone
Do you teach probability? If you do it is possible to use this book! This book has great pictures for the vocabulary related to probability, such as impossible, certain, and likely. The examples are very kid-friendly and would lead to a wonderful discussion about what would be possible or impossible. At the back of the book it has some suggested activities such as a paper plate spinner or a guess again bag. I am certain you will love this book!
Here are other probability activities for kindergarten and first graders:
http://firstgradebest.blogspot.com/2011/05/spin-roll-tally-and-graph.html
Do you teach probability? If you do it is possible to use this book! This book has great pictures for the vocabulary related to probability, such as impossible, certain, and likely. The examples are very kid-friendly and would lead to a wonderful discussion about what would be possible or impossible. At the back of the book it has some suggested activities such as a paper plate spinner or a guess again bag. I am certain you will love this book!
Here are other probability activities for kindergarten and first graders:
http://firstgradebest.blogspot.com/2011/05/spin-roll-tally-and-graph.html
Is It Big or Is It Little? by Claudia Rueda
This is a wonderful book about opposites and point of view. In the story the mouse thinks the ball is big, but the cat thinks it is little. The mouse thinks the puddle is deep, but the cat thinks it is shallow. The mouse thinks the string is long, but the cat thinks it is short. This continues until the cat meets a dog and the perspective changes again. After reading this book, have students exercise with opposites. Put on some music and have students follow your moves. Have students reach up and then down, kick your foot high and low, take a big step and little step, clap your hands loud and quiet. Continue to do motions that show opposites.
Check out this idea and more at: http://bit.ly/1sApfsO
This is a wonderful book about opposites and point of view. In the story the mouse thinks the ball is big, but the cat thinks it is little. The mouse thinks the puddle is deep, but the cat thinks it is shallow. The mouse thinks the string is long, but the cat thinks it is short. This continues until the cat meets a dog and the perspective changes again. After reading this book, have students exercise with opposites. Put on some music and have students follow your moves. Have students reach up and then down, kick your foot high and low, take a big step and little step, clap your hands loud and quiet. Continue to do motions that show opposites.
Check out this idea and more at: http://bit.ly/1sApfsO
More by I.C. Springman
This is a story where the pictures speak louder than the words. With only a few words on each page it shows the story of a bird and a collection in his nest. Examples of the words include nothing, something, a few, several, more, enough, and plenty. This would be a great book to share when teaching students about number sense and the concept of more and less. This book also has a wonderful character tie in as children will learn that less can be more. The author wrote this book for her grandsons with that hope that one day there will be enough for all.
To read a review about this book check out: http://childrensbooksguide.com/reviews/more-by-i-c-springman
This is a story where the pictures speak louder than the words. With only a few words on each page it shows the story of a bird and a collection in his nest. Examples of the words include nothing, something, a few, several, more, enough, and plenty. This would be a great book to share when teaching students about number sense and the concept of more and less. This book also has a wonderful character tie in as children will learn that less can be more. The author wrote this book for her grandsons with that hope that one day there will be enough for all.
To read a review about this book check out: http://childrensbooksguide.com/reviews/more-by-i-c-springman