DIY: Tens and Ones Manipulative

 

I love PVC!  I recently bought a bunch in bulk to make Mini Anchor Chart Stands.  See them here.  Now I have an abundance of PVC, so I had to get crackin' on what I could make out of it!

I've been working on tens and ones with one of the students that I tutor.  He has a great deal of difficulty identifying how many tens and how many ones in any given number.  We have to go back to building a strong number sense, but after awhile everything that I come up with is boring.  I needed a new way to play with tens and ones.

We regularly use the rekenrek to build numbers 0-100.  It is a great tool and visual for "seeing" the tens and ones.  I use different variations, depending on the needs of the student.  Below, are some different options.  On the top, is my teacher or oversize version of the 20 rekenrek.  I made this out of PVC, PVC elbows, and pool noodles.  It is the same as the 20 rekenrek student version.  There is also a 100 rekenrek and a 10 rekenrek.  These rekenrek's are made out of carpet stair treads from the dollar store.  I found the DIY directions from Jennifer Davis.  I'm including the video below.

 

Jennifer Davis also really explains the rekenrek very well!  She made a video that explains and  demonstrates how the rekenrek can really help students increase number fluency and subitizing skills.  See her video here.

 

I created a rekenrek with 10 beads for my daughter.  She just turned four and really loves playing and exploring with the rekenrek.  Using the rekenrek, she made the connection that the five white beads match the five fingers on her left hand and the five pink beads match the fingers on her right hand.  She is now subitizing numbers to 5.  The real life connections and hands-on activities with math are helping her to create a strong number sense.

 

I use the 20 rekenrek with my student who is having difficulty with tens and ones.  We went back to the beginning to identify 10's and 1's.  We use both the oversize rekenrek and student version to play with numbers.  I found a great resource from Barbara Blanke on "Using the Rekenrek as a Visual Model for Strategic Reasoning in Mathematics".  She includes tons of strategies, activities, and printables for you to use.  It is a wonderful resource.

Here is an example of using the rekenrek in conjunction with the tens and one's manipulative.  My student and I took turns making different numbers, to 20, on the Number Wheel.  When a number was chosen, the other person had to represent the number on the rekenrek.  We then identified how many 10's, if any, and how many 1's.

The "Number Wheel" is such fun, because it is almost like a game.  It is set up kind of like a slot machine, because the numbers need to align with the tape across the top of the PVC elbows.

The "Number Wheel" is the perfect manipulative to pair with the 100 rekenrek.  Students are able to physically build the number on the rekenrek and THEN physically build the number on the "Number Wheel".  They are representing the number in objects, as well as, representing it as a numeral. 

 

Here my student created the number 90 on the rekenrek and "Number Wheel".  He is starting to make the connection between tens and ones.

 Here is an example of 61.

You can also use the number wheel with base ten blocks.  It is perfect to help students see the connection between the number and tens and ones.  You could use it as a partner game, where one student made a number on the "Number Wheel" and the other physically made the number with base ten blocks.  Perfect for identifying the number of tens and ones.  It helps students transition from manipulatives to identifying tens and ones within the number itself.

 

Now for the DIY instructions. 

 Cut 2-3 pieces off of a pool noodle.  Use three, if you would like to make hundreds, tens, and ones.

 

My pool noodle sections are about 2 inches across.  I used a bread knife for a clean cut.

Originally, I just drew lines across the pool noodles, but did not like how the visual.  It was too cluttered and not distinct enough. 

I decided on using two different colors of masking tape.  I alternated colors.  Another bonus of the two colors, is that the odd numbers are all blue and the even numbers are orange.

 I had to overlap the pieces of masking tape to have all ten numbers fit on the noodle.  This is where the lines on the pool noodle came in handy.  It gave me a template for fitting all the numbers on the noodle.

 In these examples, I used brightly colored number stickers, but decided it was too distracting and went with a Sharpee.

One of the most important steps is adding a layer of hot glue to the ends of the pool noodles, after you tape them down.  Make sure to have the tape overlap onto both edges of the pool noodle.  Put a good amount of hot glue all around the outside of the hole.  This will keep the tape down and make it more durable.  Make sure to let the hot glue totally dry before flipping over.  I made that mistake :)

If you are making a "Number Wheel" with tens and ones, cut a piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe that is a little more that 5" long.  If you are making a hundreds wheel, make the cut about 8" long.

 

 I used a PCV saw with my mini anchor chart stands, but then got smart and bought a tool designed to cut PVC pipe.  It was around $10 and is the best investment I've made.

 It's super easy to snap through the PVC pipe.

After cutting the PVC pipe, you need two 1/2" PVC elbows.  These elbows are 90 degrees.  Attach an elbow to each end of the PVC pipe, after you add the number wheels.

 

I put a different colored piece of masking tape down the middle of each elbow.  I also outlined the masking tape in Sharpee, to make it stand out.  This is the visual stopping point for kids.  This is like when the slot machine spins and all the pictures line up.  This is the "winning" number!!

Put your number wheels on the PVC and you are ready to go!  I love that the "Number Wheel" will sit flat on any surface.  It is great for small groups, because they can place it flat on the table in front of them.

 Here is the winning number 92!  It is all lined up and easy to read!!!

 

Hope this manipulative works as well for you as it does for my students!  I would love to hear your comments, ideas, and suggestions.  I still have a ton of PVC pipe left to use.  Any requests on manipulatives that you need in your classrooms?  I would LOVE to try and create something that would work for you!

 

Totally Sweet Giveaway!

One of my favorite bloggy friends, Tabitha, has just reached 1,000 followers on TPT!  She put together this amazing giveaway with some truly amazing teachers!  I am very excited to be a part of this giveaway!  The giveaway starts on Sunday, 6/29/14.

10 winners will each win one of the prize packages listed below. Each package contains a $10 shopping spree to 10 different stores- that a $100 shopping spree and a total of $1000 in products in all!

You can enter right from my page. Best of luck!  

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Keep 'Em Buzzy! Blog Hop + FREEBIE

Get ready for a FUN blog hop.  I've teamed up with some amazing bloggers to bring you a ton of activities, crafts, and ideas to keep your kiddos busy, as buzzing bees, this summer! 



I am such a fan of puppets.  My mom is a puppeteer and I grew up surrounded by homemade puppets of all sorts.  I helped her with her business "Puppets-To-Go" when I was little.  We did birthday parties for kids, complete with puppet shows, crafts, and fun. 

When this blog hop came up, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  PUPPETS!  I gathered my kids, supplies (and my mom) and got to work. 

We have been reading fairy tales and fractured fairy tales.  Two of our favorite fractured fairy tales are:  "The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf", by Mark Teague.

 And "The Three Little Fish And The Big Bad Shark", by Will Grace and Ken Geist.

These two books have been read and reread in my house.  My son will read them to my daughter and then I hear my daughter (4 years old) "reading" them to herself in her room.  Priceless!

We used these two books as the inspiration for our puppets.  We have two very different kinds of puppets for you today and both are very easy.

We will start with the three little pigs and the somewhat bad wolf.  First, you need to assemble your supplies.  You need:

- Pool Noodles in 2 colors

- Foam for the pig's noses, ears, and for the wolf

- Foam paint brushes that fit inside the puppets for the stick

- X-Large google eyes

- Elmer's Glue for pigs

- Marker to embellish the pig's ears and nose

-  Popsicle stick's to make the puppet stand

- Hot glue for wolf and puppet stand

Here is the completed set of the three little pigs and the wolf.  The pigs were completed by a 4 and 7 year old.  I had to create the wolf, because he needed hot glue.

First thing that we did was cut the pool noodles into chunks for the puppets.  We used scissors.  A bread knife gives you a cleaner cut, but I wanted the kids to be able to create the whole puppet independently.  We made sure to make the pig's bodies smaller than the wolf.

 With my 4 year old, she cut part way through the noodle and then we split it apart together.  It was a messier cut, but she got to do it "herself"!

 Can you tell we are having fun???

I cut out the ears and nose out of foam for my daughter.  I had my son trace and cut out his own. 

The kids were able to draw nostrils on the big oval to make the nose, little triangles on the ears, and embellish the pig in any other way they wanted.  My son added a mouth.  Then, they used Elmer's glue to glue the eyes and nose on the pig.

 Use scissors to cut two slits in the top of the pool noodle.  These will be for the ears.

  Add a sliver of glue in the space and insert the ears.

 Here is a completed pig.

The final part of this craft is to add a stick to the stick puppet.  I found the easiest stick possible.  Get the really cheap, small foam paint brushes. 

 Not sure how to word this, but all you need to do is push the foam paint brush into the bottom of the pig.  The foam grabs hold of the noodle and it makes a perfect stick puppet.

I created the wolf puppet, because it is a little more difficult and requires hot glue.  Cut two sets of circles for the eyes.  I used Elmer's glue to glue these to the wolf.  Cut out some angry looking eyebrows and use Elmer's glue.

 To create the nose and teeth, you need hot glue.  I attempted this with Elmer's glue, but it was not strong enough.  I cut different sized-teeth for the mouth and layered them to make a toothy grin.  Glue the teeth to the back of the nose.

 I had to hot glue the nose and teeth to the noodle, because it was a little heavy for Elmer's glue.

 Make yourself a debonair/sneaky mustache and attach it to the nose.  Insert the foam paint brush and you are done!

To create you puppet stand, you just need a pool noodle cut in half and three popsicle sticks.



Cut an 18" section of the pool noodle.  Then, make a horizontal cut the length of the 18".  You should now have two identical halves.  Hot glue large popsicle sticks to the bottom of one of the pool noodles.  This will help the stand stay sturdy.  You can add more than 3 sticks, if needed. 

The puppets are inserted in holes on the top of the stand.  I used a razor blade to start the holes.  You are done!

Now for the fish puppets!  You need to gather your materials. 

- Old socks

- Cotton balls

- Google eyes

- Glue

- Markers ( I like Mr. Sketch)

- Clothespins

- Any optional embellishments (glitter, sequins, etc.)

Here is one of the completed fish.

 Give kids an old sock (clean), a stack of cotton balls, and a clothespin.

 They will stuff their fish with cotton balls.

 They will close the back of the fish with a clothespin.  This creates the fish tail.

They can use Elmer's glue to attach the google eyes.  These will come off with a lot of playtime.  I just hot glued them on later for greater durability.

Kids can decorate their fish.  They can use any colors and any patterns.  We looked at the pictures in the book and some of the kids tried to copy the fins, scales, etc.

 Here are two of the completed fish puppets.  The cool part about these puppets is that they actually look like they are swimming through water.  When you wiggle the clothespin, the tail of the fish really wiggles about.

To extend the learning, we created a "Story Map" for each story.  It was fun for the kids to use the Post-It notes to write down all the different elements of the story.  Here is an example of our "Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark" story map.  After writing, they added their puppets.  I have a PVC puppet stage and the kids put on their own version of "The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark".  It was fun and hysterical!

 Here is the personal story maps that we used.  I am sharing this freebie with you.  The kids really loved using them and I hope yours will, too!  Click here to get your freebie.  This freebie is exclusive to my blog :)

Be sure to keep hopping for some other great ideas to keep your buzzing bees busy this summer!  Hop over to Kooky Kinders to see her exciting post!

The Crafty Teacher Blog Hop and Giveaway is still going on until July 3rd!  Don't miss out on winning one of the hand-crafted items.  Plus, each blog has DIY directions posted.  Mine is a mini anchor chart stand.  I love it!  Hop on over!