Teach children about the concept of time with the Minute Game. Tell students that 1 minute is 60 seconds. Have them count to 60 to experience how long a minute takes to pass. Tell the class that you will give them one minute to perform an action. Use a clock or stopwatch to time them. Ask the children to count how many jumping jacks they can do before the time is up. Repeat the activity with other actions such as clapping, jumping or reciting the alphabet.
Teach first-grade students about measurement using non-standard units. Divide the class into small groups of 2 to 3 students. Provide each group with a large sheet of grid paper. Assign areas for the groups to measure using their feet. For example, measure how long the carpet, a hallway or a coat hook area is. After completing the tasks, students color in the appropriate number of squares on their grid paper to show how many footsteps long each area is. Bring the class together to share findings.
Introduce students to the concept of probability using Tootsie Pops. Place different colors of Tootsie Pops in a paper bag. Make sure there are a few more Tootsie Pops in the bag than the number of students in the class. Provide students with a page to record how many candies of each color are in the bag. Ask them to circle their favorite color. Circulate around the room, asking each child to take a Tootsie Pop from the bag without looking. Children take a tally of the colors chosen on their recording sheet. Discuss the probability of students choosing their favorite colors using words such as "likely," "unlikely" and "impossible."
Review the names of two-dimensional shapes with your students. Provide them with marshmallows and toothpicks to create shapes such as squares, triangles and rectangles, using marshmallows as the corners. Introduce three-dimensional solids to your students and ask them to find examples around the room. Children use their marshmallows and toothpicks to build solids such as cubes, rectangular prisms and pyramids. Extend the activity by asking them to create larger three-dimensional structures that will stand on their own.