Each student will need a sheet of paper divided into three columns labeled "Pennies," "Dimes" and "Dollars," right to left. Put the students in pairs and provide each pair with one die, 20 pennies, 20 dimes and two dollars. The students will take turns rolling the die and earning pennies until they earn 10, which they may trade for a dime. For example, if the student rolls a four, he or she gets four pennies. The students must keep earning pennies to trade for dimes until they earn 10 dimes, which they may trade for a dollar. The first student in the pair to reach a dollar wins.
Students will need cardboard, scissors, markers, masking tape, a ruler and a yardstick for this activity. The objective is for students to work together to build models of one square centimeter, one square inch and one square foot, and then one cubed centimeter, one cubed inch and one cubed foot. The students will need to use the measuring tools to measure the squares they need to cut and work together to build the shapes.
This lesson can be adjusted so the teacher or parent can use many different treats, according to what the children like. The only requirement is that the treats come in a variety, such as a box of Lucky Charms or a bag of Skittles. Give each child a container of the treat and have him sort them into different types, such as colors or shapes. He should then count the amount of each type and graph the different categories, using a bar graph.
When choosing an activity, keep in mind any students you may have who may need adjustments to the lesson. Some students may need written instructions, and others need you to read the instructions with them. Other students may need the freedom to stand and move around the room while working on activities. The great thing about hands-on activities such as those mentioned above is that they often help a varied classroom learn together successfully.