September Means Apple Time! FREEBIE included

September means APPLE time!  
AND a perfect time to get our math tubs going! 

This is where we house our math tubs. They are in tubs that are big enough to fit ANYTHING I might want to add in. Seriously, I fill them full of pinto beans sometimes as a measurement center. They are great! 

So far our math tubs have been just a mix of materials to get to know the procedures. These are our rules for math tubs:  

1. Get one math tub and keep the same one the whole time. 

2. Use a rug to keep all of your materials in one place. (I get my rugs from carpet stores. They will usually give you their old samples)

3. If all the tubs are taken, go join a partner (ask nicely to be their partner). 

4. Work quietly. 

5. Clean up quickly. 

That seems pretty simple right? It takes a little bit to get the procedure down but we are ready now! Once we get that procedure down (usually by the first of September) I can put in different activities and we have instant math extra practice any time we need it.

Here are few ideas for filling math tubs:

A simple game of compare turned hands on fun by adding blocks. You can use playing cards for a year long version of compare. 

This tub has two purposes: Putting the numbers in order and writing the numerals.  Again, playing cards are great for this too! 

I put these count the room cards on a ring instead of hanging them around the room to start out with. Eventually this will be a count the room activity.  

Count and Clip. My students love the clothes pin activities this year! 

This one is my favorite. Number Puzzles! 

This was inspired by an activity I saw my daughter doing at her preschool 20 years ago (yikes!). You can change it up and add pom poms and tweezers too. Great fine motor and counting work! 

And for more fine motor...

Simple 10 frames with pony beads. Again, fine motor and counting practice. 

Each activity appears once or twice to fill the 12 math tubs that I have available. I have 24 students so it makes for perfect pairs when math tub time comes. Usually they go to these activities after we have completed math journals. It's a short 5-10 minute activity time at the end of our math block (and always in my back pocket in case we have extra time!)

Save yourself time tip......
Take pictures of what you want them to do!

It doesn't have to be fancy, just print on plain old paper (black and white is fine). Instead of spending 10 minutes explaining each activity you can give them a quick run down and then they can follow the directions by looking at the picture. If they aren't using materials correctly (yes...that happens) they have to go sit down. The pictures give a clear expectation of what the activity should look like when they are done. And NOBODY wants to sit out during math tub time so behavior is great! 

Here is a link to all of the activities (and even more). See it in my TPT store by clicking HERE. 

This set includes a great 100's chart that I turned into a FREEBIE just for you! Click here to get it!  

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