Math

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Home : 2002 : February : 12

Math
By Laurie

Nali, The Great Space Race is a way to get the kids to memorize fact families. zero to twelve.
I set up the nine planets closest to the sun out. I started with addition. The first planet is the one planet, second
planet and so forth. For example to begin the game: each student is given a worksheet for planet one with the following problems, 1 + 0 =
1 + 2 =
1 + 3 = etc. up to 1 + 12 =
Set a timer for 30 seconds or 1 minute depending on grade level and your comfort level.
The children try to complete all the problems before time is up.

If successful they get to move to the next planet.
I use paper rockets with each child's name on them. As they move from one planet to the next they get to color in the rocket move and add jet fuel to the back of their rockets.
When they complete addition they begin back at the first planet and move through again practicing their subtraction facts-the second time around the rockets are much more colorful so the children can tell the difference or you can add an addition or subtraction sign to the rocket. The advanced 2nd graders can move on to multiplication or division facts.
Remind the kids it is not a competition-it is a game agains themselves to try and improve their speed in math.
Let me know how it works if you decide to try it! Any other questions just ask.
Laurie