During this math module, the children are learning how to "compose and decompose" numbers. That just means breaking numbers down into parts and putting the parts back together. We are specifically working with objects in groups of fives and tens and "counting on" to count large amounts of objects.
So here is a fun math activity that you can easily make at home. To make the Tens Sticks, you will need chenille stems cut into thirds and a big bowl of pony beads (check the $$ store--they often have them).
Have your child count out ten pony beads and slide them onto the chenille stems, then help your child fold over the ends so the beads don't slip off. Keep making more...at least 10 Tens Sticks are needed; 20 or 30 would be even better. Place all of the Tens Sticks and "extras" back into the bowl.
I have two great, FREE resources to share with you that will pick random numbers in a fun way. The first can be found online and is called Bingoin Mad. The second is a free iPad app that you can download from the App Store called Undecided.
1.)Make a lot more Tens Sticks, then set out nine paper cups. Place 10 Tens Sticks in each cup...now you can work with hundreds, tens and ones. Choose random numbers from 11 all the way to 999 and ask your child to make the numbers on the table. Or reverse it...you place cups, Tens Sticks and ones on the table and ask your child what number did you make. See if they can write that number.
2.) After your child makes a two-digit number using the tens and ones, ask them "What if I took away _____ beads...how many would be left?" or "What is one fewer that this number?" or even, "What if I put another Tens Stick on the table...how many would you have then?"
You could go a lot of different ways with this activity! Counting on and skip counting form the basis for mental math and multiplication. So the more related hands-on activities we can do now, the better prepared they will be for higher level math later on.
Have fun!