About the Book

"These activities are clearly laid out with directions for implementing academically rigorous math activities with our youngest students. The book′s alternative method of developing number sense is likely to reach more students by focusing on different strategies that will engage the entire brain."
—Rosamaria Murillo, Principal
Baldwin Lane Elementary School, Sugarloaf, CA

"Offering detailed yet easily applicable lessons that will benefit both teacher and students, Sousa clearly explains the importance of brain-based learning tasks and their role in the area of mathematics. As one who has taught kindergarten and first grade for 25 years, I found the book an effective, enjoyable means of putting brain-compatible math into practice!"
—Susan Schipper, First-Grade Teacher
Charles Street Elementary School, Palmyra, NJ

Imaginative mathematics activities that maximize the brain′s learning potential!

Demonstrating instructional principles discussed in David A. Sousa′s bestseller, How the Brain Learns Mathematics, this resource provides brain-friendly, ready-to-use mathematics lessons for Grades K–1. Teachers will find step-by-step guidance and all the necessary reproducibles for mathematics instruction that involves partners, group work, and class movement. Through activities such as Number Jingle and Math Detective, young learners will enjoy developing skills connected with whole numbers, addition and subtraction, geometrical shapes, measurement, number patterns, and more.

Aligned with NCTM standards and focal points, the instructional strategies enhance motivation and content retention, address individual intelligences, and:

• Promote writing as an important learning tool
• Use concrete models to make concepts meaningful
• Connect mathematical ideas to the real world
• Incorporate graphic organizers to help students organize their thinking
• Teach creative problem solving

Deepen and revitalize instruction using Sousa′s proven brain-compatible approach for helping every child develop self-confidence in mathematics!

Table of Contents:
Introduction Links to Focal Points and Standards About the Author 1. Whole Numbers Seeing Dots How Many? Number Path Counting Sets More or Less Who′s First? Number Slap A Ten Count! Number Jingle! 2. Addition and Subtraction Combining Sets Subtraction Action Spin to Win Take It Away "All Aboard" the Number Line Ready, Set...Add! Fact Family Tree House Math Detective Flip it! Number Grid Let′s Go, Domino! Guide to Problem Solving 3. Geometry Shifting Shapes Feel the Shapes Shape Sort Race Fishing for Triangles 3-D Shapes Shape Up Shapes Everywhere The Art of Shapes! Smart Shapes The Shape Museum 4. Measurement Which is Longer? Measure it! Ordering Lengths How Far? Which Holds More? How Long? Measuring With Tens and Ones Going on a Measurement Hunt Comparison Center Tick-Tock at the Clock Shop Before or After? 5. Algebra: Sorting and Patterning Number Patterns What Comes Next? Extending Patterns Pattern Necklaces Sorting Shoes Sort and Classify 6. Data Analysis and Probability Ask Me a Question Way to Vote! Favorite Seasons Roll and Record Heads or Tails Collect and Sort Data Fun with Bar Graphs Likely or Unlikely? Journal Page Answer Key References