Introducing Nita’s NotebookIntentional, Hands-on Mathematics for the Young Child: PreK–2

Literacy Connections and Manipulative Activities

Recognized internationally for her work in early childhood mathematics, Dr. Juanita (Nita) Copley has published books for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Now Dr. Copley brings her notebook of intentional, hands-on mathematics activities directly to you. These activities, which compliment the math instruction in Opening the World of Learning™, engage children in mathematical ideas and problem-solving.

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Nita’s Notebook-intentional mathematics with literacy connections to OWL trade books and manipulative activities

by Pat Cummingsillustrated by Holli Conger

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Unit 1Week 1

Our New FriendsOur New Friends

4th Read Lesson: Call Me Alex!

Connect Math and LiteratureConnect Math and Literature

Learning Goals Know that objects can be counted • Count items with one count per item

Materials• 1 copy of the “My At-Home Family” reproducible page

per child• crayons• Snap Cubes• 1 inch wide strips of paper, cut to various lengths (Note:

the lengths of the strips are dependent upon the number ofpeople and pets that are part of the children’s “at-home”families. Each family member equals one Snap Cube. Lay atower made of cubes on top of the strips of paper and cut tolengths that are 2 cubes long, 3 cubes long, and so on. Makesure there are enough of the same size strips available forchildren that have the same family size.)

• glue• 2 sheets of 8" × 12" cardstock or construction paper• book binding materials

Whole Group1. After a fourth read of Call Me Alex!, introduce this activity.

Have children recall that Alex and her friends are each a part of a new family of friends at school. Explain to children that they will be part of a new family of friends at school this year too. Tell children that they will make a book about their “at-home” families to share with their “at-school” family. This will help us get to know each other better. When the book is finished, it will be put in the class library. Since this is the first book that children will create, look at the book Call Me Alex! again and discuss how Alex and her friends are like the children’s family of friends.

2. Model the following procedure for partners:a. Draw a picture of your family. Include yourself in the

picture. Explain that members of a family might be pets,aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, or anyone who liveswith you. Introduce your family to the children.

b. When the picture is finished, place one Snap Cube oneach person or pet.

c. Pick up the cubes one at a time and stack them togetherinto a tower. Have children count each cube with you asyou place it on the tower.

Read It Again!Read It Again!

Nita’s Notebook • 4th Read Lesson: Call Me Alex!

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Sample Cover Sample Title Page Student Example

My At-Home Family

Our New Friends

by Mrs. Zamorano’s Pre-K

We wrote these pages to introduce our new friends to

our “at home” families.

Our New Friends

Note to the Teacher: Provide a picture of the whole class

(including class pets) from the first day of school on this book cover.

Continued...Continued...

Shared Writing Work with children to create a cover and title page for a class “Our New Friends”

book. Gather and bind children’s pages together and place the book in the Library and

Listening Center for children to read during Center Time.

PartnersDistribute copies of the “My At-Home Family” reproducible page to each child. Pair children and explain that they will work with a partner to do this same activity. Ask them to introduce their respective family members to their partner as they draw their family members on the reproducible page. As children place the Snap Cubes on a tower (one per picture), have them count together. Then they should directly compare the two towers by matching them side-by-side. (Note: Many children at this stage will not be able to count all the people and pets in their family. That is acceptable at this stage. The important part at this time is to make sure everyone has matched a cube to each person and that they can represent the cubes in a tower form.)

IndividualsAfter children have completed the partner activity, explain that they will now complete their pictures by pasting a paper strip that matches the length of their tower on their paper. On a table, arrange strips of paper that vary in length according to the number of cubes used on each child’s tower. Have children match their tower to the strip of paper by laying their tower on top of the strip.

Ask children to finish their pages by pasting his or her paper strip onto the reproducible page with the picture of their family.

Nita’s Notebook • 4th Read Lesson: Call Me Alex!

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