Warm-Up Halloween (Pre-School/Lower Primary)

Let’s celebrate Halloween AND  number sense. Singing, counting, costuming (I made that up!), in general, having FUN!!! This song and video are going to get you and your students HOPPING!!!
Students don't develop number sense by accident or even as a side effect of engaging in informal activities such as puzzles or songs - even those that, on the surface appear to be related to math. Experts insist that although every child can learn number sense, not every child will unless they intentionally and systematically participate in activities that promote the skill. This scaffold focus on that and so much more.

We're going to address Number Sense. Number sense in a Halloween activity? Yup. It will make sense right away...

Students don't develop number sense by accident or even as a side effect of engaging in informal activities such as puzzles or songs - even those that, on the surface appear to be related to math.

Experts insist that although every child can learn number sense, not every child will unless they intentionally and systematically participate in activities that promote the skill.

So...what is number sense?

Children with strong number sense think flexibly and fluently about numbers. They can...

• Visualise and talk comfortably about numbers. Number bonds are one tool to help them see the connections between numbers.
• Take numbers apart and put them back together in different ways — e.g. breaking the number five down several times (such as: 5+0=5; 4+1=5; 3+2=5; 2+3=5; 1+4=5; 0+5=5 and so on), which helps your children learn all the ways to make five.
• Compute mentally — solving problems in their heads instead of using a paper and pencil.
• Relate numbers to real-life problems by connecting them to their everyday world. For instance, asking how many apples they've picked at a farm. ("Andy picked 5 apples. Amanda picked 2. How many apples did they pick in all?")

Number sense is so important for your young math learners because it promotes confidence and encourages flexible thinking. It allows your students to create a relationship with numbers and be able to talk about math as a language.

This scaffold gives students the opportunity to develop number sense through a Halloween song. We begin with the images from the video with numbers printed on small pieces of paper and then they match the numbers to the pumpkins talking.

We promote creativity by letting them anthropomorphise the pumpkins, giving each a name.

Afterwards, you play the video/song and they'll be more involved in the what's going on.

See how much fun you can have with your pumpkin friends!!!