Over the past week, first graders have continued to build number sense.  Math packets remain a favorite activity as each child works at an individual pace.  Topics covered thus far include Shapes and Patterns, Ordinal Numbers, Numbers to 10, Number Bonds, and Addition Within 10.  Currently, students are working on either Subtraction Within 10, or Numbers to 20.  In each topic, question types and level of difficulty vary, deepening students’ understanding of mathematical concepts. In addition to magic squares and number codes, problems similar to those listed below  have proven to be particularly challenging.

• Solve the riddle to guess the correct number. “I am less than 9-5 but more than 10-2.  Who am I?”
• Fill in the missing numbers. ___ – 3 = 7 – __ = 2

First graders continue to work with inequalities and number lines.  From single digit numbers, to multi digit numbers, to number sentences, first graders are determining if quantities are greater than, less than, or equal to one another.  Using number lines, students are identifying number sequences, and distances between numbers.