Product Swap – Ocean Themed Math Centers

 

It’s finally time for The Magical Product Swap, hosted by Jessica from Mrs. Stanford’s Class.  She had a fantastic idea – allow everyone to really see what is available on TpT.  She partnered teachers up all around the blogging world to check-out and review a fellow teacher’s product. 

Do you know Casey from Second Grade Math Maniac?  You should!  I was lucky to be partnered up with her.

Casey has worked really hard to create her Ocean Themed Common Core Math Centers.  It is one of her featured products.  Here is a preview of this file:

 

Here is Casey’s product description:

These math centers are great for early finishers or for including in your Guided Math or Daily 5 Math activities.  These centers focus on Second Grade Common Core objectives but would be an excellent review for third grade students.

2.NBT.2. Count within 1000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s.
2.NBT.4. Compare two three-digit numbers based on meanings of the hundreds, tens, and ones digits, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
2.NBT.5. Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.
2.NBT.8. Mentally add 10 or 100 to a given number 100 and mentally subtract 10 or 100 from a given number.

There are four centers in this pack:
Ocean Animal Skip Counting Puzzles
Comparing & Ordering Numbers
Fix the Broken Equations
Mental Addition War

You can only imagine how excited I was to grab this file since I am teaching second graders this fall.  I will be using Guided Math and using math workstations, so these centers will be perfect for Math Buddies and Independent Work!

Join me as I ‘dive’ into using these centers. 

After downloading the 25 page file, you will have some cutting to do.  I cut all of the game pieces and placed them into sandwich or snack sized Ziploc baggies.  I then grabbed a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie.  I placed the title page inside along with the smaller baggies and they were ready to go.  At school I have one larger tub with hanging files inside to sort my math games.  These should fit great into those hanging files.

Here are the four math centers along with the cover page, common core objectives (2nd grade), and table of contents.

Math Center #1 – Ocean Animal Skip Counting Puzzles

These puzzles allow students to practice skip counting by 5s, 10s, and 100s.  They will keep your second graders entertained with their bright and colorful creatures.  I was thinking that students could try to beat the clock or have a friendly competition to see who can complete their puzzle first.  This center does not come with a recording sheet, but it would be simple for second graders to record the number patterns on a piece of paper, especially if you need an accountability piece.

 

This center has two activities inside. 

Set A contains star shapes with numbers written on them.  Students must place these numbers in order from smallest to largest.  Set B contains rectangular cards with numbers on them.  Students draw two cards out of the baggie and use the greater than, less than cards to compare the two numbers. 

Set B can be played repeatedly with different results.  Since Set A has one correct answer, I was thinking students could try to race the clock.  You could also use the greater than/less than signs to compare the numbers in Set A.  Again, if you need an accountability piece, you could have your students record their equations onto notebook paper.

Math Center #3 – Mental Addition War

This center combines mental math with comparing numbers while allowing students to have fun playing War.  The great news about this center is it can be played multiple times with different results.

Math Center #4 – Fix the Broken Equations

This center includes six math problems with errors.  Students work with a partner to identify and explain the error until the partner understands.  You could easily add more problems to this center to fit the needs and levels of your students.  The cards also have room off to the right of the incorrect problem & students could use that space to solve the problem correctly (accountability).