Taking Off With Numeracy (TOWN) Part II

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have recently been catching-up on Taking Off With Numeracy (TOWN) and learning how to implement the program properly. For today's post I thought I'd share three of the lessons I've taught so far. 

I've created a visual prompt for each of the activities which I display on the board for students to see. You can download a copy of ALL of the prompts that I've created HERE, however, there are some activities in it that I will not be explaining today. Keep an eye on my blog for future posts about TOWN to find out more.

Materials: 

A bucket (or container) for each pair, unifix cubes (20-40 per pair), workbook and pencil

Time: 10 minutes

This is a great activity and it is so simple (sometimes it's the simple ideas that are the best ideas). You will need to split students up into pairs. The partners need to be of a similar ability. Each pair is given a bucket (or container) and unifix cubes. As students have different abilities, they will have different expectations. Some pairs may be given 20 unifix cubes, 10 of colour. While other pairs may be given 40 unifix cubes (10x a colour).

Students place the individual unifix cubes into their bucket. They decide upon which colour will represent ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc. The first student grabs a handful of unifix cubes and works out the digit they have created (e.g. two-tens and three-ones would make 23). For some pairs, after this they will record the number in their workbook and draw an picture of the number. Whereas other pairs will record their number and then add it to the bucket value (i.e. the teacher will decide upon a bucket value: +43). Students show working out in their workbooks.

Materials: 

Whiteboard (per student), whiteboard maker (per student), deck of cards (one between two)

Time: 10 minutes

The students in my class love this activity. So much so, that if we have free time, they'll actually request that we play it. It's a pretty easy activity to set up. You will need to split students up into pairs. The partners need to be of a similar ability. Each pair is given a deck of cards, however, they will need to remove the tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Jokers. Students should be left with Aces (which will represent one) and the number cards 2-9.

As students have different abilities, they will have different expectations. Some students may flip over four cards to make two 2-digit numbers. Whereas other students may flip over eight cards to make two 4-digit numbers.

Both students need to pick up from a face-down pile of cards. Once students have flipped over their cards, they place them on the floor to create their two numbers. On a whiteboard each student records their numbers (as shown above) and adds the two together. 

The student with the higher number is awarded a point. The student with the most points at the end of the activity is the WINNER.

Materials: 

'Tracks' worksheet (one per student) from the DENS book,  deck of cards (one between two), workbook and pencil

Time: 10 minutes

This is another easy activity. Once again you will need to split students up into pairs. The partners need to be of a similar ability. Each pair is given a deck of cards (with the tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Jokers) and each student is given a 'Tracks' worksheet.

As students have different abilities, they will have different expectations. Some students may need to draw two cards, while others may draw four cards. When the cards have been drawn, students record their number on their worksheet. Their partner will then draw three arrows in the 'arrows' boxes. Arrows are drawn pointing in different directions, and so each have a different meaning (see image above for more information).

Students follow the arrows, adding or subtracting as instructed and then write the number they are left with in the final number column.

This activity is great because students really need to exercise their understanding of place value as they jump back and forth.

So there you have it… three very easy TOWN activities that exercises students understanding of place value. As mentioned above, check back here for future posts about TOWN (and other great programs I've learned)