Books for Teaching Math Creatively

• PRINT
• EMAIL

Linking mathematics to literacy and other areas strengthens both. Most good mathematics activities also develop language and vocabulary. For example, when children are lining up, teachers can build in many opportunities to develop an understanding of mathematics. Children wearing something red can be asked to get in line first, those wearing blue to get in line second, and so on. Or, children wearing both something red and sneakers can be asked to head up the line.
 Understanding stories involves mathematical understandings, such as conditionals (if/then), classification, patterning, order, and number. Think of the numbers, size relationships, sequences, and repetitious patterns in "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and other favorite stories. It's no wonder that research shows that early mathematics experiences, especially geometric ones, result in later improvements in language and literacy, as well as general intelligence.
 Here are some books you can use to teach math creatively in your classroom:

• 1 Hunter by Pat Hutchins (William Morrow, 1986; $16.95)
• Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno (HarperCollins, 1992; $22.99)
• Bat Jamboree by Kathi Appelt (Scott Foresman, 1998; $5.95)
• Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert (HarperCollins, 1992; $7.99)
• Count and See by Tana Hoban (Simon & Schuster, 1972; $17)
• Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt, 2001; $6.95)
• The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle (Scott Foresman, 1996; $7.99)
• How Many Bugs in a Box? by David A. Carter (Little Simon, 1988; $13.95)
• How Many Snails? by Paul Giganti, Jr. (Scott Foresman, 1994; $5.95)
• I Spy Two Eyes: Numbers in Art by Lucy Micklethwait (Mulberry, 1998; $10.99)
• The Icky Bug Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta (Charlesbridge, 1992; $16.95)
• Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni (Scott Foresman, 1995; $5.99)
• My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle. (HarperCollins, 1985; $4.95)
• On the Stairs by Julie Hofstrand Larios (Front Street, 1999; $15.95).
• One Was Johnny by Maurice Sendak (HaperCollins, 1991; $5.99)
• Over,Under and Through and Other Spatial Concepts by Tana Hoban. (Simon & Schuster, 1973; $17)
• The Right Number of Elephants by Jeff Sheppard (HarperCollins, 1992; $6.99)
• The Shape of Things by Dayle Ann Dodds (Scott Foresman, 1996; $5.99)
• Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews (William Morrow, 1986; $15.99)
• Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang (Tupelo, 1998; $6.99)
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. (Scholastic Inc, $5.95)

Parent's At-Home Reading Lesson Plan Based on A Bad Case of Stripes, by David Shannon
Parent's reading extension activities based on the book A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon. Lists supplies you'll need and gives reading tips. Explains the learning benefits of the activity.

ECT Interviews Early Childhood Teacher Arwen Lee on Building Math Skills Through Play
In this ECT Interview, Early Childhood Teacher Arwen Lee discusses ways to build Math Skills through Play.

Activity Plan Mixed Ages: Big, Medium, or Small
Children work collaboratively to arrange objects in size order. Afterwards, the children will create a math book from the photographs taken of their end results.

UNIT PLAN	Clifford Learns About Colors and So Do We! Presents an integrated approach to teaching colors while exposing students to literature. The unit plan also applies science, math, drama, art,...
ONLINE ACTIVITY	Max's Math Adventures Answer questions using clues embedded in rhyming poems. The different adventures are listed in this index, with central skills and difficulty...
BOOK INFORMATION	Icky Bug Numbers Kids learn to count with help from all the icky bugs in this book. Each page brings readers into the natural world of strange and beautiful bugs.