Term 1 Week 8 New Number 7

This week we worked with number 7, the next number on the number line.

As part of our topic work we spoke about where we live.  Some mentioned they live in a flat, some in a house with a garden.  This led us to colouring in a house and garden on our number scrapbook.  We also stuck 7 small flowers on the same page.

Wilf our robot showed the children to successfully count till 7.

• Step 1 – Point or pick each object one at a time.
• Step 2 – Say each number 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7.
• Step 3 – Say stop. We cannot keep on saying the numbers if we need to count only 7 objects.  In this case 7 flowers.

The children worked on their numeracy workbook too where they had to count various objects and match them to their corresponding number.

In order to achieve this counting skill it is best to cut out the objects we are counting.  This way we avoid counting too fast and skipping one number in the process or counting the same number twice.

To learn the formation of number 7 we use three ways.

• Number Story – We have animals for every number.

Ms. Giraffe helps us see the shape of number 7 –

Ms. Giraffe is hungry.  She loves eating leaves which are found at the top of very tall trees.  She stretches her neck up high and eats away 7 leaves.

• To remember the formation of this number we can use the shape of Ms. Giraffe. This is what we say:

1. Start at the top
2. Go across her face
3. And down her neck

• We also had the number 7 rhyme to help us see the formation of this number.

• The children practiced the number 7 formation on their number scrapbook using crayons.
• The next step is to give manipulatives to the children to understand the value of this number. As always we show them the numicon shape corresponding to this number. In this case the pink shape with 7 holes in it.

The children were given play dough mats where they put seven apples on a tree and formed the number 7 with play dough.

Practice Ideas for Home

• It is important that you practice the numbers done so far by using the animal stories and the rhymes so the children become more confident in their number work and which number comes after which.
• They can use their bodies to form the shape of number 7. They can also clap, jump, go up and down, and hop 7 times.
• They can practice the formation just like we do it in class with the rainbow colours. If they are reluctant tell them that they are playing teacher and it should do the trick.
• They can draw various objects on a piece of paper or small whiteboard, count them and help them write the corresponding value using rice, flour and sand saying the story or rhyme in the process. Please praise every little effort the children make.  If they do mistakes just correct them with no fuss at all and tell them to try it again together.  Repetition, practice and praise help build their confidence.