First Grade

"In Grade 1, instructional time should focus on four critical areas: 
(1) developing understanding of addition, subtraction, and strategies for addition and subtraction within 20
(2) developing understanding of whole number relationships and place value, including grouping in tens and ones
(3) developing understanding of linear measurement and measuring lengths as iterating length units
(4) reasoning about attributes of, and composing and decomposing geometric shapes"

(excerpt from the Common Core State Standards Initiative website)


Manipulatives, Manipulatives, Manipulatives!

I CANNOT stress to you enough how important manipulatives are across elementary school. We simply do not use enough. Children should not be moving to the abstract until you are certain they truly understand what is taking place.

When it comes to number sense to 99, here are some manipulatives you may want to consider if you haven't yet...

beaded number line



You can make these yourself with string and beads. 10 red beads, 10 white beads, repeating until you have 100. Students can work with the reknrek to make numbers to 99.

ten frames




You can find these on the internet to print. You should have enough 10's to make 90 and then a set of 1-9.

base ten blocks


Most schools already have access to these. When establishing number sense through 99, set hundreds and thousands aside.

popsicle place value sticks



These are cheap and easy enough to make. Purchase large popsicle sticks. One side has ten dots. The other side has one dot. Students can use these to show numbers up to 99.

hundreds chart


This is another tool that you can have students show their understanding of numbers to 99.

These tools should be used to have students show flexibility in understanding numbers. Being able to show they understand how to make a number using only one or two of these tools, does not necessarily mean they understand what numbers mean. Distribute different tools to students. Call out a number between 1 and 99. Have students make the number. Switch tools and repeat. While you can do this whole group, it is much easier to manage in a guided math group. I have used this activity myself with English Language Learners and have seen amazing results.