The Many Uses of 'Links' In Your Math Centers

What Else Can I Do With 'Links'?

MATH CENTER IDEAS

In my last post, I discussed possible ways to use Links with patterning activities. When I use a manipulative, I try to think of other skills in which teachers can use it to cut down on additional cost and storage space.

I also love to use Links at Math Stations or small group work in areas other than patterning. Let's talk about building concrete experiences with 1 to 1 counting, beginning addition, subtraction and multiplication skills also using the Links. If you do not have that material in your classroom, select another material that is readily available, which will serve the same goal.        

1 to 1 Matching

1 to 1 Matching

1 to 1 Counting With Objects and Links

I found these 1-20 Numerals Flash Cards at The Dollar Tree, one of my favorite places to find inexpensive items for the classroom. Use Links or any counting material to represent 1 to 1 representation of that numeral. To represent the 5 objects on the card shown here, I used the Links in no particular color or order and your students may see a different way to show that number. On my second number 8, I used 2 red, 3 blue, and 3 yellow links. If you wanted a simple follow-up assessment, ask them to write that numeral in their journal.

Using Links for 1 to 1 object matching

Using Links to match number and objects

Both types of card usage

Another simple differentiation activity for children not quite ready to associate a numeral with 1 to 1 counting, uses a different set of number cards. Cut off the numeral on the top of the cards you want to use and students could match 1 to 1 Links to an object.  
There are several examples of each number in the card deck so you can make a set with the number and the objects.
ready to associate 

More Number Matching

Free digit cards

Row of sequential numbers

Number Sheet Used

These free digit cards and the number sheet are available at the bottom of this posting? Just click on each sheet and print. Please leave a comment about how it works for you and also follow me if you want to be friends!

Use this as a math center, independent task or quick 1 to 1 counting assessment-use Links and plain digit number cards with no objects if that is the goal. 

A tip--When you run off the numerals and number sheet, be sure to use stiff paper, such as cardstock, so it won’t be too bendable. On my initial use of these, my paper was not sturdy enough so when the Links were applied it was too weak to support the weight of the material.

Another mistake I made on my first try was punching the hole too far up on the paper. The Link wouldn’t extend that far up to go through the hole! If you use colored paperclips, you might encounter the same issue.

Beginning Addition Idea

These Dollar Tree’s Addition Flash Cards were perfect for how I wanted to use addition facts. Select the facts you wish students to review and use only those cards. I like to have them select 2 different color Links (or other materials, if no Links available), to demonstrate their understanding of putting together 2 addends to make that total sum.

Addition using 2 addends

It is very important to consistently incorporate math vocabulary in your classroom-verbally, in your display areas-any manner that is going to make the meaning understandable to your students.

Beginning Subtraction Idea----

Using Subtraction Flash Cards, manipulate the Links around to show the differences between the two numbers. Demonstrate how to link together material to represent the higher number. 

String together Links to represent
The high number

Then take away or remove
The smaller number.

How many Links are left?
What is the difference
between the two numbers?

Beginning Multiplication Ideas

Count by 2's-multiply by 2's.

Use the same number sheet for multiplying by 2’s or use as counting by 2’s. Cut out the strip(s) of numbers you wish to use and hole punch for the Links to attach.

Multiply by groups of 3's

When we work on multiplication with children who need more concrete activities, it is helpful to link the pieces together in groups of 3’s, 4’s or whatever family of facts you are targeting. Below I used them for multiplication families of 3’s and 4’s.

Multiply by groups of 4's

   Have your students record their findings in their journals.  Click below to print the digit cards and the number sheet.

       

                        

Using Links as Manipulative Material

Beginning of the Year

Welcome to My First Blog Post!!

MATH STATION MATERIALS

Using Links

Welcome to my new math blog! After years of teaching, I hope to now help teachers and parents, as well as others interested in free and inexpensive math activities, foster the love of math in children. Thank you for stopping by to visit; please feel free to ask any questions or leave comments about ideas you have used with similar materials. Let’s get started!

My beginning blogs will relate best to students in Grades K-2, but in the future, I will include ideas for 3rd and 4th graders too. You will find my materials on TeachersPayTeachers at makemathmagic.com. These materials will be either free or inexpensive as I know teachers spend a great deal of their personal money to create engaging activities for the students in their classrooms.

For my first blog post, I would like to share the material called ‘Links’.  Links can have multi-purposes so I made these activities to be not just a one-time activity. Your time is valuable so let’s get as much mileage as possible with the same material. Links, as most hands-on materials are not only fun and engaging but also a way, to get everyone excited about math as they are hands on and encourage ‘math talk’ with peers.

In the beginning of each year, I like to establish usage guidelines for all the hands-on manipulative materials we will be using throughout the year. Some of the materials may be new to students or I may have different expectations and uses from their prior experiences. Initially, I introduce and model each manipulative material to the whole group. Then it can be used as an activity either with a partner, small groups, or independently, in a rotation choice station.

Linking by color
It is worth spending this extra time in the beginning of the year so that each child knows the guidelines and proper uses; this also allows you the time in the future to work with other students, conferencing, or in some other capacity instead of being the ‘station guard’.

Many of you may not have links in your room but do not worry. Any materials that have 4 attributes will work just fine. Some examples include square links, colored paper clips (Dollar Tree), unifix cubes, counters (teddy bear, colored circles, etc…).

Suggestions to Get You Off to Great Start

Be sure to give students time to explore the links, especially if they haven’t had prior experience with them. In this lesson, I used oval links, but you may have other types of links, such as square links. When exploring they may string them together which is fine but later be sure to distinguish how to properly use as a math tool and not free constructing time.

                These are the free exploring things I designed.                                     

Review the idea of ‘patterns’ and discuss the naming of patterns, such as ABC, 123, etc.

I have used this activity with both small groups and as a rotating center. It is helpful to introduce this activity at the beginning of the year in order for students to understand how to correctly use the links (otherwise, they tend to just make designs or strings as in free exploring) and to become familiar with ideas of naming and identifying patterns.

For this particular patterning activity, you will need links or materials with 4 different attributes and pattern cards. There is also a blank sheet for you to make your own patterns, using numbers or other symbols instead of letters-ABCD, or children can write their own ideas. Please download the freebie at my teacherspayteachers store-MakeMathMagic  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Make-Math-Magic  and use in whatever manner works for you.

AB and ABC Pattern Cards

ABB and AABCDD Pattern Cards


Directions

1. Turn all the cards face down. Depending upon the level of your students, you may wish to separate and use only some of the pattern cards. For instance, the most simplistic pattern is AB; some are more sophisticated such as ABCDBBD. You decide when and how is the most appropriate use of the cards.

2. Once the students have decided which color link is going to be an A-B-C-D, they are ready to represent that pattern with the links, or whatever material they are using. They need to reproduce the pattern at least2 to 3 times in order to show they understand that the pattern continues in that order.

3. Ask the students to do several pattern cards and then share their thinking with a friend or partner. If friend or partner agrees, they may move on to other cards.

4. You can decide if you want them to select 2 or 3 of their patterns to draw in their journals. When I did this, I discouraged using it as an ‘art project’  but rather encouraged them to simply show and name the patterns. An example might be to draw a line in that color to represent the Link color.

ABC      A     B    C    A        B      C

Pattern Cards

Blank Pattern Car

I initially made these pattern cards to be used with Links but have used them for other activities such as sorting, categorizing, etc. I introduce Links at the beginning of the year, so we can properly use them later for adding, subtracting, multiplication arrays. At the end of this posting, I will have photos of ways I have used Links for 1 to 1 counting, adding, subtraction and multiplication arrays.

Pattern Cards Included