Kayley Throop Pigs in the Pen!

Kayley Throop

Title:  Pigs in the Pen!  One-to-One Correspondence & Parts of a Whole

Author:  Rachel McAnallen

Source:  http://www.zoidandcompany.com/withoutworksheets_files/%231PigsInThePen.pdf

Summary:

Ms. Math came to a realization that “As adults we take so many things for granted.  We assume that kids understand a concept when they really don’t have it.”  While playing a money game, students with 6 pennies did not realize that if they have six- they also have five and could make a trade for a nickel.  “When we teach counting we are always concentrating on the whole.  We emphasize the total, but we never teach the parts.” 

Begin the activity by creating a large circle on the floor with a piece of string and have students sit around it.  Throw some “stuff” in the circle, in this case- colorful foam pigs.  The students take turns counting the pigs, each time starting with a different pig.  Ask the question, “Is there one pig in the pen?”  “No” they will reply.  Change the question slightly by asking, “Is there one blue pig in the pen?” “Yes” they will reply.  Ask again, “Is there one pig in the pen?”  When they say “No” have one student go and get one pig out of the pen.  Continue this activity until students understand the concept.

This activity can be continued to teach fractions, addition, subtraction, and groupings.

Analysis:

This is an activity that I can use in my classroom tomorrow.  I have also seen in my classroom that most kindergartners do not understand the concept of parts within a whole.  This article gives the exact phrasing and questions that I can ask to guide the students to a greater understanding of the value of a number.