All Hands Accounted For!

We have been learning about patterns and how important and useful they are to learning math skills.  We have learned to make patterns using actions like clapping and snapping; using words and using manipulatives.  Now we are transferring that knowledge to numbers!  We started with a review of counting by 5s and 10s.  First we had to trace our hands 3-5 times and put them in a bucket.  This was good practice for us!  Then we got a partner and a pile of hands.  Our job was to put the hands on strips of paper and label them with a 5.  After we did that we grouped them into 10s.  We wrote 2 math equations . . . 5+5+5 etc.  then 10+10+10+5 . . . etc.  The next day we worked in groups of 3.  We had to add all three strips of hands together.  We had lots of hands to count and add!