This resource was designed to enhance your Math Workshop and increase student engagement for December. It includes 3 task-based lessons for your Math Workshop that focus on identifying, extending, and creating patterns, counting a set of objects and graphing the data, writing numerals 1-20, and ordering sets of numbers. Use it for whole group lessons, small group lessons, or even in centers. Click the Green Preview button for a closer look at what's included.

What's Included:

• 3 Lesson Plans
• Setup Instructions & ideas for classroom transformations
• Teacher Questioning Guide
• Student Recording Sheets for Each Lesson
• Class Chart Pieces for 1 lesson (color & black and white)
• Counting or Task Pieces for each applicable lesson (color and black and white)
• Signs/Labels for Task Bags (color & black and white)

Lesson Components:

• Objective
• Standards
• Materials Needed
• Focus Lesson
• Partner/Group Task
• Whole Class Share
• Focus Idea for Learning Stations

About the Lessons & Tasks:
During each lesson, students will work as a class to answer a math question. For some lessons, this includes counting a set of objects to determine how many objects there are, then displaying that information on a graph. For others, it means extending or creating a pattern, or figuring out the order in which sets of numbers go. During the task part of the lesson, students will work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to apply the same problem and record their thinking.

Themes:

• Lesson 1 - Gumdrop Lane: Students visit "gingerbread houses" on Gumdrop Lane (there are 8 total). At each house, there are gumdrop pattern paths that need to be completed or created. Students have to determine the pattern, place a gumdrop (or your choice of patterning manipulative) on each picture and extend that pattern. Then they record and label their pattern (AB, ABC, etc.). At one gingerbread house, the pattern is not given. In that case, students must create their own pattern, record, and label it.
• Lesson 2 - Animals in the Mitten: Students will count and organize the animals in different mittens. They'll count to determine how many record the information. Recording options include: drawing a picture of how many animals there are, or recrording the information on a graph. Finally, as a class, you'll all record the information on a graph and practice asking/answering questions about the data.
• Lesson 3 - Winter Express Train: Students will visit "train cars" that are part of the "Winter Express Train". At each train car, they'll find sets of 6 number cards. Students will use their understanding of counting, number identification, and number order to put number cards in order. Finally, they'll record a number order. This task includes 8 train car task stations. 2 of the train cars include options for ordering numbers that count by 1s or ordering sets of cards that count by 10s.

Don't forget to check out the PREVIEW by clicking the green button underneath the cover where you can see pictures of what's included.

I'd love to see how you're using these lessons in your classroom! Please take pictures and tag me on social media: @teachinglittleleaders