The Robertson Program

Growing Patterns Through a story about magical snakes, children think about numerical patterns.

3 paper “snakes” and “magic pellets” are at the centre of this story-based, early years patterning lesson. What theories do children come up with for how many pellets each snake must eat? Do they recognize the patterns created?
Free lesson + printable: www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

The Power of the Number Line: A Model that Scales | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Number lines make explicit and build upon pre-existing spatial-numeric intuitions, support children’s growing understanding of ratio, proportion and scaling, and help students to construct and interna...

Of all the early assessments, a child’s ability to accurately map numbers onto a number line is a robust predictor of their achievement in mathematics," @oise prof Zack Hawes. Number lines support children’s understanding of ratio, proportion and scaling.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/bl...

Can You Draw This? Students are briefly shown a series of designs inside a square and must recreate them from memory.

Get students using spatial language at the beginning of math class with this quick activity you can use over and over again. Students improve visualization and communication skills over time!
Free slides with prompts in presenter's notes for teachers: www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Pumpkin Math: Part 1 A 2-part lesson exploring the relationship between a pumpkin's circumference, height, and weight.

A 2-part lesson from @JackmanICS lab school that gets students practicing how to measure height, circumference & weight. Non-standard measurements pave the way for standard units.
Free lesson plan w Ontario curriculum connections! www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...
@OISEUofT #mathteacher

100 Frame Bingo Students will practice arranging place value to compose two-digit numbers in this variation of Bingo.

This easy-to-set-up partner game gives primary-level students practice working with 2-digit numbers. Who can strategize to fill in a row or column on their 100-frame first?

Free lesson + print-out: www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Can You Draw This? Students are briefly shown a series of designs inside a square and must recreate them from memory.

Get students using spatial language at the beginning of math class with this quick activity you can use over and over again. Students improve visualization and communication skills over time!
Free slides with prompts in presenter's notes for teachers:
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Math Manipulatives: How do they aid student learning? | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education How do they aid student learning? With insight from practicing teachers, Dr. Julie Comay explores how math manipulatives — both physical and virtual — may help and hinder mathematical development .

Common manipulatives, such as popsicle sticks and wooden cubes, serve well as symbols for mathematical ideas! Learn about the 4 guidelines for using manipulatives in classrooms developed by Laski and colleagues to improve student learning.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/bl...

Going for Gold Students use three cards to try to get as close to 15 as possible without going over.

All you need is a few decks of cards and you can challenge your students to create an equation that is closest to a target number. Differentiation options let you modify this game for both primary and junior students! www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Monthly Math Challenge Each month, we are offering sets of engaging math challenges tailored for both primary and junior students. Designed to ignite classroom discussions and foster deep mathematical thinking, these challe...

Check out our recent monthly challenge exploring order of operation word problems! Easy activities that can be implemented in classrooms to assess addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills for primary and junior students! www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/mo...

Lucky 7s In this collaborative game, students create math equations with various mathematical operations to achieve target outcomes.

All you need is a deck of cards for this cooperative game! Students work to get rid of all their cards by devising math statements that equal 7. Start w/ addition/subtraction for primaries; challenge juniors to include multiplication/division.

Free lesson: www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Symmetry: A foundational concept in STEAM | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education The drive for symmetry is already apparent in the play of young children, who show growing inclination and ability to create spatially regular and patterned forms with art or construction materials an...

Learn about the importance of symmetry in play and development, in spatial reasoning, and resources that can be implemented within the classroom to improve understanding. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/bl...

Evens and Odds A collaborative game encouraging students to recall and demonstrate multiplication facts in order to remove all their game chips before their opponent does it first.

Once students can multiply numbers between 1 and 6, challenge them to expand their skills with “Evens & Odds.” This 2-person game extends into multiplying larger numbers, exploring probability, and recognizing prime and squared numbers.
Free lesson: www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

99 In this collaborative game, students try to keep the cumulative total under 99 until the deck runs out.

We love the math possibilities found in a deck of cards! 99 is an adding/subtracting game challenging students to determine a strategy to keep their total score under – you guessed it! – 99!
* All you need: A deck of cards
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Exploring Water: A Grade 1 Science Inquiry Grade One Teacher Zoe Donoahue is leading her students on an inquiry into water and she is sharing the journey with The Robertson Program.

Water provides many paths to learning, including earth sciences, chemistry, geology and biology. Grade One Teacher Zoe Donoahue is leading her students on an inquiry into water while sharing her journey with The Robertson Program.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Reflecting on Orange Shirt Day: Using Math to Deepen Understanding | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Use math to open new perspectives on the history and impact of residential schools. Explore lesson ideas that combine data, mapping, and personal stories to inspire meaningful discussion and learning.

Use math to gain new perspectives on the history and impact of residential schools. Combine data, maps, and personal stories to spark meaningful classroom discussions and deeper learning in our new blog. #TruthAndReconciliation #MathEd #IndigenousEducation
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/bl...

The only game you need to teach place value | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education There are many ways to practice becoming fluent with place value and understanding the relationships between digits. But this is the only game you need to know to help children gain a conceptual under...

There are many ways to practice becoming fluent with place value and understanding the relationships between digits. But there is the only game you need to help children gain a conceptual understanding of numbers.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/bl...

Beading and Graphing For students to sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, collect data, begin to read and describe displays of data, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contex...

Students learn to sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contexts using beads and pipe cleaners.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Fraction Race Estimate, compare, and simplify fractions as students race to place their fraction cards accurately on a number line.

Students learn to estimate, compare, and simplify fractions in this online activity as they race to place their fraction cards accurately on a number line. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

YouTube video by The Robertson Program Insight on Inquiry: Starting the Year in Kindergarten

Welcome back! Kindergarten teacher Carol Stephenson brings us inside her @JackmanICS classroom to share how she fosters inquiry-based learning at the beginning of the school year. In this video, see how her students are eager to learn as they investigate "mini beasts":
youtu.be/mKRkYSsvP78

Historical Figures in One Minute Students generate and analyze data to reveal issues of power, racial and gender inequality.

Students analyze a class-generated list of historical figures to explore patterns of representation, and discuss the social factors that reveal issues of power, racial and gender inequality. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Beading and Graphing For students to sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, collect data, begin to read and describe displays of data, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contex...

Students learn to sort, classify, and display a variety of concrete objects, and begin to explore the concept of probability in everyday contexts using beads and pipe cleaners.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Comparing Food Prices: Food Insecurity Part 1 Students use math to explore how explore the factors that influence one’s ability to access food.

Students explore the factors that influence one’s ability to access food in remote areas by estimating and calculating transactions and sales tax. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Fraction Sudoku Develop skills in fraction recognition, comparison, and logical reasoning. Students practice analyzing patterns and applying problem-solving strategies collaboratively.

In this fraction-focused twist on Sudoku, students use equivalent fractions—as well as improper and mixed numbers—to complete the board. Students must reason about fraction size and equivalence while applying logic to solve the puzzle.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Go Fish Using the four basic operations, players take turns asking opponents for cards that will create a target number.

Using the four basic operations, players take turns asking opponents for cards that will create a whole number up to and including 50. www.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/le...

Cube Challenge In this lesson, students work together to build 21 unique structures out of 3, 4, and 5 unifix cubes. Can you build them all?

In this small group activity, students work together to build 21 unique structures out of 3, 4, and 5 unifix cubes. www.oise.utoronto.ca/site/roberts...

Cookie Sheet Symmetry | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education For students to describe, sort, classify, and compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures, and describe the location and movement of objects through investigation.

Students describe, sort, classify, and compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures using magnetic pattern blocks and a cookie sheet.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/site/roberts...

Comparing Fractions in Our Favourite Foods | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Students expand their knowledge of fractions by looking at recipes that they bring from home.

Students learn to read and compare fractions, including halves and tenths, by looking at favourite recipes they bring from home in this small group activity.
www.oise.utoronto.ca/site/roberts...

Probability PIG Students attempt to sink a basketball into net while incrementally increasing their distance from it. Each time they increase their distance from, they roll a die. The number they roll represents the ...

In this group activity, students use probability language to predict the likelihood of sinking a ball into the basketball net at increasing distances. wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Using Mahjong tiles, students practice their patterning skills by creating various sets to win the game.
wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...

Ladybug Houses - The Robertson Program for Inquiry-based Teaching in Mathematics and Science Students develop an understanding of numbers by comparing ladybugs inside vs. outside of a house. Early Year. Number Sense.

Students identify number patterns by comparing ladybugs inside vs. outside of houses they construct using small toys and planko squares in this pair activity.
wordpress.oise.utoronto.ca/robertson/po...