Loading preview...

Features

Six pictures of real loose parts to look at closely: pebbles and shells, acorns in a ten frame, a leaf pattern with something odd, shells sorted by size, sticks of different lengths and a scatter of gems
I notice and I wonder boxes with room to draw and lines to write on
An I counted box: children choose what to count and write the number
A guess first, then a count, on the estimating page
A My idea box to draw in on every page
Open-ended, with no right answers: every child notices something different
Every page in color and in black and white

Skills Covered

Look closely and describe what you see in math words
Ask questions about numbers, shapes and patterns
Count a collection and write the number

Notice a pattern and what does not fit it
Compare sizes and lengths
Estimate a quantity, then count to check

How to Use This Pack

Six pages, one picture each, for math talk in the Reggio-inspired way: look closely, talk, and show your thinking. Every page has the same four boxes under its picture: I notice... and I wonder... (room to draw above two lines to write on), I counted... (a box for the number and a line for what was counted) and My idea (room to draw). Page 1 is a collection of pebbles and shells of many sizes. Page 2 is a ten frame with seven acorns in it and two more acorns beside it. Page 3 is a pattern of leaves and acorns with a pebble where an acorn should be. Page 4 shows shells sorted by size in three rings, with one shell left outside. Page 5 has six sticks of different lengths lined up at one end. Page 6 is a scatter of glass gems, with My guess and I counted boxes for estimating before counting.

In the Classroom

Show the picture to a small group or the whole class and give everyone quiet time to look before anyone speaks. Then ask "What do you notice?" and "What do you wonder?" and write the children's words down as they say them: on the page for a young child, or on chart paper for the group. There is no wrong noticing. Keep the questions they ask: they make good next investigations, so set out real pebbles, acorns, shells or sticks the next day and let the children test their ideas. The pages make good documentation for a portfolio or a class display.

At Home

Look at one page together and take turns saying one thing you notice. Ask "How do you know?" and "What else could we count?" Then go outside or open a drawer and make a collection of your own (buttons, stones, leaves, spoons) to notice and wonder about together.

Tips for Success

Give quiet looking time first: a minute of looking brings better noticing
Write down the children's own words, even when the idea is not what you expected
Ask "How did you count?" as often as "How many?"
Younger children draw in the boxes and tell you their idea; older children write it on the lines
Turn the best wonderings into the next day's activity with real loose parts

Common Core Standards Alignment

This pack supports the following Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:

K.CC.B.5 Tell how many: up to 20 objects in a line, array or circle, or 10 scattered. Also count out a requested number up to 20.
K.MD.B.3 Sort objects into named groups, count each group (up to 10), and order the groups by how many they hold.

I Notice, I Wonder Math

K – 2nd Grade

Reggio-inspired documentation pages for math talk, each built around a picture of loose parts to look at closely: a collection, a ten frame, a pattern, a sort, sticks to compare and a scatter to estimate. Children say, draw and write what they notice and wonder, count something of their own choosing and draw an idea of their own.

Download PDF

What’s Included

6 worksheets in color and in black and white (12 pages)
A collection, a ten frame, a pattern, a sort, sticks to compare and a scatter to estimate
I notice, I wonder, I counted and My idea boxes on every page
No answer key: the pages are open-ended

Can’t find what you need?

Tell us what to make next, or build your own with a worksheet maker.

Suggest a worksheet

Free to print and share

This worksheet is free to download, print, copy, and hand out in your classroom or at home. You do not need to create an account, and there are no watermarks on the PDF.