How to DIY Layers of the Earth

Continuing from our Science and Geography Unit of

• How the universe all began
• How Earth was created and life on Earth
• The Sun and Moon
• Our Solar System
• More about Earth
• The Seven Continents
• My Place in the World
• Land and Water forms
• Biomes
• Layers of the Earth

How to DIY a Rainforest Biome

We have been learning about biomes, via videos and books, now it was time for a project. With my husband's difficult shift working late into the night, and life in Saudi doesn't permit that women drive (not that I'm complaining), we are always pushed to get our errands done on the weekend which I would rather spend as a family day out. But instead I dragged the family shopping, which is the last place they want to be. It's a huge store that sells everything you need for your home we expats know it as "kulli shay" stores, which translates as "everything" a store that sells everything, FYI they are my favorite places to shop I could spend hours, which I did haha. I stocked up on supplies for the biome project of plain gift boxes, artificial leaves and flowers, minature animals, cotton wool, string and sand, glue and so on.

Homeschooling My 5 year old Math

Our Old Classroom 

Math

We had spent the previous year of just concentrating on mastering the math facts and strengthening number sense. So, this year was about learning some new concepts like multiplication, telling time, measurement, division, fractions, subtraction, addition, money and 3D shapes. She is able to add upto 4 digit numbers and carry over, she is comfortable using most methods of addition. She has learnt how to subtract this year upto 2 digit numbers and using the borrowing method, but she prefers to use the number line and work out the difference between the two numbers.

How we use Montessori Number Cards (FREE Printable)

DIY Math Montessori Number Cards

Learning Place Value 

Number cards are an amazing resource to have when learning place value, your child can view all the components broken down to make the whole part, thus developing their number sense.

To introduce number cards to your child I would start like you can see in the picture. Lining up the units in sequence, then the tens, then hundreds and then thousands all placed in their columns as you would find in a stacked up math equation. This helps the child to familiarize themselves with the order of place value. They also begin to understand through direction that units are from 1 to 9, tens start from 10 to 90, hundreds begin from 100 to 900 and thousands are 1000 to 9000 etc. Teach this by having your child recite each column, for them to familiarize how to read each number.

Math Haul for Grade 1

Maths Materials we have been using 

Grade 1 Math Materials

Putting these materials together for this picture makes me look like I got a bit too excited on the Math Aisle!! Anyhow, these resources are what my 5 year old has been using throughout the year. Starting from the back to front.

Ramadan Sticker Calender (FREE Printable)

Ramadan is around the corner and we all want to it to be memorable for our children. This free PDF is designed for you and your little one to track the blessed days of Ramadan, it includes;

Math Fluency for ages 4 - 6 (Free printable - Math Fluency Framework GUIDE)

Just as much I tried to develop reading fluency in my child from the age of 3, I thought it was just as important to begin developing number fluency. Math fluency isn't just about mere memorization or following mathematical procedures following each problem step by step until we reach the right answer, and not really knowing or understanding how we came to that answer. Being fluent is a skill that is learnt and developed, in math it is to be accurate, have automaticity, be flexible and efficient, they are all integral parts needed to have math fluency. And having it will benefit your child later on to think about math in smarter ways, by providing a solid foundation upon which later stage of education can be built;

What is Number Sense?

What is Number Sense? And How to Master it

Number sense is making math make sense, it is a broad notion, it is a person having the ability to understand and use numbers effectively and efficiently. Russell Gersten and David J. Chard suggests that number sense "refers to a child's fluidity and flexibility with numbers, the sense of what numbers mean and an ability to perform mental mathematics and to look at the world and make comparisons."

Number sense is not just teaching the child math facts and have them memorised (although its the very first step in building the foundations. But it is to get the child to understand the relationship between numbers, knowing how to use them and to make judgement's and estimation's, how to use them in flexible ways and how to develop useful strategies in math operations. 

Get to Know me - What is life in Saudi like for an Expat? (Part 2)

For some reason when you are living in Saudi and you mention you are British, the Saudi will respect you more and treat you better, had they not known. Another perk of being British is our English language, we hadn't yet learnt the local Arabic dialect but many Arabs know a bit of English to understand you. And as the years have gone by more Arabs are becoming better English speakers and it is a lot easier to communicate in just English whilst living in the Kingdom without ever having to have a conversation in Arabic.

In the Holy City, Makkah

20 WAYS TO GET YOUR PRESCHOOLER TO LEARN NUMBERS

Teaching your child numbers is one of the most basic concepts he can learn. So let's make the start of their learning journey fun for them and full of sweet memories.

Coming Soon!! Arabic Grammar for Children

Arabic Grammar for children

I am excited to reveal to you all what my next exciting project will be, three workbooks designed for your precious little ones to learn the Arabic language and its grammar, inspired by the famous Arabic Course originally taught in Madinah Islamic University grammar books by Dr V. Abdur Rahman. A children's workbook that has been adapted to suit your chid.