Lauren Salter

October 7, 2015
Math 3303
Childrens Literature in Math
Biographical Information for the Childrens Literature Book:
Ulmer, W. (2010). Zero, Zilch, Nada: Counting to None. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear
Press.
Mathematical Concepts for the Lesson:

Understanding Place Value

Number System Bases
Numbers
Skip Counting

Grade Level:
Second grade
NCTM Process Skills Addressed:
Problem Solving:
In the book the rabbit has to problem solve to figure out how to count all of
the balloons.
Communication:
Students will be working collaboratively within their groups and will be able to
discuss the book
and the assignment as to how they knew the number of
balloons they had. They will also
communicate the properties of the balloon
deflated and inflated.
Connections:
The students will connect the book to mathematics and science.
Representation:
The students will represent the balloons with the numbers on the number
chart.
Reasoning and Proof:
The students will explain how they got their answer as to how many balloons
there were.
Mathematics TEKS Addressed:
111.4. Grade 2, Adopted 2012.

(a) Introduction.
(4) The primary focal areas in Grade 2 are making comparisons within the
base-10 place value system, solving problems with addition and subtraction
within 1,000, and building foundations for multiplication.
(A) Students develop an understanding of the base-10 place value
system and place value concepts. The students' understanding of
base-10 place value includes ideas of counting in units and multiples of
thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones and a grasp of number
relationships, which students demonstrate in a variety of ways.
(C) Students use the relationship between skip counting and equal
groups of objects to represent the addition or subtraction of equivalent
sets, which builds a strong foundation for multiplication and division.
Other TEKS Addressed:
112.13. Science, Grade 2, Beginning with School Year 2010-2011.
(b) Knowledge and skills.
(5) Matter and energy. The student knows that matter has physical
properties and those
properties determine how it is described, classified,
changed, and used. The student is expected to:
(A) classify matter by physical properties, including shape, relative
mass, relative
temperature, texture, flexibility, and whether
material is a solid or liquid;

physical
melting;

(C) demonstrate that things can be done to materials to change their

properties such
as cutting, folding, sanding, and

Preparation:
The teacher should prepare this lesson by getting the book, the crayons that match
the colors of the balloons, and enough balloons for each table to have at least 100
balloons. The students should be placed into groups of about four students each, so
that they will all be able to work collaboratively to do the assignment. The students
should have already have a very basic idea of place value and base numbering
systems.
Description of the Lesson:

The teacher will begin the lesson by asking his or her students what place value is
and will then read the book Zero, Zilch, Nada: Counting to None by Wendy Ulmer.
After reading the book, the teacher will then go over what the rabbit did in the book
whenever he was popping the balloons, which was identifying the bases of number
systems and then skip counting to see how many balloons he had. Each students
will be given a 1 to 100 number chart and with their group they will be given 100
balloons and matching colored crayons. The students will divide the colors of their
balloons into groups of tens and then from there into groups of fives or twos like the
rabbit did whenever he had to skip count by the balloon colors base number
systems. The students will color in their number chart according to the number of
balloons of each color they had and in their groups of tens, fives, or twos. The
groups will count how many balloons they have all together and then of each color
then each group will share how many of each colored balloon they had and explain
how they knew that.

Description of the Lesson Component where Another Subject is addressed:

The second grade science TEKS that I chose were about physical properties and
describing what properties matter has along with demonstrating what can be done
to objects to change their physical properties. The balloons from the book and the
lesson could be described and blown up to demonstrate their changes. The balloon
could be described as being a specific color, light, flat, stretchy, rubbery, and
smooth. After the balloon is blown up, it can be described as to how it can float and
how it is now round.
Suggested Extensions and Modifications:
This lesson could be modified by going through the exact examples within the book,
using more than 100 balloons and a larger number chart, using more balloon colors,
or even using different objects to count. For example, the place value cubes and
sticks could be used to give a different visual representation of the numbers. The
lesson could be somewhat simplified by using numbers smaller than 100 if students
are not yet able to count that high or need simplified differentiated instruction.
Source of the Lesson:
Rousseau, N. (2014). Dots A Lot Of Number Charts!. Teachers Pay Teachers.
Retrieved From
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Number-Charts1340576