Mathemati-cat

A new operational tool to carry out the first grade math programme through the use of coloured tiles that portray the faces of kittens.  By manipulating them, playing with them, grouping them, and counting them, children can practice the programme in stages that allow them to:

• verify the prerequisites
• practice with quantities
• learn the numbers from 0 to 9
• manage addition and subtraction
• manipulate numbers up to 20

In this way, mathematics becomes a game thanks to the use of concrete, fun and motivating materials.
The volume presents a theoretical introduction and an operational section divided into two parts: the first for the teacher, with programmes and activities with the attached materials; the second consists of photocopiable worksheets to be given to pupils to carry out their work independently, enriched with work strategies and metacognitive suggestions, introduced by a visual mediator and concluded with a final self-assessment.

Included materials:

• 285 square cards with cat illustrations (cat-cards), which represent units
• 100 cat-cards useful for the teacher to compose a number line from 0 to 20 to be hung in class
• 45 cards with the numbers (number-cards), where the single digits are written in a different colour and format: units in blue and tens in orange
• 30 cards with the greater than and less than symbols (< >) and the addition, subtraction, and equals symbols (+ – =)

The stories
On the last pages of the section intended for teachers, two stories are presented to help pupils learn the most important mathematical facts and:

• Capture the child’s attention, as he/she becomes the protagonist in the construction of knowledge
• Arouse emotions that become markers of experiences, thus anchoring mathematical knowledge
• Combine the fantasy world with visualization and quantity manipulation