Hands-On Math Using FREE Milk Lid Jug Lids

$3.00

Start saving milk jug lids because there are countless hands-on math activities you can do in your classroom using this free manipulative. Here are just four of those ideas.

1) Sort the lids by various attributes such as:

• Color
• Snap-on or Twist-on 
• Label or No Label
• Kind of edge (smooth or rough)

2) Let the students grab one handful of lids.

• Ask the students to count the lids.
• See if the students can write that number.

3) Make a pattern using two different colors of lids.

 

• Identify the pattern using letters of the alphabet or numbers. The pattern above would be an A, A, B pattern or a 1, 1, 2 pattern.

• Now ask the students to use more than two colors to make a pattern

• Once more, have the students identify the pattern using alphabet letters or numbers.

4) Decide on a money value for each color of lid. (Example: Red lids are worth a nickel, blue lids are worth a dime, and white lids are worth a penny.) Put all of the lids into a bag and have the students draw out four lids. Have the students add up the total value of these four lids.

• Use play money (coins) to have the students show the value of the lids. 

• Have the students practice writing money as either a part of a dollar or as cents.

• Another idea is to have the students find all the combinations of lids that would equal a nickel or a dime or a quarter.

The resource, Milk Lid Math, contains over 15 hand-on ideas with numerous activities listed under each idea. The activities may be used with a whole group, small groups or as center activities.