EL Support Lesson
How Many Butterflies?
Objectives
Academic
Students will be able to write, recognize, and count numbers from 1 to 15.
Language
Students will be able to explain how to count objects to find the total number.
Introduction
(2 minutes)
- Gather the class for a read aloud.
- Display the cover of Counting Butterflies and ask the students to turn and talk to share what they see with a partner using the sentence starter, "I see _____."
- Say, "Today we are going to practice our counting. We are going to count butterflies!"
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(5 minutes)- Read aloud Counting Butterflies by Jerry Pallota.
- As you read, pause to point out the number written on each page and explain how the number matches the corresponding number of butterflies on the page.
- Pull out a handful of math manipulatives and say, "I wonder how many ____ I have in all? I am going to count each one to find the total amount."
- Using a number line and math manipulative (e.g., snap cubes or buttons) model counting each object while pointing to the corresponding number on the number line to find the total amount.
Guided Practice
(5 minutes)- Put students in pairs with a partner.
- Pass out a handful of math manipulatives to each pair along with a number line.
- Explain that each pair should count their manipulatives using their number line.
- Have students find the total number of manipulatives with their partner using the number line and counting aloud.
- Bring students' attention back to the front and have several pairs share out their total number.
- As students share out, highlight the different counting strategies they used (e.g., moving to the side, placing on the number line, etc).
Group work time
(15 minutes)- Display the Counting Butterflies worksheet and explain the instructions.
- Pass out worksheets and number lines for students to use when completing their work indpendently.
- Ask students to turn and talk to share the total number of butterflies they counted on their worksheet.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(5 minutes)- Read aloud Counting Butterflies by Jerry Pallota.
Additional EL adaptations
Beginning
- Allow students to count in their home language (L1).
- Work with a small group of students to practice counting in English using echo counting.
Advanced
- Provide students with a handful of manipulatives and ask them to find how many there are in all. Have students turn and talk to share with a partner how they got to their answer.
Assessment
(5 minutes)- Circulate around the room and ask students guiding questions as they work. For example, "How many butterflies are there here? How do you know? How many in all? Can you show me how you got that number?"
- Collect student work samples to assess if students are able to accurately represent the total number.
Review and closing
(3 minutes)- Gather students together and review the concepts of the lesson by drawing a picture of six red butterflies and four blue butterflies. Ask students, "How many butterflies are there in all?"
- Ask students to turn and talk with a partner to share their answers.
- As a group, review strategies for finding the total number of something (e.g,. number line, counters, counting aloud, etc).
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