Activities! Hours! Timelines! Schedules! And Good Job, Ajay!

Are you still adjusting to “spring forward!” and the beginning of Daylight Saving Time? I sure am! Moving the clock ahead an hour means it is still dark in the morning and I want to snuggle under the covers. But the extra hour of daylight at the end of the day means more time play at the park!

In the spirit of Daylight Saving Time, this week’s three featured MathStart stories are themed around time:

The week’s featured I See I Learn book is Happy, Healthy Ajay!, a story about healthy habits. Ajay wants to be strong, so he can ru fast with his friends. See how eating healthy foods and getting lots of exercise helps Ajay feel great—and run fast!

Learning how to eat good foods and engaging in active play help children to develop healthy habits that will serve them well throughout the lives. Staying fit and eating nourishing foods have benefits in the classroom, too. When children are healthy, they can better focus on learning .

The little boy’s day starts at 7:00 A.M. with a great big stretch. Puppy stretches, too. By 8:00 A.M., it’s off to school — “Good-bye Mom!” At 9:00 A.M., it’s time to learn, and by 10:00 A.M., it’s time to play with friends. The story follows the little boy throughout all 24 hours of his busy day, noting the time with an analog clock face and digital display that shows A.M and P.M. Lunch time! Dinner time! Bath time! Bedtime! When the boy is all tucked in for the night, friendly monsters come out to play. And then, before you know it, it’s 7:00 A.M, and time to start another day.

Being able to read both analog (traditional) and digital clock faces is an important part of everyday life.

The puppy is worried. Will his Little Girl be ready to go to school on time? First, there is a five-minute snuggle with Teddy. Then another three minutes spent washing up, and eight minutes for breakfast. And there’s still so much more to do! Pup creates a colorful timeline to help keep track.

Constructing and interpreting timelines helps children determine elapsed time using such skills as adding on to find sums.

Katie and Cameron are all excited to help their uncle, Cactus Joe, with chores at the rodeo. Their first chore is watering the horses before the Bareback Bronc Riding event. “It starts at 3:00, so be there at 2:00 sharp,” Joe tells them. “You’ll need an hour to get the job done.” Katie makes a schedule. The next day, the rodeo starts with a Parade and Grand Entry at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch at noon, and then it’s time to water the horses at 2:00 p.m. By lunchtime, Katie and Cameron are running late. Will the kids make it?

Reading a schedule involves time-telling skills, developing a sense of elapsed time, and an ability to anticipate and plan.

Ajay wants to be strong, so he can run fast with his friends. See how eating healthy foods and getting lots of exercise helps Ajay feel great—and run fast!

Learning how to eat good foods and engaging in active play help children to develop healthy habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. Staying fit and eating nourishing foods have benefits in the classroom, too. When children are healthy, they can better focus on learning.

Be healthy! It's a smart thing to do.