Playing With Numbers

What is Playing With Numbers?

Designed by Chicago Children’s Museum’s education experts, Playing with Numbers (PWN) provides teachers with engaging instructional strategies to introduce, reinforce, and deepen understanding of grade-level math concepts through innovative classroom activities.

Playing with Numbers (PWN) is a professional development program for educators that’s all about early math. The series of sessions focuses on foundational concepts in mathematical thinking: number sense, base ten, operations, geometry, measurement and data.

The content of PWN is based on principles—not a specific curriculum—and is aligned to Common Core Standards. The ideas and activities from this program can find a place in your scope and sequence no matter what math program you use.

The 2024-2025 application is now closed. 

Please join our PWN mailing list to find out more for next year’s cohort.

 

What content does PWN include?

Preview the PWN session content here:

PWN content begins with the most fundamental set of skills needed for early math: number sense. In this first section, think critically about how we use numbers in everyday life.

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PWN content begins with the most fundamental set of skills needed for early math: number sense. In this first section, think critically about how we use numbers in everyday life. Get to know the learning trajectory of building strong number sense, and plan for guiding your students through developmentally appropriate activities. Understand what subitizing really means and how to practice it effectively with your students. Finally, connect these concepts to high-quality children’s literature and get a lesson plan to try it out in your classroom.

 

The next section of PWN is all about our base ten number system. See how complex this system really is and why it is often so hard for young learners to grasp.

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The next section of PWN is all about our base ten number system. See how complex this system really is and why it is often so hard for young learners to grasp. Find ways to strengthen understanding without reinforcing early misconceptions. Look at examples of student work and reflect on what young learners truly understand about base ten. Get best practices for using manipulatives to teach base ten, and a crash course in using the best early math teaching tool out there—the rekenrek. Connect these math concepts to children’s literature and get a lesson plan to try it yourself.

 

This section is all about operations. Learn the difference between procedural and conceptual knowledge, and reflect on how to balance both in your instruction.

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This section is all about operations. Prevent your students from simply going through the motions when it comes to adding and subtracting. Learn the difference between procedural and conceptual knowledge, and reflect on how to balance both in your instructional practice. Consider the learning trajectory and find ways to guide your students through developmentally appropriate activities that build true understanding of what it means to add and subtract. Think critically about the equal sign and how to prevent student misconceptions about it.

 

Geometry is about so much more than shapes! Go beyond shape recognition in this section all about the brain-building skills needed to understand attributes and location.

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Geometry is about so much more than shapes! Go beyond shape recognition in this section all about the brain-building skills needed to understand attributes and location. Explore the value of two- and three-dimensional block play and brainstorm ways to incorporate it into your classroom routines. Try out the tangram, a classic puzzle that builds spatial awareness, and learn an effective routine that builds perseverance in problem solving. Get a lesson plan to connect these concepts to a children’s picture book.

 

Apply learning from prior sections and dive into measurement in the K-1 classroom. Focus on standard and nonstandard units, and consider which to use for students.

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Apply learning from prior sections and dive into the big ideas of measurement in the K-1 classroom. Focus on standard and nonstandard units, and consider which to use to build students’ conceptual understanding of measurement. Think critically about sorting and graphing information in ways that are developmentally appropriate. Get simple, fun activities that activate measuring and sorting skills to do as a class right away. As always, connect measurement to an excellent children’s book that brings these ideas to life.

 
 

What does participation in PWN entail?

Playing with Numbers is an intensive, year-long professional development program meant to make meaning through mathematical thinking and create a community where play and learning connect. Big goals like these call for an investment of time and energy. See the timeline below for a better idea of the commitment required to join PWN.

PWN timeline for the 2024-2025 school year. This program consists of 30 total contact hours; ISBE clock hours available.

 

See what teachers have to say about PWN.

PWN is adaptable. 

“Playing with Numbers has opened my eyes up to many different strategies and instruction that I would have never dreamed of trying.” 

- Ashley Blume, kindergarten teacher, PWN alum 

PWN is cohort-based. 

“Allowing me to collaborate with teachers outside my building has really impacted my teaching and my students. I’ve come up with different ways to approach lessons and different ways to teach things that I would have never used before.” 

- Constance Cosmas, 1st grade teacher, PWN alum 

PWN sees the classroom through teachers’ eyes—and their students. 

“Using more play in the classrooms has allowed my kids to see that math is everywhere—it’s not just when we’re sitting down using the paper and pencil.” 

-Heather Murphy, kindergarten teacher, PWN alum 

 

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Playing with Numbers Cohort!

Join our PWN mailing list to find out more for next year’s cohort.