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Zearn Math provides teachers with all of the materials they need to plan and lead instruction that ensures students deeply learn the math content of their grade. These include Whole Group Word Problems, Whole Group Fluency, and Small Group Lessons. 

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Whole Group Fluency

Whole-Group Fluency materials include oral fluencies and whiteboard fluencies. Each day, teachers choose one fluency to complete as a class as a fun warm-up. This whole-group warm-up engages the community of learners and builds number sense.  Each student should have an individual whiteboard so each student has an opportunity to show their pictorial and abstract representations. Fluency activities are opening activities with two instructional purposes – one is fun practice of previously learned ideas to develop procedural fluency and retain content and the other is a warm-up for upcoming content.  

Whole Group Word Problems

Whole Group Word Problems include word problems connected to the Mission that can be solved using a variety of approaches. Each day, teachers choose one word problem to complete as a class. While teaching the word problem, teachers can help students visualize what’s happening, encourage multiple representations, and have students talk about their strategies.

Small Group Lessons

Small Group Lessons give students opportunities to deeply learn math with concrete manipulatives, direct feedback, and discussion. Using the Small Group Lessons, teachers are able to work with a smaller group to provide more targeted instruction and feedback to students. They have more time to facilitate discussion and hear a variety of student strategies. With only half the class, teachers get to see what each child is modeling with their manipulatives and writing on their whiteboard. Teachers can also share feedback in the moment and develop a deeper understanding of the needs of each child.

Downloadable and printable Small Group Lessons are available on each Mission Page. Each Small Group Lesson includes space to annotate the Lesson based on students’ needs, required concrete materials, and debrief questions to prompt discussion. There are also recommended optional problems for remediation and enrichment. 

Concrete Materials

As students learn new concepts with Zearn Math, they progress from using concrete materials to pictures to abstract symbols, and they are able to move back and forth between each stage to make sure that they understand what they are learning. This gives all learners the chance to construct physical models of
abstract math ideas and test and confirm their thinking. You can find a list of recommended concrete materials by grade below. You can also purchase grade-level manipulative kits here.

  • Kindergarten
    • Teddy Bear Counters

    • Dot Dice

    • 3D Attribute Solids

    • Place Value Cards, 12 Basic Student Sets

    • Place Value Cards, Demonstration Set

    • 5-Group Cards, Demonstration Set

    • Sponge Dice, Dots

    • Rocker Scales

    • 100 Bead Demonstration Rekenrek

    • Unifix Cubes

  • 1st Grade

    • 100 Bead Demonstration Rekenrek

    • Place Value Cards, 12 Basic Student Sets

    • Place Value Cards, Demonstration Set

    • 5-Group Cards, Demonstration Set

    • Two Color Counters

    • Centimeter Cubes

    • Dot Dice

    • Pattern Blocks

    • Geometric Solids

    • Unifix Cubes

  • 2nd Grade

    • 100 Bead Demonstration Rekenrek

    • Two Color Counters

    • Classroom Money Kit

    • Centimeter Cubes

    • Whole Number Place Value Cards

    • Meter/Yardsticks

    • 12-Hour Student Clock

    • Color Tiles, Plastic

    • Unifix Cubes

    • Place Value Disks

    • Wood Ruler, Inch and Metric

  • 3rd Grade

    • Eye Droppers

    • Whole Number Place Value Cards

    • Digital Scale with Bowl

    • Demonstration Clock

    • Metric Weight Set

    • Centimeter Cubes

    • Platform Scale

    • Place Value Disks

    • Pattern Blocks

    • Timers

  • 4th Grade

    • Customary Weight Set

    • Whole Number Place Value Cards

    • Decimal Place Value Cards

    • Graduated Cylinder 1000-ml

    • 360 Circle Protractors

    • Gallon Measurement Set

    • Place Value Disks

    • Decimal Disks

    • 4" Protractors

    • Platform Scale

  • 5th Grade

    • Two Color Counters

    • Whole Number Place Value Cards

    • Decimal Place Value Cards

    • Centimeter Cubes

    • Tape Measures

    • Graduated Cylinders 100 ml

    • Place Value Disks

    • Decimal Disks

    • Patty Paper