Hey teacher!
Today I want to discuss the best picture books for teaching Math and give you some ideas.
Do you ever use storybooks during Math lessons? If not, you definitely need to start!
Read alouds are often used during Literacy lessons, but there are so many great Math picture books out there.
They are perfect for lesson warm-ups and introducing new Math topics. But they are also ideal for practicing Math concepts and encouraging participation.
So, let’s dive into my list of the best picture books for teaching Math. I’ve read these books to First and Third Grade students and they’ve always been a hit! For this list, I’ve included storybooks that cover lots of different Math topics, from subtraction to fractions.
The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang
This clever math book uses rhyming couplets, riddles, and visual clues to help the reader find new ways to group numbers for quick counting.
This book is great as a read aloud before a counting activity. It’s ideal for student participation, as students can count the pictures in the book and share their answers.
Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti
With this book, your students will have fun whether they are multiplying, adding or counting their way through the math puzzles!
I love reading this picture book as a warm up for a multiplication lesson. It’s interactive and you can ask students to answer the questions.
Math for All Seasons by Greg Tang
This book will challenge every student to open their minds and solve problems in new and unexpected ways. Your students will love looking for patterns, symmetry, and familiar number combinations within the eye-catching pictures.
This is another awesome book by Greg Tang, which is great for multiplication lessons.
The Action of Subtraction by Brian P. Cleary
This funny book uses rhyming to talk about all things subtraction! Your students will be introduced to the terminology they’ll encounter as they learn to subtract.
Elevator Magic by G. Brian Karas
This book explains the concept of subtraction through a rhyming text about a descending elevator. Who knew that riding an elevator could be such an adventure?
I love ‘The Action of Subtraction’ and ‘Elevator Magic’ as storybook warm-ups before a subtraction lesson.
One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes
One hundred hungry ants march off single file to sample a picnic, but when the going gets too slow, they divide into two rows of fifty, then four rows of twenty . . . until they take so long that the picnic is gone!
The Great Divide by Dayle Ann Dodds
This fun book features a cross country race where participants gradually are left behind and the group is divided again and again. The author provides a blow-by-blow account of an exciting race to the finish in this masterful rhyme about division.
This book is perfect for any lesson about sharing. It’s also great as a division lesson warm-up for older grades.
Give Me Half by Stuart J. Murphy
This book is a great way to discuss fractions. In the story, two siblings are sharing pizzas and making a mess!
I love reading this book with students during a lesson or unit about fractions.
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
As your students follow the Grouchy Ladybug on her journey, they will learn the important concepts of time, size, and shape, as well as the benefits of friendship and good manners.
This book is always a hit! I love reading it when teaching students how to tell the time.
I hope you enjoyed reading these recommendations, they are truly the best picture books for teaching Math. I hope you try them out with your students!
P.S. Are you teaching opinion writing? I have a blog post with my top 10 storybooks for teaching opinion writing. Click here to check it out!
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