Meaning of Zero Lesson Plan

Purpose
-To demonstrate to the children the meaning of
zero.
Prerequisites
-The students have the ability to associate the
numerals from 1 to 10 with actual quantities.
-The students must also know the names of
numerals 1 through 10 and have the ability to
recognize their written shape.
Vocabulary
-Zero
Anticipatory Set
Ask the children to tell the person next to them if
they have ever eaten zero M&Ms.
Best Shot
Begin by asking the children to clap their hands two
times. Then ask them to clap five times. Finally,
ask them to clap zero times. (Some children may
still clap.)
Explain to the children that zero means nothing,
and if they are asked to do something zero times,
that means that they do not do it.
Repeat the activity but add variety (for example: ask
all of the children to jump a specific number of
times, take a certain amount of steps, tap their knee,
or put up a specific number of fingers).
Guided Practice
Show the children how to trace the zero Sandpaper
Number and pass it around for each child to trace.
Take the box of folded slips and ask each child to
choose one and to hold it until every child has a slip
of paper. To make the activity exciting, have the
children unfold their slips of paper privately to see
which number they have chosen. Have the children
go around the room and return with the correct
number of objects. Even the child that has zero
walks around the room, but returns with nothing.
The children should place all their objects in front
of them and wait until everyone has done the same.
The children should take turns publicly unfolding
their slips and counting out their objects to confirm
their accuracy. The teacher should make special
effort to praise the child who drew the number
zero, because he or she is demonstrating an
important concept.

Materials:
- Zero Sandpaper Number
- A box containing folded slips of paper with a
numeral from 0 to 10 written on each slip.
Independent Practice
The child counts and binds the correct number of
spindles and places them in the corresponding
compartments.
The child can see that the
compartment labeled 0 will have nothing in it. If
the child has done the activity correctly, all 45
spindles will be used.
Materials:
-Two wooden boxes totaling ten compartments
numbered 0 to 9 along the back.
-A basket with 45 spindles.
-Eight pipe cleaners.
Closure
Give each student three M&Ms and ask them to eat
them. Then ask them how many M&Ms are left in
their hands.
Materials:
-three M&Ms for each student.
Extensions
-Have the students work in pairs. One child can
write, paint, draw in sand, or say a number name
from 0 to 10 to their teammate. The other student
can draw, paint, clap, or bring objects that
correspond to the number. The children can then
count the objects together or say zero.
-Children can create story problems for their friends
by using objects around the classroom. For
example: If I start with two crayons and lose both,
how many do I have left? Zero!
-The children can play Simon Says. For example:
Simon says do five jumping jacks, Simon says do 2
froggy jumps, Simon says do zero summersaults.
Michigan ECSQ: The curriculum is designed to include
experiences related to childrens social, emotional, intellectual,
language, creative, and physical development. | The curriculum
fosters the integration of the content areas to support childrens
growth in all domains. (page 23)