Twelve Days of Christmas Math

One of my favorite Christmas songs is The Twelve Days of Christmas.  I've been listening and singing this traditional Christmas song since I was a young child.  I loved the idea of the "true love" receiving gifts . . . especially all the birds.  When I became a teacher-author, I knew I could incorporate first or second grade learning activities with this beautiful song.  This blog post is about the math activities for The Twelve Days of Christmas resource I created.      

Adding within 12 - Form B:  Each student will need to a regular pair of dice to complete "Form B" which is adding within 12.  Use dice that are numbered with dots from one to six on the faces.  This will allow students to count the dots when they are calculating their sums.  Students roll the dice and record the two addends shown on the dice dots.  They then circle the correct numeral which is their sum.  Print sides one and two (front and back) on the sheets so that students have 8 problems to complete.

Adding within 18 - Form A:  If you use the "Form A", you will need to use the paper dice that are included in the file.  There is a tutorial at the end of this blog post.  The paper dice represent the gifts from The Twelve Days of Christmas song.  One dice template is for the gifts from 1 to 6.  The second dice template is for the gifts from 7 to 12.  The numerals are represented on the dice.  There are no actual matching numbers on the dice.  Therefore, students will need to use manipulatives or calculators to solve the problems.  Students will arrive at the sum of 18 only when the "6 geese a-laying" are rolled along with a roll of the "12 drummers drumming" on the second dice  This activity can be used as a math station which means you'll only need to make a few sets of dice.  Allow the children to work with a peer.  While the children are standing, they drop the dice on the floor or carpet.  They observe the numbers that are face up on the dice.  The numbers that are face up are the addends.  The record the addends on the recording sheets.  Then, they solve the addition problem that was created.  They circle the correct sum from the selection provided.  Each child within a pair is responsible for one of the dice. 

The fact that The Twelve Days of Christmas song has twelve gifts made the paper dice activity work well.  The paper dice template that is included could also be used with "Form B".  In that instance, you would use two of the dice that are for gifts 1 to 6.  You would not use the dice template for the gifts from 7 to 12.

Determine The Missing Number:  The Twelve Days of Christmas is a cumulative song.  Each verse repeats the previous ones.  The quantities of gifts also increase by one number with each new day.  The worksheet shown below includes sentences which tell the number given of a particular gift.  Students can use manipulatives to determine the missing number.  The back side of the worksheet includes the gifts for days eight through twelve.

Here is a tutorial for assembling the dice.

Step One:  Print the desired paper dice templates.  You will need a pair of scissors and tape to complete the next steps.

Step Two:  Cut out the paper dice template.  Cut on the solid lines.  Do NOT cut on the broken (dotted) lines.  Each dice has six faces or surfaces.

Step Three:  Fold on the broken (dotted) lines.  This includes the seven flabs (or tabs) that extend from some of the faces (or surfaces) of the dice.

Step Four: Start on the dice surface which has two flaps.  Tuck the flaps into the dice as you tape the edge of one surface to the edge of another surface.

Step Five:  Continue taping the surfaces of the dice together.  Conceal the remaining three flaps into the dice and tape.

You're almost finished!  Repeat the procedure with the other dice template.

You're ready to use your paper dice that go with the song named Twelve Days of Christmas!

This resource also includes printable sheets with the words to the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas and several language arts activities that are suitable for first and second graders.  Find more details about the language arts activities in the next blog post HERE.  Click the image shown below to view this product in my shop.

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