Using This Interactive Tool in the Classroom:

• Whole Class Instruction: Project this activity on your smartboard or screen. Use it as a shared learning experience where students can come up and interact with the problems while the class counts aloud together. The visual diyas and immediate feedback make it perfect for guided math instruction.
• Think-Aloud Strategy: Model your counting strategy by touching each diya on screen and counting aloud. This helps students see the one-to-one correspondence and understand your mathematical thinking process.
• Student Engagement: Invite students to the board to click their answers. The interactive nature keeps students engaged and allows for immediate teachable moments when mistakes happen.

Differentiation Ideas:

• Struggling learners: Provide manipulatives (counters, real diyas) for hands-on counting alongside the digital version
• Advanced learners: Challenge them to solve mentally before using the interactive tool, or refresh the page for more complex problems
• ELL Support: Use the visual representations, model counting aloud with the interactive diyas, pair with counting buddy

Assessment Strategy:

• Observe one-to-one correspondence during counting on screen
• Check written numbers for correct formation when students record answers
• Listen to student explanations of their counting strategies as they interact
• Use the instant feedback feature to identify misconceptions immediately

Extension Activities:

• Create patterns with diyas (AB, AAB, ABC patterns)
• Graph how many diyas each student would light
• Estimate jar filled with diya cutouts, then count to verify
• Refresh the page multiple times to practice with different number combinations

Make It Fun:

• Count diyas around your home or in pictures
• Use cookie cutters to make diya-shaped snacks and count them
• Take turns hiding diyas around the room for counting scavenger hunts
• Talk about why families light diyas during Diwali (to celebrate light over darkness)

Learning Conversation Starters:

• “How many diyas do you see? Let’s count together!”
• “If we add these diyas to those diyas, how many will we have?”
• “Which group has more? How do you know?”