And More Patterns!

The Kindergarten Mathematicians continued to explore patterns, and learned how a section of a pattern might repeat. We learned to make 1,2 patterns and demonstrated how our feet would move if we followed the pattern. There was a lot of free exploration regarding patterns, and we noticed that their work was very organized and, in actuality, contained a lot of patterns!

a colorful pattern!

Until Next Time,
Michele

More Patterns!

We started to make our own patterns, with pattern blocks, red and yellow markers and interlocking cubes. We compared our patterns and talked about our patterns. The children learned a new game, what comes next? and worked in partners. A grand beginning for a great unit.
Until Next Time,
Michele

Patterns!

 We started the week with a walk to observe patterns in our school. The children recorded their observations in drawing and words to share with later. We talked about patterns, and what makes a pattern with a cube tower of eight cubes. A favorite observation game to play was "what's missing?" with a tray of objects. The children became very skilled at hiding an object under the cloth and guessing what was missing.

Until Next Time,
Michele

Measuring and Comparing

 We created a unit of measure, ten cubes, and used it to compare to objects. Were they shorter or longer?

counting objects to "take inventory"

What happens if it's the same length?

a serious game of "compare" where the value of numbers is all that matters!

the piles are growing!

 We read the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henke, and then compared the lengths of our names with hers and with each others'. We found out that we have six names that have six letters in them! AND we loved knowing that 13, the number of letters in Chrysanthemum's name, is half the number of letters in the alphabet.


Until Next Time,
Michele

10 Black Dots Can Be....

We visited a counting book this week, Ten Black Dots, by Donald Crews, and the children reproduced their own version of "ten black dots can be....." in word and design. This type of work involves planning ahead, creative thinking (how am I going to get all of those dots in there) as well as counting and checking the count. The children were very proud of the pages they created! We also continued with our math games, counting and recording the count, and tried some work with partners. The children are able to work next to each other and take turns, but not quite working "together" to obtain a common goal. We will practice this skill over the year! We also tried a "number string search"; the children were given the end of a string which was tangled all through the room, and they followed it to get to their number card, and then got into the correct numerical order. It was really tricky! I noticed some children able to follow along the string and untangle tangles as they reach them, and some children looking ahead and trying to determine where their string went and  how they would untangle something when they got there. The children who stayed in the immediate moment, winding string and following along, finished the task first. Hmmmm, interesting?
Until Next Time,
Michele