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

Some Formality is added to the K Classroom

This week we added some games that had steps and rules; the children grabbed a number of objects and then counted and "showed their count", practiced writing numbers as they rolled the dice, and looked into bags and counted the objects. We learned that"taking inventory" means counting to make sure there's enough. This is a group of children that is particularly interested in writing their numbers!

Until Next Time,
Michele

remembering and making your own!

K Mathematicians Write Number Books

 The kindergartners listened to a counting book by Anno, and on every page that there was a number there was a group of objects. We started to write our own books, creating groups of objects for each number. There were stickers, stamps, markers, and crayons to make the books extra exciting. We are excited to share our books with the four year olds soon!

Until Next Time,
Michele

The Mathematicians Take Attendance, Group Each Other And Make the Number 4

 A new way to take attendance in the classroom, writing your name in response to a question. The question is "where do you belong?"

 We grouped each other this week, by all different attributes; velcro straps on shoes or laces, colors, eye color, and other groups. The children made up the groups and then we guessed what the "rule" was.

Make the Number 4! with two OR more children.

Our play was a great success! I was so busy I didn't have time to take pictures. 

Until Next Time,

Michele

these children needed two photos to fit! 5 children making the number 4.

More About Numbers and Working Together

 We read the book The Napping House and then created a poster so we could count how many...legs, arms, feet, eyes, ears, etc. It was a good exercise in using a "reference" as well as counting a lot! We worked together to create the poster.

Until Next Time,
Michele