Geometry!

We've had a variety of experiences with shapes and geometry these past few days. This week we wrapped up with a few activities: building a shape from a visual cue, finding congruent sides to a block, writing a riddle about our "favorite shape,"  and  putting together a beautiful shape quilt. The children are familiar with shapes and their names and have created a few of their own shapes. They stumped the first graders with their "favorite shape riddles" (i.e. "my favorite shape has no sides...answer ? circle") and are readily able to make new shapes from combined shapes.

Until Next Time,
Michele

2-D and 3-D shapes

This week we finished up our look at 2-D shapes, and shifted gears to begin a look at 3-D shapes. We constructed hexagons from a number of different combinations of pattern block shapes.

Our first look at 3-D shapes was a shape hunt. We looked around the room to find shapes that resembled drawings of 3D shapes like a cone, a sphere, and a cube, and then we explored geometry solids and blocks.

Until Next Time,
Michele

geometry, continued!

We are continuing with our Geometry Unit, constructing our own 2-D shapes with clay or geoboards, developing the language to describe and compare 2-D shapes and their attributes, and relating 2-D shapes to real-world objects. In addition, we have begun finding combinations of shapes, or puzzle block shapes, to fill an area, and exploring relationships amongst pattern block shapes. The children have created a mural that we've titled "circus" by making pictures from shapes to represent different things we might see in a circus. We are also working through a pattern block puzzle book which asks us to create the pattern with blocks, and then count up how many blocks we've used. Some of the children are challenging themselves and trying to use "only triangles." We've learned that there are many combinations of shapes that will fill each puzzle!
Until Next Time,
Michele

Exploring Geometry

 Geometry at the kindergarten level requires close observations, hands on learning, and descriptive language. We tried making shape outlines with clay, compared shapes, and noticed and talked about the attributes of the shapes circle, triangle,  diamond, rectangle, and square. We searched for shapes in our classroom, and noticed that there are a lot of things that are composed of shapes!

Until Next Time,
Michele

The Pattern Museum

We celebrated our traditional pattern museum this week. The kindergarteners were very proud of their work and able to explain their pattern work to a variety of interested visitors, including preschoolers, teachers, our first grade friends, and administrators. Exciting times, and now we know that the kindergarteners are pattern experts.
Until Next Time,
Michele

Patterns and more Patterns.....

We learned a new game, called "What's Next"; the children make a pattern and cover up the last few spaces with cups, and then there is some guessing!

 We have learned how to construct (and invent) a variety of patterns, including AB, AAB, ABB, ABCD, and etc; learning the components of pattern making.

 The children constructed and acted out arrow patterns- up, down, side to side.

Until Next Time,
Michele

Patterns, Continued

 We are putting together all sorts of patterns now; two color patterns, shape and color patterns, patterns to make a picture and 1-2 patterns. The children are clear about making patterns and noticing what repeats in each pattern, and are able to extend patterns by placing the block or color that comes next.

Until next time,
Michele