Measuring with Non-Standard Units

We measured ourselves this week with towers of cubes. In doing so, the children learned that "length" is a measurable commodity and is measured a certain way, by placing the end of the measuring unit at a starting point. 

we practiced on a bear!

 a motivating and interesting way to practice measuring various lengths!
Until Next Time,
Michele

New Games with Numbers

This week we formalized our learning about numbers and counting.  We started the week by making pages that depicted visual representations of the numbers 6 through 10; the children created their designs in pairs, following the rule of one whole side of a square touching the other. After we created our designs, we recorded the numbers that represented the total.  

 Some children created their designs with tiles and then used paper to record their designs.

 "Racing bears" is a game that requires rolling dice to help bears to move along a game board-each time the bear reaches a star, a button is earned!

 Toss the Chips is a game that requires counting two sided tiles to add up to a total. The children write the numbers each time they add them up.

The kindergarten mathematicians were motivated to count, write numbers, add numbers, and fill in the columns of numbers. Applying our number knowledge to succeed with  purposeful but fun
games helps us to practice our math skills!

Until Next Time,
Michele

Comparing 3D Shapes

We used a Venn diagram to compare 3D shapes this week. We organized our shapes according to only stacking, only rolling, and stacking and rolling. We've also discovered that we can construct solid geoblocks by putting together 2 or three smaller 3D shapes.

Until Next Time,
Michele

Geometry and 3D Shapes

 We "hunt" for 3D shapes in Kindergarten Math. By hunting for the shapes, we notice that everything is made of different shapes!

 We also experiment with and categorize 3D shapes when we build with them. There are many questions to be answered!

Until Next Time,
Michele

More Geometry and 2-D Shapes

We created with shapes this week; using cut out representations of shapes the children glued, drew, and combined shapes to create new shapes.

 "Fill the hexagons" is a game wherein the children roll dice and combine different shapes to make a hexagon. There are many colorful ways to make a hexagon!

 We created a "shape mural" with a sky, beach, and water to fill up with shapes. The children created things that they would see at the beach with shapes. There were beach balls made from circles, sand castles made from squares and triangles, and suns and starfish made from hexagons and rhombus.

Until Next Time,
Michele

Geometry

Kindergarten students come to the study of geometry with a great deal of practical experience as they have been seeing and interacting with shapes in their environment all their lives. The Kindergarten geometry unit helps students observe shapes more carefully, focus on the characteristics of different shapes, and begin to describe the similarities and differences they see. The activities that we engage in capitalize on the knowledge of shapes that students bring to the classroom and provide opportunities for them to expand and build on what they already know.

To begin our geometry unit, we looked at various shapes and hunted around the room to find items that were made of that shape- for example, books are shaped like rectangles. We used pattern block shapes to fill in shape outlines, and made a book of shapes which included the sentence "A _______is a ____________until you add___________and then it's a ________________.  The student would cut out a shape, glue it to a page, and add details to complete their shape story. So, for example, "A circle is a circle until you add 2 circles and 4 ovals and then it's a bear."

Until Next Time,
Michele

The Pattern Museum

Our culminating project for our pattern unit, during which we've constructed patterns, played "what's next?" games, and deconstructed patterns, is a Pattern Museum. We keep track of all the patterns that the children have made, both on paper and with manipulatives, and share them with the first graders, administrative staff, and the PreK's. It's wonderful to see the children exhibit pride both in curating their work and explaining it to their audience. Enjoy!

first, we make sure to make and hand out invitations!

and then it's time for our museum displays!

this first grader remembered her pattern museum days!