Thursday, October 18, 2012
M&M Patterns
To reinforce repeating patterns and additive patterns, the students worked in cooperative groups to create patterns with paper M&M manipulatives. They used popsicle sticks to divide the repeating parts. After creating their patterns the students went on a gallery walk to practice labeling the patterns with letters. Next I gave the students only one color of M&M manipulatives. I asked them again to create a pattern. Previous students have been stumped by this challenge but not this group. They immediatley knew that they had to make positional patterns. I attribute this to the amazing quality of teaching we have in our Kindergarten. And, the kids are smart! Some of the groups chose to keep the patterns in a row but turning the M to various positions while other groups chose to move the M&Ms up and down to create a pattern. And of course, hard work deserves a reward. So, the students had the opportunity to build a variety of patterns with real M&Ms and then eat them.
Pumpkin Writing
Using our writing program, Write From the Beginning, the students wrote to describe pumpkins. They first created a Circle Map followed by a Tree Map to describe what a pumpkin has, looks like, and what it can do. Each Thursday we have Guided Writing instead of Guided Reading. The students work on their writing Monday through Wednesday and on Thursday they bring it to me for editing. I work with the students to edit their work by asking them questions such as "What goes at the beginning of a sentence?" or "What goes at the end of a complete sentence?" We also discuss strategies of sounding out words to spell unknown words. After we edit together, the students rewrite their sentences for a final draft. The students wrote their final draft this time on pumpkin paper and colored it.
Repeating Pattern Posters
The students used paper pattern blocks to create repeating patterns using pattern cards written in letter form. They glued the pattern blocks and letter cards on construction paper. The pattern posters are currently on display in our hallway but will soon be bound into a book. The students will be able to use the book to recreate patterns and practice identifying the pattern core. It is amazing to see how many different patterns they were able to create using the same basic letter cards.
The Shape of Things
We recently read The Shape of Things to review shapes. After reading, the students were given a 2D shape and asked to turn that shape into a picture, like the examples in the book. The students then wrote sentences (with my help on the typing) about their pictures following the format of the book. Their work will be bound together as a classroom book. The students love reading what their friends write.
Physical Properties: Texture
In science the students explored a variety of textures. They created handprint with various objects glued on it to represent the textures of rough, bumpy, smooth, hard, and soft.
Shape Clowns
The students created clowns using a variety of 2D shapes. As they worked we discussed the attributes of each shape.
Entertainment vs. Informational Texts
We have been studying Author's Purpose through a variety of texts. To assess the students' understanding, they worked in groups to sort pictures of books on a t-chart. The pictures of books came from Scholastic Book Club mail outs. The students could cut out as many books as they wanted to sort.
Shapes Around Us
After charting the attributes of 2D shapes, the students created posters to draw real-life objects that were in the same shapes.
More Repeating Patterns
To review repeating patterns the students worked together to create, extend, and label repeating patterns with magnetic pattern blocks.
Comparing Stories
As a part of our story of fairy tales and recurring phrases we read Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. After reading, the students compared and contrasted the two stories and we charted their comparisons on a Double Bubble Map.
Gumball Graphing
As a way to assess the students' understanding of graphing, they each created a gumball machine using dot stickers for the gumballs. Each student was given a different amount of stickers and they had to count, tally, and chart how many of each color gumball that was in their machine. They then graphed their totals on a bar-type graph and answered questions about their data.
A Visit From Aunt Rose
After reading A Visit From Aunt Rose by Patrsy Bevcar, the students retold the beginning, middle, and end of the story on a foldable.
Blueberries for Sal
In reading we are working on retelling stories including the beginning, middle, and end. We recently read Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. As a group we summarized and charted what happened in the story. The students then created a three flap foldable to illustrate and write to retell the story.
Repeating Patterns
The students practiced making repeating patterns with pattern blocks. They were each given a pattern written in letter form in which they had to recreate. They marked the repeating sections with popsicle sticks. After they were finished creating their pattern, they turned the letter card over. All of the students went on a "gallery walk" to practice identifying and labeling the patterns that their classmates created.
It's Library Time!
Our class visits the library each Friday after lunch. The students may choose up to three books to take home. After choosing their books, the students read independently. After all students are finished, our Instructional Media Specialist reads the students a story.
Independent Reading
For morning work before announcements the students may choose books from the classroom library or their book boxes to read from independently. Their book boxes are a part of our Guided Reading/Daily 5 lessons and include on-level, "just right" books for them. As you can see by the pictures below, the students are free to get comfortable to enjoy reading.
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