Choice Based Art Stations

First Grade Overlapping Candy Canes

First Grade needed some practice back in December on how to draw objects in front of others. So, they practiced by drawing overlapping candy canes. They could make them whatever size and add whatever color patterns they wanted.

First Grade Pattern Indian Corn

First Grade has been working on using watercolors to paint and also creating patterns. They water colored Indian Corn after observing real life examples. They then used dot paints in red, orange, and yellow to paint the kernels of corn in a pattern of their choice. They also worked on cutting skills by cutting out the Indian Corn. Their corn was added to a grade level cornfield display.

Pattern Block Turkeys

To review repeating patterns, the students creatd pattern block turkeys. They each started with a hexagon and then chose whichever pattern blocks they wanted to create the rest of the pattern.

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.

 

 

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.

More Repeating Patterns

To review repeating patterns the students worked together to create, extend, and label repeating patterns with magnetic pattern blocks.

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.

Pattern Review

This week in math we have been reviewing various concepts. One of those concepts is repeating patterns. In one of our review lessons, the students worked in small groups to create repeating patterns using paper color tiles to match an alphabet pattern card. After making the first pattern, they rotated to another station with a different alphabet pattern card to practice a new pattern. The students were able to see that althought they may have chosen a different set of colors to begin with, the alphabet pattern stayed the same. Individually, and without the aid of the cards, the students wrote the alphabet pattern, identified the pattern core, and drew a line to divide each repeating part.

M&M Patterns

As a part of our study of repeating and additive patterns, we had a little fun with M&Ms. The students first used paper M&Ms that I made. They made several color repeating patterns and used craft sticks to divide the repeating sections. We then said the letter labels for each pattern and discussed how they were the same or different. On the next day, the students used the paper M&Ms to create positional patterns. The students were a little stumped at first when I gave each group a set of single-colored M&Ms but they soon figured out that if they turned the M's different ways they could create positional patterns. And, of course, it is even more fun and tasty to create patterns with real M&Ms!

Patterns, Patterns, and More Patterns!

This week we have been working on all types of patterns. The students created their own original patterns, created patterns based out of set letter patterns, and extended patterns based off of picture cards. They patterned with macaroni, color tiles, pattern blocks, and computer manipulatives. The students had to identify the pattern core of each pattern, how many times the pattern repeated, where the pattern repeated, and whether it was a repeating pattern or an additive pattern. Click below to see a slideshow of their pattern adventures.

This free picture slideshow created with Smilebox

Complete the Pattern

This week we have been working on identifying, creating, and extending repeating and additive patterns. To help them with this skill, you can have your child play this fun pattern game! The students identify what comes next in the color patterns. As your child plays, ask them what the pattern core is - the part that repeats. Also ask them to label the pattern verbally using letters.