More than, Less than, Equal to, oral storytelling and science

This morning students were in Science. During Science they worked on describing different properties and characteristics of trees during the four seasons. They discussed as a class what happens to trees during the seasons and if they could decorate their own tree what would they use. Some ideas included : foil, water color paint, glue, and tissue paper. Here are a few pictures of some of the work they did. Today they came up with a plan and next time they meet they will create their tree.

During writing time we continued to work on telling oral stories. Some students brought in photos from home and it really helped them tell their true story. A letter was sent home today as a reminder to send in a photo of a family event. Students then used paper to draw down their story as a way to help them remember.

B draws to remember his story on the train

K's photo from Niagara Falls with his family

B uses his family photos from Christmas

In math today we continued to take a look at more than, less than, and equal to, which will help the students when we move into addition. It is a way for them to see it more concrete and get a feel for adding to and taking a way from to make a smaller and or larger amount. Students worked in pairs. Partner a started by putting a handful of buttons on the bottom. He or she then counted out how many they had placed. Partner B had to then show more than, less  than and equal to. Partner A then checked the answers.

During Language development centers, students worked on making slime again. They also focused on making a restaurant in dramatic play. In the light center K and S created a airplane, and a ice cream cone.
Today Ms. Alfredson allowed two students to go to her room in first grade to play. W and K had the opportunity and when they came back they were so excited! We will continue to work with first grade in play and this will help with cooperation, conversations, and learning from each other.

Math groups and counting

Today in math students were paired with different teams and worked on different tasks. One group worked on counting and collecting materials in the classroom. They were given a variety of materials and then worked together to count and then label the materials. It was so great to see them work together and also figure out how many of each object. Some of them were able to count correctly the first time. Others when I asked them how they knew for example there were 11 dry erase markers, said cause we counted. However when they modeled for me how they did it, they found out they had to go back to re count the materials. This was a great way for them to validate their thinking and learn from their counting how to make sure that what they count matches what they had written down. Now when students go to use objects they will be able to make sure that the amount in the bins matches the amounts written down.

K and W count the markers and discuss how many  there are with each other before putting a number sign on it.

Another group worked on 1:1 tagging and correspondence by using a math number line to create towers to mach the numbers. 

T creates her towers. 

A great Monday!

K shares his story "Going to Korea"

Today, students had the chance to have a small writing celebration, to honor their very first published piece of writing. We did the first one small so students had the opportunity to read to another student and read in front of the class. They then allowed students to comment on what they liked, and also what they could add to make their writing even better for their next published piece.

Today we also had the chance to meet a new student who has joined our class. It was so great to see the kids welcome him and make him feel at home. They worked on developing their own strategies and how to make groups of five. They started by looking at what a group of five really means and then worked on their own at their tables to come up with different strategies to represent their thinking about what a group of five really is. 

W did a pattern with red and blue

H creates five with 2 red and 3 blue