Number exploration

The Kindergarten students have been very interested in exploring number concepts. Many small groups of students have experimented with writing numbers, counting objects, playing games with our Power of Ten cards, and finding various ways to "make" a number with found objects. These pictures tell the story of some of our exploring!

Exploring with our hands using the projector...

Using our bodies to create numbers...

Finding a specific number of objects in nature...

Finding a number of objects around our classroom and describing the different processes for finding these objects. With these objects, we experimented with "showing" different numbers (i.e. show me 4), and the process involved in getting from one number to another (i.e. now show me 2. How did you do that?). We also learned that everyone found different items and had different ways to represent a specific number. 

During our outdoor explorations, some students were keen to count (i.e. 1 twirly slide, 2 monkey bars, 4 teeter totters, etc) and create numbers.

We also used this exploration time to create our own number books, showcasing numbers 0-10 written as a numeral and as a word. Students also represented these numbers in a variety of other ways, including tallies, pictures, and shapes. One of the favourite discoveries during this time was identifying whose name would go on each page, based on the number of letters in their name. We will put these books together this week and students will keep them in their Reading Folders.

CRAZY days :)

Our outdoor space has changed immensely in the last two weeks! These pictures were from our explorations after our big snow fall on Nov 19.

Crazy faces on Crazy Hair/Hat Day

A couple weeks ago, we explored the book, This Is Not My Hat. Students loved reading this story, and because we read it over many times and discussed the changes on each page, they really got to know the story well. They took part in a directed drawing part way through the book, as well as a drawing at the end detailing what they predicted happened behind the seaweed. We also had many great discussions while reading this book, where students shared their connections, predictions, questions and reflections. After reading the whole book, students retold the story by acting it out in small groups!

Students also drew pictures to show their favourite part of the book, and we did a wash with blue paint to make it look like water on the paper.

The Grade 3 students also came in on the 19th to share their learning from their outdoor adventure. They knew that we love spending time learning outside, so they wanted to show us what they did outside. We were really impressed with their nature sketches!  

We also spent time exploring our five senses outside with our K/1 buddies. We found many items we could smell, touch, see, hear and taste (we only had brainstorming about what we COULD taste, and didn't actually have any taste testing happening!)

This last week, we had another great dump of snow on Tuesday, and loved exploring in it!

We also took part in a Directed Draw during K/1 time on Friday, led by Ms. K. We will add the finishing touches this week, so keep your eye out for them hanging in the hallway soon!

Despite the cold weather on Friday, the Kindergarten students insisted on a Winter Walk. I am reading a book called "The Art of Awareness" right now, and it focuses on the value of careful observation of young children. This walk was the perfect reminder of why we need to slow down sometimes, and let children help us remember how to wonder. We spent an hour walking and exploring, but only made it around the corner from the school. How lucky we are to live where we do!

Look! It's sparkly and dusty.

It makes a sound when you do this with your feet!

This pinecone is frozen and has frost stuck on it. 

(This opened an awesome discussion about what they thought would happen to the pinecone if we brought it inside... some thought it would melt and described what they thought "melting" meant, and some thought the pinecone would shrink)

I can even build with it, just like blocks!

We brought the blocks, pinecones and some rocks frozen in ice into the classroom and checked back on them throughout the day. After discovering what "melting" looked like, we decided to bring these items outside again next week to find out what happens.

We also had another Mystery Reader! The boys loved having their Mom in to read, and everyone loved the story Dooby Dooby Moo!