Beat You To 10! and Geoboard Fun!

This past week in Kindergarten we explored 2 new work stations.  The geoboard stations was a great opportunity for the children to revisit some of the learning they did around shapes.  The children created and designed different attributes while recognizing the features they had like the number of corners, sides and even angles!

In another work station called,"Beat You To 10!" the children learned a fun, interactive game that focuses on counting quantities to 10, reading numbers to 10,adding 2 quantities and recognizing quantities.  The children then begin to recognize when they are justifying their thinking, showing how they know their idea to be true, make connections and some mathematicians even change their thinking when they are asked to reflect on how they know something to be true.  These are all the MHOM (Math Habits of Mind) that we are learning about during our math studio time.

Creating Patterns

During our math workshop time the children have been exploring the idea of patterns.  This includes what they are, how to create and design,creating different types of patterns, recognize patterns in other areas like the natural world, etc. and of course justifying how they know something is a pattern.

Which Bug Will Win?

In this work station children use a spinner to record either a ladybug or a spider.  You will notice on the work examples how the children choose to record their findings.  This is the beginning of exploring with the idea of creating a graph and the idea of probability.  The children record the number of responses at the top of each column.  Afterwards we talk about what they notice, what information does their data tell them.  This is a great example of how we offer opportunities for children to think critically about their thinking.

Creating Patterns With Unifix Cubes

When children are working at this math station they have opportunities to create and design their own pattern as well as create a pattern that is on a colored card.  This is where children begin to notice the different types of patterns that can be created.  For example in the diagram above you see an ABC pattern, an ABB pattern and a ABCD pattern. 

After awhile the children begin to notice these patterns in other places in their world.

Shape Bingo

This is a great activity for the children to explore with the idea of rows, columns and diagonal lines.  The activity helps children identify the different features also of different attributes.

What are work stations?

Untitled from Sharon Davison on Vimeo.

Untitled from Sharon Davison on Vimeo.

In Kindergarten we have 6 different work stations that the children rotate through during a math session each day.  Each work station has materials for children to use to create patterns, build mathematical objects, discover ways to create patterns and design their own too! 

The work stations are also important vehicles for the children to make discoveries about how to sort, count, graph, compare and also learn the names and special features of shapes! 

 ***In the fall their is a strong emphasis on geometry. ***

I have posted some photos that give you a peek at what some of the work stations are.  You will notice some wonderful facial expressions on the children when they make mathematical discoveries.  This is so exciting!

In the photographs below you will notice the children exploring insects!  The children are making observations about the different features, counting legs and body parts and sorting insects that have similar features. 

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