How many Legs?

After reading One is a Snail, Ten is a Crab, we brainstormed for how many legs different animals had.  In groups of 3, the students then had to work together to create enough legs for a specified number.  Working together in a group poses a challenge for some students at this age.

Number 7=7 snails!

Completed work. 

Outdoor Fun

It is Spring!!! It sure doesn't look like it or feel like it. We went for a walk to the back of the school property. The students found animal tracks, a bird's nest as well as a cocoon. The weather was so nice, we hated to come back in.

Balance!!!

Today, we read a wonderful story called Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh. It was about 2 little mice who make a see saw from a stick and a rock.  As more and more animals come to join them, they need to find a way to balance themselves and their friends on the see saw.  It is a great introduction to balance scales.  We then worked in pairs to create our own balances with a board, and a can.  We had to brainstorm how to make the can stationary, and not roll-as they reported that it was a cylinder and as a result, might roll away!
                                                     

Once they had figured out how to balance their board, they were then given items to balance it again.

Helping hands

Thanks for sending in your handprint. It was very cool to be able compare how long your child's hands are to that of their parent (or grandparent or caregiver or teacher). Each child put his or her hand in paint and then printed it on top of the adult's black hand. We used non-standard measurement (linking cubes)to calculate and record each hand.

Signs...signs...everywhere a sign!

After collaboratively working on a large floor mural where the students like to draw "birds eye view" of roads, and other familiar environment, they began talking about signs and the need for signs on the various roads. One girl wanted to know how to write "No Frills" for the store she had drawn. Others were worried about making road signs for the cars to obey. Reading this Environmental print is important as they have the opportunity to see the print all around them, all the time. Also, since children see it regularly, they see and understand the value of reading.

Measuring

We have been talking a lot about measurement. The student's have compared a lot of different items, deciding which items are larger or smaller. We have also read a variety of books on the same topic. Each student made his or her own ruler. They are now using them in their day to day play and building.