A Math Update

Pattern blocks seems to be our theme this week in math. Two new work places were introduced: Pattern Block Designs and Hungry Caterpillars that have the children using pattern blocks.

In Pattern Block Designs, challenges the children to use the pattern blocks in a new and fun way. The children have to copy designs from printed cards, first with real blocks, and then by gluing paper blocks to a sheet of paper. Reproducing the design is much harder than creating it!



In Hungry Caterpillars, partners race to cover their triple-hexagon caterpillars by using pattern blocks in various combinations. As we were playing, we noticed that we can fill up one hexagon with 6 triangles, or 2 trapezoids, or 3 rhombuses, or a combination of all 3 shapes.




Also during math work places, we've been playing another game called Beat You to Ten. In Beat You to Ten, each child has a turn to spin a spinner, which has numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3, on it. Depending on the number the child spins, he or she counts out and connects unfix cubes, which are placed on the board. The first child to get exactly 10 cubes wins!



Now that we are in December, we had created our new calendar pieces for this month. This month's pattern is an ABBA pattern, which the children decided on, that uses beautiful snowflakes. We will also be keeping tracking of how many days we are in school by using Ten-Frame Dot Cards. By using these cards, the children are instantly recognizing quantities to 5 and recognizing "1 more".