Drop Sticks, Pattern Blocks, Geoboards, and More...

We have been exploring geoboards, triangles, counting by 10s, pattern blocks, and shape attributes. We   worked together to sort shapes and presented posters to show our thinking. Ask your first grader what his/her favorite math activity was this week!

 

 

 

The Perfect Square

This week we went up to the library with Mrs. Kulis' first grade mathematicians. We had a big math lesson in the library! Mrs. Abele-Austin and Mrs. Daigle took us on a geometry-filled adventure!

We read Perfect Square, written by Michael Hall. Mrs. Daigle read the story to us and helped us notice details in the illustrations and text.

Mrs. Abele-Austin talked to us about squares. We discussed what made a square a square. Is it still a square when it is sideways, upside down, or crooked? (Yes!)

After we read about this incredible, transforming square, Mrs. Abele-Austin introduced us to the "Perfect Triangle." We were able to create our own illustrations by using triangles! We had hole punches, scissors, fancy pattern scissors, and glue sticks.

These clever mathematicians created teeter totters, fish, bridges, sharks, villages, and trees!





Some mathematicians made flowers, boats, airplanes, tree houses and rockets!

Beard Day/Sports Day

Friday was "Support Your Favorite Sports Team" day or "Beard" day (for the Red Sox). We had a little impromptu beard-making/jersey-making workshop in the afternoon so we could all be ready for the All School Share. 

Truth? We all enjoy our sports, but I think most of us just wanted a chance to have a beard for the day. What do you think?

New Math Unit is Shaping Up

We began a new unit in math - geometry! These first grade mathematicians have been filling in shapes and building new ones with pattern blocks.

We also practiced counting backwards and forwards with different activities like Baaaaackwards Sheep, Counting Caterpillars, and Purrfectly Fast Teen Numbers.

We ended the week with our first visit to the computer lab! Check out these tech-savy mathematicians and their creations...

Want to try exploring with pattern blocks at home? Check out this website! You can even do a pattern block fill in by clicking the file folder to the left of the question mark (top of the screen).

Other websites to check out? NCTM Shape Tool (free explore with shapes) and Patch Tool (fill in larger shapes with pattern blocks).

Bye-Bye Butterflies!

We released our Painted Lady Butterflies!

These scientists were so excited to see them fly!