9th Age Collaboration

The 6D students met the 9A girls last week in their 9th Age classroom. The students were introduced and then paired together.  6D had fun learning about their new friends and getting a tour of their classroom!  We will spend more time together this year- thank you to our new friends for hosting us!

More and Less

One of the final topics discussed in Chapter 1 of the math textbook, Compare and Sort Objects, was the concept of more and less.  After introduction and review in class, the students in Mrs. DeLorbe's and my math classes joined forces to play a fun game in pairs.  The students were given:

• a "more" card
• a "less" card
• a "more/less" spinner
• 1 set of 10 connecting cubes per person

The concept of the game is to be the first to gain their partner's connecting cubes.  To begin, a student breaks apart their set of 10 cubes into different pieces.  A student could break apart their cubes into sets of 1, a set of 1 and sets of 2, etc.- the possibilites are endless!  The pair of students then chooses 1 set  of each of their connecting cubes and matches them against one another.  Which is more? Which is less?  No cubes can be equal in this game.  Upon deciding who has more and less, they place their cubes on either the "more" or "less" card.  A student then spins the "more/less" spinner.  If the spinner lands on "more", the student whose cubes are on the "more" card takes ALL of the cubes.  If the spinner lands on "less", the student whose cubes are on the "less" card takes ALL of the cubes.  Watch the below video for two students in action playing this game!

Mathematicians playing the "More and Less" Game

Learning About Maps

6D has been learning about maps in geography. We discussed that a map is a representaion of a region of the earth. It is also a tool that describes the setting of an environment.

We looked for roads, water, and park-like areas on maps together.

In class earlier this week, the students were placed in groups where they located such areas on different maps. They then searched for the map key. A map key is a listing of symbols that tells what each symbol stands for. Some symbols we found on map keys included P for Parking, a fork and knife on top of a dinner plate which represented restaurants, and even a star that stood for a state capital. Nice teamwork, 6D!

Fine Motor Activity

A 6D student has been working hard to strengthen his hand muscles at home in preparation for lots of writing this year, and shared this wonderful activity with the class! Notice how, with his eyes opened, he uses each thumb to touch the other fingers on his hands, then later closes his eyes to try the same thing.  Thank you for sharing!

The First Week of Sharing, continued.

Here are some additional 6D students with their favorite books- our first sharing item of the year!

Color Word Memory

We reviewed color words today in reading class by listening to the story BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. I read the story once, and then the students read it back to me- without any prompting! This is a great beginning reader because of the wonderful picture clues and repetition. Following the story, the students played "Color Word Memory". The following video, narrated by two students, details how to play the game.

Our First Week of Sharing!

6D students are celebrating their first week of sharing by bringing in their favorite book. During sharing time throughout the year, students sit in Mrs. Armstrong's rocking chair and are allowed to wear a special crown.  They should share three facts about their sharing item, and then choose two questions from the audience.  We discussed good questions to ask prior to sharing time, some of which were written on large sentence strips.  When called upon to ask a question by the sharing friend, the student can either think of their own question, or defer to the "magic hat" where they choose a sentence strip question. 

Good job to my students who began sharing this Monday- I am proud of you!