Math moments

The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.'

Maria Montessori

Math is fun in preschool...whether you are outside writing numbers for the "hopscotch" game or counting buttons for the snowman!


What's the date again?
Two of the Pre-Kindergarten work together to put the numbers on the calendar in sequential order.
 
Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Mathematics
Strand: Number Sense

Topic: Number Sense and Counting
Standard: Count to 20 by ones with increasing 
accuracy.
Identify and name numerals 1-9.

Domain: Social and Emotional Development
Strand: Relationships
Topic:   Peer Interactions and Relationships
Standard: Demonstrate socially competent 

behavior with peers.

 After observing his older peers,  a preschool child creates his own numerical sequence.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Mathematics
Strand: Number Sense

Topic: Number Sense and Counting
Standard: Count to 20 by ones with increasing 
accuracy.
Identify and name numerals 1-9.

Domain: Approaches to Learning

Strand:   Initiative

Topic: Planning, Action and Reflection 

Standard: Develop, initiate and carry out 

simple plans to obtain a goal.

Use prior knowledge and 

information to assess, inform, and 

plan for future learning

Olaf would be very excited to know his fellow snowmen now have buttons.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Mathematics
Strand: Number Sense
Topic: Number Sense and Counting

Standard: Count to 20 by ones with increasing 

accuracy.

Identify and name numerals 1-9.

Identify without counting small 

quantities of up to 3 items. (Subitize)

Demonstrate one-to-one correspondence when counting

Take your "math work" outside week!

After Ms. Sara wrote the numbers we stated, we worked on identifying the numbers as we hopped and skipped (and ran) our way down the hopscotch line. One of our kindergartners copied the numbers to create an additional hopscotch area for people to use "while they're waiting". 

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Mathematics
Strand: Number Sense
Topic: Number Sense and Counting

Standard: Count to 20 by ones with increasing 

accuracy.

Identify and name numerals 1-9.

Domain: Approaches to Learning

Strand: Initiative

Topic: Planning, Action and Reflection 

Develop, initiate and carry out 

simple plans to obtain a goal.

Use prior knowledge and 

information to assess, inform, and 

plan for future actions and 

learning.

Domain: Physical Well-being and Motor Development

Strand: Strand: Motor Development

Topic: Large Muscle, Balance and Coordination

Standard: Demonstrate locomotor skills with 

control, coordination and balance 

during active play (e.g., running, 

hopping, skipping). 

A preschool child checks out the numbers his classmates drew in the afternoon.

We then picked a card from a set of numerals 1-20 and then wrote the numerals ourselves!

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Mathematics
Strand: Number Sense
Topic: Number Sense and Counting

Standard: Count to 20 by ones with increasing 

accuracy.

Identify and name numerals 1-9.

Domain: Physical Well-being and Motor Development

Strand: Motor Development

Topic: Small Muscle: Touch Grasp, Reach, Manipulate

Standard: Coordinate the use of hands, 

fingers and wrists to manipulate 

objects and perform tasks 

requiring precise movements.

For additional resources on how to integrate mathematics in everyday play and conversations: 

http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/math-beginning.htm

http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/math-morenumbers.htm

http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/mathactivities.htm

For further reading on mathematics in early childhood: http://www.highscope.org/file/EducationalPrograms/EarlyChildhood/EarlyMath.pdf

http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200301/MathGlossary.pdf

Books can help reinforce mathematical concepts as well. Ask the children's librarian at your local library for their suggestions. Some of our favorites have included Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh and 20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Mark Lee.

Teaching is fun

"A good friend remembers what we were and sees what we can be."
- Unknown

During the past week, the Preschool/ Pre-kindergarten children have been very interested in scaffolding (with some assistance from the teacher ) the skills and abilities of their peers and have introduced such new concepts as caring for the “infant”, sorting and grouping the colored beads and identifying the letters in the alphabet puzzle.  We have even learned about sequencing numbers (in several one-on-one sessions) from one of our classmates who goes to kindergarten in the morning.

Pirates love to help their mates learn about sorting and grouping beads by color and type...whether or not they are in costume.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Mathematics
Strand: Algebra
Topic: Group and Categorize
Standard: Sort and classify objects by one or 
more attributes (e.g., size, shape).

 Reading a "dusty" book first thing in the morning is an important first step in establishing a relationship.
Domain: Language and Literacy Development
Strand:  Reading

Topic: Reading Comprehension
Standard: Retell or re-enact familiar stories.

 
Once a connection has been formed, we can then proceed to modeling how to use the works in the classroom.
Domain: Language and Literacy Development
Strand: Reading
Topic: Letter and Word Recognition
Standard: With modeling and support, 
demonstrate understanding that 
alphabet letters are a special 
category of symbols that can be 
named and identified.

Knowing how to properly care for the "infant" in the classroom is critical for future success.
Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Strand: Cognitive Skills

Topic: Memory
Standard: Recreate complex ideas, 
events/situations with personal 
adaptations

Learning how to construct roads and highways with a senior civil engineer is also important.
Domain: Approaches to Learning
Strand Creativity

Topic Innovation and Invention
Standard: Engage in inventive social play.

                       Two artists collaborate on paintings for their families while discovering that different ways to mix the paints made "peach" and "red"
Domain: Approaches to Learning
Strand: Creativity
Topic: Expression of Ideas and Feelings through the Arts
Standard: Express individuality, life 
experiences, and what he/she
knows and is able to do through a 
variety of media.
Express interest in and show 
appreciation for the creative work 
of others.

Sharing new ideas with colleagues is a vital part of the teaching process.

Domain: Language and Literacy Development
Strand: Expressive Language
Topic:  Social Communication
Standard: With modeling and support
follow typical patterns when 
communicating with others (e.g., 
listens to others, takes turns 
talking and speaks about the topic 
or text being discussed).

 A job well done everyone!
Domain: Social and Emotional Development
Strand: Strand: Relationships

Topic:   Peer Interactions and Relationships 

Standard: Demonstrate socially competent 
behavior with peers.

For additional reading: http://www.highscope.org/file/NewsandInformation/Extensions/ExtVol27No1_ClassHints.pdf

http://umaine.edu/ccids/files/2009/12/social120309.pdf

Special note: Please remember that we will continue to go outside even with the dropping temperatures so please send your child dressed (or have them dress) for cold weather fun!

Thank you!!!

MS. Sara and the Preschool/ Pre-K children (and the kindergarten students as well)

Hidden paths, surprise guests, and unexpected (or expected) discoveries

From the freedom to explore comes the joy of learning. From knowledge acquired by personal initiative arises the desire for more knowledge. And from mastery of the novel and beautiful world awaiting every child comes self-confidence. 

— Edward O. Wilson

In The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth (2010)

Who needs science and math? 

Give us light!

One of the children shared her “light thing” that she “got at the store that way” and she led us on a search around the classroom for “the darkest place in the classroom” so that we could best see the light “when we hit on the ground and it lights up”.  We had several ideas-from under the table to the various corners of the classroom- but discovered that the small nook by the art shelf (where our cots used to be) offered the most protection against the sunlight (and the largest dimensions) so that we could all take turns bouncing the wand on the ground to cause the crown on the end to light up.  

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Sub-domain: Science

Strand: Physical Sciences

Topic: Explorations of Energy

 Standard: With modeling and support, explore the properties and characteristics of sound and light.

Additional Information to expand knowledge at home: 

http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/fun-light.htm

How much do these pine needles weigh?

The children collaborated on two experiments that extended our knowledge of physics and physical sciences- placing handfuls of pine needles and pine cones on two different branches to discover which one bent first and moving the pine branch over our heads and then letting go to see what happens to all the needles.

Special note: Please discount the blurriness of some of the pictures. These images were photographed by one of the younger students!

 
 

  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Sub-domain: Science

Strand: Science Inquiry and Application

Topic: Inquiry

Standard: 

Make careful observations.

Pose questions about the physical and natural environment.

Engage in simple investigations.

Make predictions.

Make inferences, generalizations and explanations based on evidence.

Use simple tools to extend investigation.

Share findings, ideas and explanations (may be correct or incorrect) through a variety of methods (e.g., pictures, words, dramatization).

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Sub-domain: Science

Strand: Physical Science

Topic: Explorations of Energy

Standard: With modeling and support, explore the properties of objects and materials (e.g., solids and liquids).

Pears and tomatoes

The preschoolers were excited to discover there were pears growing on the pear tree outside in the little field and tomatoes in Ms. Penny's garden (we picked several before the infants could eat them!) and decided to take their finds inside to gather additional information. We used the magnifying glasses and butter knives to learn that the tomatoes were ripe but squished when we tried to touch them and the pears were still unripe but both fruits had seeds.

 

Domain: Cognition and General KNowledge

Sub-domain: Science

Strand: Science Inquiry and Application

Topic: Inquiry

Standard: Share findings, ideas and explanations (may be correct or incorrect) through a variety of methods (e.g., pictures, words, dramatization).

Use simple tools to extend investigation.

Engage in simple investigations.

Additional Information to expand knowledge at home: 
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/garden-seeds.htm

Perpetual Motion

Preschoolers love cars…especially when they can travel down cardboard tubes!

The Pre-K class children helped one of our infant friends expand his knowledge of the forces of motion through a game of “push the ball and watch him throw it”. He was just happy when he got the ball back.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Sub-domain: Science
Strand: Physical Science
Topic: Explorations of Energy
Standard: With modeling and support, explore the position and motion of objects.

Additional Information to expand knowledge at home: 
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/physics-hang.htm

Articles to read for additional reference: 

http://www.ericdigests.org/1995-1/science.htm

http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200309/ThinkingResourcesFFR.pdf

http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200209/UsingLanguageDuringScienceActivities.pdf

http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/curiouschild.htm

Geometry is great! Math is fun! We like learning and we're never done! 

We have started to expand our knowledge of geometry, algebra and linear (and nonlinear design) by engaging in architectural projects, mathematical manipulation of materials and classification of animal species and families.

 

Three of the children draw different shapes from models available, write the names and then color them according to individual preferences while another assists in matching them once the work has been completed

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Sub-Domain: Mathematics

Strand: Geometry

Topic: analyze, compare and create shapes

Standard: Create shapes during play by building, drawing, etc.

Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge

Sub-Domain: Mathematics

Strand: Geometry

Topic: Identify and Describe Shapes

Standard: Understand and use names of shapes when identifying objects. 

Guess Who's Coming to dinner?

Spiders in the Mist

The preschool/ Pre-K class made an unexpected find one Wednesday morning when we went for an early morning walk in the fog: hundreds (if not more) spider webs of various sizes and shapes dotting the landscape.  Some of the webs were located on the grass and the trees while others were observed on the gates around the playground and even the playground itself!