Observing squares and circles

Today, we continued our study of shapes.  I posed the question, "Can you fill a circle with squares?"  I explained that the squares could not go outside of the circle, and  they could not be layered on top of each other.  Below are a few pictures as the class tried to accomplish this task.

 

We realized that this task was not possible.  I then asked the students, "Why?"

 

I loved how both Katelynn and Lake began noticing the straight sides and corners that the square contains.  They also noticed how the circle is one big curve.

 

After particpating in our math stations, I asked the students a very similar question: "Can you fill a square with circles?"  They tested this independently in their math journals. 

They realized once again, that this was not possible because of the differences in the shapes.

 

  Jaylen came to the conclusion that if you tried to fill a square with smaller squares, then that would work because they have the same edges.

 

I love investigating and exploring with these creative minds! 

Keep up the hard work!

Cecilia reached 300 lines in 100 Book Challenge. Great job!

We received a letter from the Park Ranger!

Our class was so excited to receive a letter addressed to our class from a park ranger.

We are looking forward to beginning the research process on each of the five animals. 

Please enjoy this video of Bella Grace teaching us everything she already knows about birds!

"We're Going On A Shape Hunt!"

Today, we went on a hunt around the school in search of different shapes that we could find. We began by reading the book, Shapes, and listed other items that we could think of for each shape.

We named doughnuts for circles, ceiling tiles for squares, doors for rectangles, slices of pizza for triangles and many more cool items! 

After compiling our list, we went on a shape hunt around the school in search of shapes.

Circles:

Hearts:

Diamonds:

Rectangles:

  

Squares:

Stars:

Semi-Circle: (I was SO impressed with the students pointing this out)

Arrow:

As you can see, our class became experts at identifying and recognizing shapes throughout our walk. After returning back to the classroom, I asked the students to record their observations in their math journals. 

Star: on a poster; Rectangle: door entering our classroom; Circle: wreath on a classroom door; and Square: room number

"The ceiling tile is a square.  The exit sign is a square.  The door is a rectangle. The clock is a circle."

Please look for shapes around your house today!

Lexi's dad was our Mystery Reader!

Lexi's dad surprised her as our mystery reader! Lexi was so excited that her dad joined us in the classroom.

Thank you for reading to us!

Wonder #2

How do birds survive the coldest winters?  Explain your answer.

Congrats

Austin and Hayden reached 400 lines in 100 Book Challenge!

How do Polar Bears survive in cold water?

Today, we had the priviledge of visiting the wonder room to find out the answer to the question, "How do polar bears adapt in cold water?"

We began by watching a video of a polar bear swimming in freezing cold water.  We discussed why we thought that they were able to do that and not freeze!

Next, the students experienced and compared how they would feel in cold water with how a polar bear feels.

Blubber Experiment:

1 ziploc bag full of crisco (shortening)

2 large buckets of ice water

The students placed one bare hand in the bucket of ice water and one hand in the bag of blubber.

 

After the experiment, we discussed what we learned from our time in the Wonder Room.  The students recorded their learning in their "wonder journals."

"Blubber is strong."-Joshua

"Blubber helps them survive in the cold, cold water."-Nicholas

"I wonder how polar bears stay warm in cold water?  They have blubber."-Austin

"The blubber on the polar bears keep them warm."-Sage

"Polar bears have blubber.  Polar bears can survive in the cold water."-Bella Grace

"Blubber is for polar bears to survive in the water."-Ciarra







Wonder #1 Research and Investigations

A lot of meaningful learning has taken place in room 201 this week.  We have enjoyed researching and investigating the reasons for putting salt and sand on the roads when it snows.  On Monday, we reviewed an article that I found on www.wonderopolis.org.  The link is below.

Wonderopolis Write-Up:

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-sand-or-salt-spread-on-the-road-when-it-snows/

On Wednesday, we watched an informational video explaining salt and its purpose for being put on icy roads. 

Youtube video: How does salt melt ice?

 

Today, we conducted an experiment to investigate the purpose of salt with ice. The experiment was found on www.wonderopolis.org 

"Ready for a really simple, really cool experiment? Take an ice cube from your freezer and place it on a plate. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over one half of the ice cube. Put the plate with the ice cube in the refrigerator. After about 10 minutes, take the ice cube out and observe what has happened. What do you notice about the salted side?"

We observed that the piece of ice which had salt on it melted much faster than the piece of ice with no salt.  We learned that since ice lowers the freezing point, it causes the ice to melt faster.

Sand provides a traction to keep the cars from sliding on the roads.  It also helps keep new ice from forming.

We have enjoyed researching this week and are so thankful for all of the comments and resources that our parents posted to aid in our investigation.  Please check back in for the next wonder of the week tomorrow!

Let's Feed The Birds!

Yesterday, we began talking about migration and which animals migrate.  Of course, the student's immediately mentioned birds. Another student raised their hand and began explaining how he had seen birds outside at his house and also at school.  We began researching and learned that not all birds fly south for the winter!  If they can find food here, they will stay.  Isn't that neat?  Today, we made bird feeders to help the birds stay around here for the winter.

 

We began by spreading peanut butter onto a piece of bread.

 

 

Next, we poured bird seed onto our bread and spread it over the entire surface.

 

 

 

Through research, we also learned that once we begin feeding the birds, we have to continue feeding them because they become dependent on us. 

 

Please help your child find a special place for their bird feeder that is visible from a window.  If you see a bird eating from your feeder, take a picture and email it to me.  I will put any pictures I receive on the blog for everyone to enjoy!

 

Thank you so much for your partnership in their learning!

Congratulations

Daniel reached 300 lines! Way to read!

Awesome job!

Congratulations to Sage for reaching 400 lines in 100 Book Challenge!

Congrats!

Congratulations to Landon for reaching 300 steps in 100 Book Challenge!

Way to read!

Shyann reached 400 lines in 100 Book Challenge! Great job!

Wow!!

The first three students reached 400 steps in 100 Book Challenge! They received their trophy.

Congratulations to Isabella, Joshua, and Nicholas. Keep up the hard work!

Animals in Winter: Introduction

Today, we began our "Animals in Winter" PBL unit. 

 

We started our journey by viewing an informational video:

 

Animal's in Winter Informational Video

 

Next, I posed the question, "What do you know about winter and what animals do in the winter?"  Please enjoy a few recorded responses below.

 

Hayden began by telling us that we can build a snowman in the winter.

 

The next two students taught us about hibernation:

 

Austin: "Bears hibernate."

 

Katelynn: "They hibernate so they can stay warm in a cozy place."

 

Nicholas began teaching us about migration.

"Birds fly south in the winter."

 

Jayden was really paying attention to the informational video that I showed at the beginning of the lesson because he noticed the picture of the squirrel gathering food for the winter. 

"The squirrels eat food in the winter."

Wonder #1

Why is sand or salt put on roads when it snows?  Explain your answer.

Wonder of the Week: Introduction

In our classroom, we will begin having a "Wonder of the Week" question for you and your child to research at home.  The topics will vary greatly, but I will match most of them to our science or social studies unit.  I will introduce the question to the students on Fridays, post it to our blog under the label, "Wonder of the Week," and send the question each Friday in my weekly email.  You and your child will have until the following Thursday to spend time together researching for the answer.  I encourage you to participate by responding to my blog post with any answers or resources that you guys found through research. 



Each Thursday in our classroom, we will take the time to research and discover the answer for ourselves.  We will do this by using the answers and resources that you guys post for us on  the class blog as well as any articles, videos, or experiments which I find.



My hope for this:
-I hope this is a fun way for you and your child to learn about interesting topics together.
-I hope this introduces how to research and its importance to your kindergarteners.
-I hope this expands your child's knowledge to topics that may not be discovered otherwise.
-I hope this sparks even more of an excitement in your child for learning.



Below is the website that sparked this idea and is a great resource:
http://wonderopolis.org/



If you ever have an idea for a "Wonder of the Week," please feel free to share!