How Many Presents?

Today we displayed some mini presents and encouraged the children to practice counting how many there were by using the tools we've been exploring in the classroom: a hundreds chart and some ten frames.

 

The children knew they needed to start at the number 1 on the chart and add the presents one at a time in order so that they had an accurate number. We discussed what would happen if they randomly placed the presents on the chart.

 

The children also used the ten frames. They knew they had to fill one ten frame up before moving onto a new one.

 

Once the children had an accurate count, they were encouraged to record the number on a piece of paper at the centre. Some children counted the presents using both tools before recording their number in order to ensure their answer was correct.

Exciting News!

A BIG thank you to Desiree St.Pierre who nominated our class for Country 95.9's "Class of the Week"! On Tuesday, December 16 we will be brought a pizza lunch by one of the DJs and the children will have their photo taken for the radio station. Some children might even get to say their name on the radio! Information will be coming home in your child's note tote. If you would not like your child to participate, please let us know. Thank you!

Math Tools

With over 300 food items for our can drive, we are preparing the children for calculating a large amount of objects by using math tools in many situations this week. We presented a counting problem to our children during circle. After displaying some plastic food, the children suggested using a hundreds chart to help organize and accurately count the number in the collection.

 

They carefully placed each object on the hundreds chart...

 

...and were able to tell with every piece what number we were at.

 

When the chart was filled the children realized we had over a hundred items! We lined them up next to the chart to come up with a final count.

On a different day we asked the children to again help us count a large quantity of little vehicles. Our rule was we couldn't count them and couldn't use a hundreds chart. One child knew that 10 ten frames was the same as a hundreds chart, so we placed them on these instead.

We are going to continue to challenge our children by using large numbers. 10 frames and hundreds charts can be easily found online and printed. Why don't you consider counting some collections at your house using these strategies?

Holiday Sensory Bin

Sparkly, shiny, crinkly, festive....

...who doesn't love a holiday sensory table?

Lots of great math talk at this center as children measured how much fit into the boxes, which lid fit each box, and who had more or less in their gift bag. 

Stamped Wrapping Paper

The children are stamping holiday paintings and hoping you might consider recycling these as holiday wrapping paper. 

Food Drive

Each day the children eagerly wait to see how many items are donated to the food drive in order to calculate the total number we have!

We have 226 items so far!

We have had to add additional shelving in order to hold all items!

Friday is the last day to send in items. Thank you for your support!

Meaningful Math

Today the children were so excited to see how many non-perishable items were donated to our food drive collection. The children have been motivated each day to think of ways to calculate the total number of items. Because the numbers the children are working with are so big, this has been a challenging and exciting experience.

 

Today one of our children decided that drawing a picture would be a good strategy to use to help calculate the total number.

 

 

He knew that we had a collection of 112 items already from the previous day, so he represented this with a picture.

He then added the additional items that were donated today for a grand total of 133. What amazing problem solving and mathematical ability! We are so proud of our children and the persistence they are showing when working with large equations.

 

We wonder how many items will be brought in tomorrow...

Water Run

We added tubing, funnels, cups, and blue water to our sensory table today. The children were very motivated to create their own complicated water runs. 

This center required children to have clear communication, teamwork, effective problem solving, and perserverance in order to be successful. 

Families if you have any tubing or other tools you think would enhance this center we would be grateful! Thank you for your support of our children and program!