Sorting and Grouping as Mathematicians and Scientists
In both math and science this past week, we have been working with sorting and grouping objects. As mathematicians we examined how grouping large numbers of items helps us to count them in more efficient ways. The kids worked with chick peas and raisins to first estimate totals and then came up with a way to easily calculate their totals. They used available data to revise predictions as needed and then found a variety of ways to group their items. While looking at these large numbers, we were able to identify them in three ways:
Standard Form = 25
Word Form = twenty-five
Expanded Form = 20+5
As scientists we have been paying close attention to animals' behavioral patterns and physical characteristics through observation and sketching. The kids worked in groups this past week to sort a given set of animals according to the set of characteristics that they chose. They named each group and sorted them accordingly in order to create a poster to teach the class about their classification system. Each group presented their poster to the class. This has brought us to the classification of vertebrate animals which we will study this week.
As readers and writers we have continued our work on memory stories. We have used mentor authors to find ways to stretch and really develop small moments to grow our stories. Most of the kids are working on their rough drafts currently. As we begin to revise and edit this week, some of the kids will be bringing them home for assistance in this area. We will do as much of this in class as possible, but some stories are longer than others and may need a little help at home. Thanks in advance for this.
This Coming Week
This coming week the kids will work in small groups to research five classes of vertebrate animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Following this group research, the kids will each choose an animal they would like to know more about and conduct an individual research project in class. We will continue moving through the writing process with our memory stories. In math we will consider larger numbers and ways that they can be represented and broken down.
Via's Visitation Schedule
October 5 Jennifer
October 12 Jadon
Important Dates
October 4 Bond Referendum Information Session for parents @ 6:30
October 12 Our 1st Second Grade Gathering
October 13 Walk for Life at Spirit Communications Park
October 18 Weather Make-Up Day
October 19 Weather Make-Up Day
October 26 11:30 Dismissal/ Parent Teacher Conferences
October 31 Fall Festival @ 1:00
The kids worked in groups to decide how to sort a given set of animals into groups.
As mathematicians, the kids each worked with a box of raisins to estimate and and calculate the total number in their box. They had to decide what was the best way to count a large groups of items.
Here is one of the final products from our collaborative animal sorting projects. These classification posters were used to teach the class about the characteristics each group selected to define their classification groups.
