Sunprints!

We've been working on our second shape unit in math, which focuses on combining shapes to form larger shapes and pictures.  In science, we've been learning about the sun and how it provides light and heat.  What better way to combine science and math than making a sunprint with shapes!?

I first learned about sunprints when my sister ordered a little stocking stuffer for me from Restoration Hardware.  They always have the coolest stocking stuffers.  I had a ton of fun making them using items I found in nature, and I figured the kids would be intrigued by the idea, too.

First, students had to design a picture using attribute blocks.

Once they set their blocks on the sun-sensitive paper, we carefully took them outside to expose them.

The part exposed to uv light changes from blue to white.  

When we came back inside, we had to rinse the paper in water.  This step is like magic!

The white part turns a dark blue and the part that was blue (where the shapes were) turns white.

As the paper dries, the part exposed to the sun turns darker and darker blue.  

Once dry, we matted the prints and let the students sign their art!

If you're interested in doing this at home or in your classroom, you can click the first picture above (super sunprint kit) to find the kit for sale on Amazon.  That's the same one I used and includes everything you need!

We also explored how sunscreen and sunglasses protect us from UV rays using some sun-sensitive beads.

The beads change color when exposed to UV light, so properly working sunscreen or sunglasses will prevent the beads from changing color.  You can find the beads here!

This week, now that the sun is in full force again(!), we'll experiment with a solar oven!

2D & 3D Shapes

When it comes to recognizing and comparing 2D and 3D shapes, kids often mix the 2D ones up for the 3D ones and vice versa.  I like to play a lot of games that involve saying the names of the shapes repeatedly so they get a TON of exposure to them.

My favorite one involves the kids sitting in a circle on the carpet.  In the middle of the circle, I lay out 2D flashcards of shapes and small 3D models.  Then, I call out the name of a shape or some descriptors for a shape and students have to race the person across from them in the circle to grab the shape.  There are two of every shape in the middle of the carpet.  

If I say the descriptors only, the students must also name the shape correctly to score a point for their team.   It gets a little heated! But it promotes good discussion about some of their common misconceptions.

We also build models of the 3D shapes with toothpicks and marshmallows, and as a wrap-up for the unit, we have a shape snack sort.

Math: Circles, Triangles & Positional Words

In math recently, we've been talking about shapes (specifically, circles and triangles) and using positional words to describe where we've found them.  For example, "I see a circle on the wall above the window and next to the color monkeys." (The color monkeys are just that, by the way.  An assortment of monkeys in various colors labeled with the color names.)  Anyway, that circle I was describing is ..... a clock!  

To teach circles and triangles, we read a book about each and reviewed the shape poems.  

Circle: Round and round and round I go, I look like a ball,* I'm Circle Joe. 

Triangle: Count my sides, 1-2-3, Tommy Triangle, that is me!

*This is deceiving. Really a sphere looks like a ball, not a circle, but since we don't introduce spheres yet I think it's okay.

After we looked at the shapes and said their poems, students got a single page to add to a class book with an outline of a circle on the first day and an outline of a triangle on the second day.  Students turned their circles and triangles into something else that naturally has the same shape.  We found out that a circle can be.... a whole pizza, a pumpkin, an eyeball, a bowling ball, a pig's face, and much more!  A triangle can be... a nose, a triangle in music, a jack-o-lantern's eyes, a cat's ears, a slice of pizza, a piece of cake and a wedge of cheese, among other things!

Our class books turned out so cute that I'm going to turn them into digital books, so I'll upload them and post a link here once I've scanned them in.

To introduce positional words, we had Pete the Cat give us a hand.  After reading Pete the Cat The Wheels on the Bus, we reviewed a chart showing what above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to mean.  Then students got to manipulate a stuffed Pete around their body according to my instructions.

Students practiced manipulating a paper Pete the Cat around a bus cut-out with a partner for independent practice using positional words.

Fall

We've been talking about the seasons in Science, and I was surprised to find out that the student favorite is Winter... "because you can play in the snow."  I asked if Georgia really gets snow,  and Mrs. Dean said she thinks Winter won because snow is so rare in Georgia.. So when it does come along, the kids are soooooooooo excited!

We are done with our writing like scientists unit and back onto narrative writing, but I thought the kids would enjoy writing about a fall leaf. So we each chose a leaf on our way back in from recess and used all we know about writing to share and comment about our  unique leaves. 

 Everyday I'm impressed with the quality of the writing I'm getting. The spacing, the correctly spelled sight words, the letter formation, yay! Yay! Yay! 

All of our practice is paying off! 

In math we were back to focusing on 2D and 3D shapes. We went on a shape hunt, explored the different features of shapes (attempting to work together at a table to foster discussion), and played Mystery Shape! The kids LOVE anything that's in a mystery bag. I put some shapes in a dark bag (we used a backpack) and hand them a random shape inside the bag without looking. Students have to describe the shape out loud ("It's 2d, it has four sides, they're different sizes")  and make a guess ("I think it's a...  Rectangle!")  before taking it out of the bag for the big reveal. Everyone listens so intently, eager for a chance to play! 

Most of the kiddos have 2d and 3d shapes down now, but 'hexagon' is still throwing the class off... 

We are all very excited about the upcoming week, with parent drop-in day on Tuesday and the field trip on Friday! Can you believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner?? 

I'll post some turkey projects the week of Thanksgiving. They all turned out so cute!