What Math unit could I create for my current classroom which would lend itself to these kinds of centers? What activities would work well in this unit to enhance student learning? What performance tasks could be linked to these activities?
When it comes to kindergarten, students are eager to learn and love to talk and share with their friends about what they are doing. A math unit could be created where there is a center with a math game regarding the topic being taught. For example, if kids are learning about patterns, there can be different patterns set up for kids to complete in each table like a bear pattern, a shape pattern, dot patterns and etc. They can work on groups of 2-4 students for each table, and rotate with the sound of a bell.This activity will likely enhance student learning, because students are engaged and working together to complete the task. Though, before teachers sound the bell, they should go around at each table and check if the pattern was correctly completed by the group. To create a performance task, students could be given a shape or picture to color (depending of pattern, e.g., whole class is limited to choose between 2 colors for AB pattern) and they can create a whole class pattern!
I like your activities when it comes to patterns. It allows the students to complete the activity and be social at the same time. One question I had is that would these activities be done with physical shapes to put into the patterns or would they be drawn out? Another stationI thought of that could be done is having the students create their own patterns whether it be with cut out shapes or allowing them to just draw it out. Another thing I thought of was the whole class creating a quilt. The quilt design could be separated into how many sections you want it to be and the different stations could be the different patterns. Then as a whole class the quilt could be put together and then put on display.
ReplyDeleteHey Peter, I like your ideas to get kindergartners learning through games. I am also in a kindergarten classroom for most of my day, and it is difficult to keep them on task if they are not enjoying an activity, so framing a learning exercise as a cooperative game is a great way to keep them engaged. I also like that you had them working together in groups so they can improve their teamwork and social skills while learning the content of the lesson at the same time. The idea of using each individual's pattern as a piece to a whole-class pattern is also a cool idea and I'm sure the kids would love to see their work come together into a large project like that.
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