Flower Garden Math!

Let me start by apologizing for the upside-downness of some of the picture.  I had to use my phone to catch this lesson because our school camera was at home...

Last week we explored things in and around the flower garden.  We talked a lot about flowers and the scientific name for their parts.  During this math lesson, our 4s worked with the concept of non-standard measurement.  

 We have worked in small groups at preschool many times this year.  Small group work in young children really doesn't just "happen".  It is something that you  have to teach them, and something they have to practice.  The children often play well together, but working together can be a different story.  Throughout the year we have learned how to take turns, assign jobs, develop personal responsibility, keep our materials organized, get along, and follow-through. At times our group work lessons must have seemed silly to them, but in the long run, it worked!  You should just see them working together and the smiles of success on their faces!

 Each child was in charge of one part of the materils needed for the lesson.  One person had the manipulatives, one the pencil, one the paper, and one the flowers.  

 Their job was to measure each flower using the units provided, and record the number.  We talked a lot about how you can measure with rulers, measuring tapes, and yardsticks.  We also talked about other ways that we could measure, using hands, feet, fingers, and in this case, manipulatives.  

 This lesson asked us to count with one-to-one correspondence, write numerals, rely on and develop number sense, measure and order objects from smallest to largest,

 I think the best part about a lesson like this is that everyone has an opportunity for success.  If a child doesn't write numerals yet, they can still participate by counting and measuring, while at the same time learning from their peers.  

 Here the girls have measured the flowers, written the numerals, and lined them up from shortest to longest.  

 Often parents worry when children make reversals in writing numerals and letters.  The 4 shown in this picture is reversed, but it is an awesome 4 otherwise!  I was so proud of them.  When I encounter these reversals, I am careful to not be critical, after all, they are only 4 and making developmentally appropriate approximations of numbers (except most 4 year olds can't even write numbers!).  I would simply say, " I love how you counted 4, and wrote 4, that is great work.  When I write the number 4, I do it like this".  I would then demonstrate how to write the four correctly.  

 Can't you just see the smiles of success on their faces :)