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Showing posts with label task cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label task cards. Show all posts

Monday, March 19, 2012

It's Hip to Be Square (including Common Core Standards)

Wanna know what I am writing about tonight?


2nd grade Common Core:  Geometry

Reason with shapes and their attributes.

1. Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces. 1 Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.
1 Sizes are compared directly or visually, not compared by measuring.


Tis the season in my school district to teach about geometry.  In second grade, we teach everything from basic shape identification to flips, turns, congruency, symmetry, vertices, and a lot more!

Geometry units did not use to be my favorite, but over the years, I have learned to sort of make it fun for me as well as my kids!  Here are a few tricks of 'my' trade!!

1.  Have students use their bodies to make <or at least try to make> shapes as you call them out.  I use 'Simon Says' to do this!  I might mix this with having them draw on paper or a dry erase board so I can make sure that they have a good idea of the characteristics of each shape.

2.  Play "I Spy"...this can be done for both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes.

3.  When teaching 2-dimensional shapes, cut construction paper into fourths and have kids use glue and yarn to create the shapes.  Tooth picks can also be used for some.  Then, staple the fourths of the construction paper back together, add a cover, and you have a book about shapes.

4.  Use pattern shapes to create bigger shapes.  i.e. a flower, house, etc.

5.  Use patterns to create 3-dimensional shapes.

6.  Create a chart using the characteristics of each shape <number of vertices, faces, bases, sides, etc.>

7.  Create a talley chart showing how many of each shape is spotted in the classroom.

8.  Use pattern blocks to show how patterns can repeat.  Use pictures from nature to show how patterns are used over and over <i.e. a honeycomb>

And....my favorite of all......

Edible Playdough!!!!

Edible playdough can be used to create both 2 and 3-dimensional shapes.  I provide wax paper to cover the desk and give the students a small plastic cup to use as a rolling pin and a plastic knife to cut and trim.  I have even given a quiz with this method!!!  Click here to download the recipe that I use to make edible playdough!  Caution:  I would make extra since it will be so tempting to eat it!



If you get to use the edible playdough, let me know how it goes!  It will probably become one of your favorite lessons!


If you are looking for something to put in your centers, I also have 2 brand new sets of geometry task cards that you can take a look at by clicking here and here or by clicking on the pictures below.









Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Skylar Skunk's Birthday Party--Ordinal Number Task Cards

I am so excited about this activity!  As a semi-new blogger, I am finding that the graphics are the hardest part for me.  After years of working in inner-city schools where copies were limited and color ink was non-existant, I learned to cram as much information onto one page as I could and only use black ink.  But, these days, I am branching out into....yes....you guessed it....color graphics!  :::::::::applause:::::::::::    hehe  <Sorry, I amuse myself sometimes.>

The task cards in this activity are very colorful and the animal character cards are beautiful.   It is my hope that students will be able to use the picture representations that they create to gain a concrete understanding of ordinal numbers.

I am so excited to share this with you!  Click over to the right on little Skylar and go check out the file!

Enjoy!
Jenn

P.S.  The pictures from Skylar's birthday party just came back.  His mom sent these to me to remember the day!  Lots of fun were had by all of these guys AND my students!!!  Posted 12/30/2011




Wednesday, November 16, 2011

15 Task Cards for Any Author Study

While being home sick today, I worked on this file.  I have used these in my classroom and the kids love them!  I think that this file could be used in grades 2-5.  When you download it, please let me know what you think...the feedback can help me change the grade assignments.





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