Geometry and Crazy Hair!

We have started a math unit on geometry, beginning with lessons on 2- and 3-dimensional shapes.  We learned that 3-dimensional shapes have "faces", which are 2-dimensional.  We have also learned that polygons are closed 2-dimensional shapes with  straight sides.  Soon we will be sorting a special kind of polygon, called quadrilaterals, by looking at "square corners", or right angles.

For two of our recent math classes, students were able to use laptops to enhance their geometry learning.  Our school Portaportal page gave us access to two interactive websites which students used to explore geometric shapes.  You can access our school's Portaportal at home by clicking the link on this blog (to the right), or by going to www.portaportal.com and entering the password k5. 

Students worked alone and with partners on the laptops.

Using the Promethean Board added to the fun of playing
with shapes.

While some students used websites, others visited learning centers
with two geometry games: Mystery Block (shown here), and Find the Block.

Exploring how pattern blocks fit together to fill a shape...

Can you fill the same space using one, two, three, or four different
kinds of pattern blocks?

Students used different ways to keep track of their work, in order to
gather and glue on paper pattern block shapes to model how the
wooden shapes were used.

 

 

Experimenting with geometry during Choice Time...

 

And, to leave you with a smile...Crazy Hair and Hat Day!



Fire Safety Week

This week many students of Center Drive School celebrated Fire Safety Week. A big "thank you" to Firefighter Shellie and her friends at Orrington Fire & Rescue and Brewer Fire Department!

Here are just some of the many tips that we learned from Firefighter Shellie:

The fire detector is your number one tool!

Test the batteries of your fire detectors once a month.

Change the batteries twice a year (use the Daylight Savings time change to remind you).

You need at least two exits from each room.

Candles should only be lit on a stove top.

If there is smoke in the room, crawl on your hands and knees (not on your belly).
Your family needs to have an agreed upon safe meeting place.

If your clothes catch on fire, STOP, DROP, COVER FACE, and ROLL.

 

 

STOP, DROP, COVER FACE, and ROLL!

Firefighter Shellie used a model to demonstrate what to do in case of a fire.

Erik Tourtillotte, Fire Fighter and EMT, Orrington and Brewer.



Lieutenant Mark Kenney of Orrington Fire & Rescue.

Chad Bean, Fire Fighter and EMT of Orrington Fire & Rescue, taught us about the ambulance.

Firefighter Erik climbed to the very top of the ladder!

 



Group Work Products

Here are photos of some of the work that we have been doing together.

Proudly displayed on the bulletin board in the hallway!

Loved the teamwork here!  This group double checked their work using different
tools.  Each group member was able to clearly explain their thinking, and together
they realized that they were subtracting.

This group knew a lot about money, and was able to easily add three quarters
and subtract the "change" to solve the problem.

Some really great conversation took place with this group!

Cooperative Learning

Our class has been working hard in cooperative learning groups.  These are flexible groups, which means that size and students differ each time, depending on the work we are doing.  Some of the rules to follow when working in a cooperative learning group are: 1. Make sure that everyone understands the problem; 2. Make sure that everyone's voice and ideas are heard; 3. Work together and check each others work.  Two great recent examples of excellent group work happened in math and in reading last week. 

In reading, we just ended a unit that used "Silly Stories" as a springboard for learning.  To culminate the unit, groups were formed to respond to questions that compared and extended stories, as well as prompting students to form opinions about the characters we met along the way.  The resulting products are in the process of being shared with the class, and will be on display on the hallway bulletin board.

 

The other fantastic example of team work was some tricky problem solving in math.  It was quite interesting to listen in on all of the conversations, as each student brings his/her own understanding of math to their respective group.  Students did a great job of listening to each other, explaining their thinking, and working together to reach a solution.  We will revisit these problems after the long weekend.

Looking forward to more teamwork in second grade!

Volunteers

To all parents who would like to volunteer in the school (including as a field trip chaperone), and missed the last training:

There will be another training Thursday, October 11 at 5:45 in the cafeteria.  Then you can stay for the PTG meeting at 6:30!

For those who have taken the training and expressed interest in volunteering - thank you!  Together we can build a quality education for your child.

If your job prevents you from volunteering, I understand!  (Teachers are the worst offenders for this!)  Perhaps you like to bake or make creative snacks for kids, or maybe there is another way you can help from home.  Just let me know if you are able to help :)