Patterns! Patterns everywhere ... seasonal patterns, weather patterns, grammatical patterns, numerical patterns, even patterns in how we take turns on the playground. With careful monthly, weekly, daily, and even hourly observations, these pre-kers have on their science hats and they are looking for patterns.
Within the last two weeks, the children have observed the chlorophyll beginning to fade away from our favorite maple tree that we visit on our observation walks. We discussed how this happens seasonally. What did it look like in summer? The children agreed, it was all green. More recently, some of the children noticed the top of the maple tree appeared more orange. What do you think is happening? Some children thought that maybe the tree was dying, others recognized that the chlorophyll was fading away from the leaves and the other pigments became more visible. We read about that in the book Why Do Leaves Change Color, by Betsy Maestro. We discussed that the leaves are dying and falling to the ground. When asked what do you think happens to the leaves? LW shared enthusiastically, I think they are rotting and becoming soil! Decomposing!
The children also look and listen for patterns in literature.
We see patterns in numbers through skip-counting, on the calendar, and we create complex patterns with materials such as cubes and Dominos.
We think there are endless patterns in nature; patterns not only visually present in the structure of the plant, but also in the life-cycle. Seeds from these sunflowers have been harvested for spring planting.
The children have been tracking and graphing weather, which helps us plan on what to wear for recess.
There are patterns in structures and in taking turns - your turn! My turn!
These two are organizing the store and getting ready to sell the food they harvested.
Where else do you see patterns?
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