Fibonacci

The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence of numbers in which each number in the sequence is equal to the sum of the two numbers before it. Starting with 0 and 1, this sequence is a wonderful way to introduce and practice concepts such as patterning, addition, building sets or multiplying, and squaring. 

Within these golden rectangles, you can see these numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 squared.

The sequence naturally occurs in plants and animals, such as fiddleheads, snails, moon snails, and cherry blossoms. 

During recess, the children look for spiral shapes in nature. 

0,1,1,2,5,8,13,21... ask your child what comes next? 

 

STEAM

STEAM time continues to be a daily activity in the pre-k classroom. During STEAM time, the children choose from a variety of activities that satisfy their gross and fine motor skills, as well as their math, engineering, art, and science skills. Along with these individualized activities, children have the opportunity to move freely around the room, get creative, and socialize.

While one child might be working on percentages and addition with a bead frame into the thousands, others might be working with base ten blocks, geo boards, or using measuring tools.

You might see children measuring with rulers and comparing objects, using the language of the discipline: taller, shorter, wider, thinner. 

Somewhere else in the classroom a group might be collaborating on a racetrack, designing ramps and cars that move on the track using gravity.

You might see children designing unicorns on the geoboards.

 

 

Here is a child who chose double digit addition using the base ten blocks while celebrating the 100th day of school! 

STEAM

 

Animal Classification

Pre-k is classifying animals. I placed several plastic animals on the children's tables and I asked them to simply sort and  classify them. After they discussed with their group how they sorted their animals, we discussed vertebrates and invertebrates. Once they discovered that all of the animals on the table were vertebrates, we continued to sort the vertebrates into new groups: mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds.

The children discovered that some animals were trickier than others to classify, such as platypuses, bats, and ptarmigans.  

I asked them inquiry questions: where does each animal belong? What makes you think so? Discuss what you think with your group.

         

They seemed to have tremendous fun working together and discussing their thoughts and ideas.