Patterning using Multiple Intelligences

We did a patterning activity today.  Our outcome is to  deomonstrate an understanding of repeating patterns by: identifying, reproducing, extending and creating patterns using manipulatives, sounds, and actions.

We have been working on patterning for a while, and the students have gotten quite good at it.  So, today I challenged them by setting out centers for them to create patterns at using different multiple intelligences.  I sent 3 kids to each center, and then left them to create their patterns.  I walked around with the ipad taking pictures and videos to post to our blog.  After a few minutes, I had them rotate until they had gone to all the centers.  At the end we gathered together and watched the video.  We then talked about which way each child prefered to create patterns.

Kinesthetic - make patterns with your body (eg jump, kick)
Natural - use a pile of rocks to make patterns (this was a tough one, but they were able to do it based on size and colour.  If it wasn't soooooo cold and snowy out, I would have liked to have brought in some leaves, branches, etc).
Logical - use the blocks to create a pattern.
Musical - use the instruments to create sound patterns.
Visual - draw a pattern on the white board.

The kids were quite creative. One of the musical groups even made a pattern all together - one would beat the drum, then the next would hit the tambourine and then the last would hit the stick and then they would repeat. They all really enjoyed the centers!

Self Control

Each month a class is in charge of introducing a new value.  We are in charge of self control and have our assembly coming up in the middle of February.  In the past, I've created vidoes and picture presentations and tried to involve the students in the examples that we use and the brainstorming before hand.  This time, with report cards just being finished, I wanted to do something simpler.  So, we will be singing this self control song (I got it off itunes for $0.99) and doing a line dance (it took a lot of self control to learn it!).  The song is very simple, and the kids love it.  As we are singing it, we move around for the fast parts and then put up a hand to Stop!  It is a lot of fun.  Just hoping that we can use self control when we are in the assembly!

Self Control by David Kisor

 

Cherry Blossoms

With all this cold weather, I thought we needed to do something to try to warm us up!  I found this activity on pinterest (http://www.duitang.com/blogs/tag/%E6%89%8B%E5%B7%A5/?from_blog=20618614) for making cherry blossoms.

I cut some 11X17 paper in half the long way.  We then used black paint to paint a long stem down the paper.  Next, we mixed red and white to make different shades of pink.  We took plastic pop bottles (full ones work best) and used them to stamp "flowers" along our stems. 

They turned out sooooo nice!