Kindergarteners Create Symmetrical Pumpkins

Inspired by the story, Spookley the Square Pumpkin, students were challenged to create their own pumpkin on the computer. Now I must tell you, these were no ordinary pumpkins. Not only were the pumpkins square, they were symmetrical. Using a template in the drawing program Early Learning Toolkit, students used a variety of drawing tools (marker, circle, square, line, spray can, paint bucket) to create their own Spookleys while exploring the mathematical concept of vertical symmetry. The kindergarten teachers will continue exploring this concept in their classrooms with their students.

Here are a few sites if your child would like to continue exploring symmetry at home:

Symmetry Artist 
Line of Symmetry
Symmetry Patterns
Reflective Symmetry

Nugget Reaches the Czech Republic

A bit of a departure from my regular posts - I had to share this adorable picture of the latest carrier of one of the 2nd grade travel bugs, Nugget. Nugget was released on January 16, 2009 and has logged 23,400 miles. He has visited three different continents (N. America, S. America, Europe), nine countries, and ten states. Wish I had as many stamps in my passport! Right now, Nugget is traveling across the Czech Republic.

Nugget is one of 16 travel bugs released by second graders over the last four years. The Class of 2023 will be releasing their own in the next few weeks.

Visual Maps Help Organize Information

Two key software programs embedded into the Lower Division curriculum are Kidspiration and Inspiration. Both programs allows students to visually connect concepts and ideas by combining pictures, texts, numbers and spoken words. 

Kidspiration is used in K-2nd grade. It has a simple interface built specifically for young children. In addition to students being able to create their own webs, there are many math, science, and social studies templates that allow the classroom teachers to extend technology into these units. This week, for example, first graders worked with partners to create webs sharing facts about the bone and skeleton. It was a great way for students to showcase what they have learned and also serves as an assessment tool for the teachers before moving on to a new unit.

Inspiration is built for older students. It utilizes a similar interface as Kidspiration but includes many more advanced tools. This week, fourth graders also built webs, but focused on organizing their weekly vocabulary words based on their Greek and Latin roots. Information represented spatially allows students to organize and group similar ideas which makes better use of their visual memory. Visual learning is also reported across educational literature as an effective way to improve critical thinking, comprehension, and retention. The use of color and shape also help enhance with the experience.