Marvellous Mittens

With sub-zero temperatures gripping us, (and more indoor recess than we all wish to count!) who could pass up an opportunity to introduce the old folk tale, The Mitten.

While we enjoyed the story, the children thought that it was great fun bringing their own mittens inside the class, and exploring. In our "focus groups", various math manipulatives were set up and the children set to "work".

Length is measured using wooden cubes.

 

Non-standard units of measurement were used to calculate length, height, and perimetre.

Counting and spelling - the big reveal!

Height is measured using pattern blocks.

Perimetre is measured with alphabet beads. 

 

We also presented the children with construction paper mittens with curious little dots around the perimetre.

 



Mittens were decorated.

Yarn strands were placed on the carpet,

enticing the children to try their hands at sewing.

 

The stitches in one version of "The Mitten"

may have come loose, but not these ones!

Fine motor coordination fun

 

While the interest in mittens was still strong, we moved along to the "Three Little Kittens". We sang the nursery rhyme as a song, and we turned it into a drama. Cut-out mittens became another math inquiry as we created number sentences in circle.

 

Perspectives were explored when the number sentence looked different to a student on the opposite side of the carpet. The first number sentence is depicted above. With brilliant insight, a child proclaimed that the sentence could be read another way. They changed the location of the equal sign and the sum (4), as seen in the picture below.

Emphasis was placed on "equal", and that the same number be represented in some form, on either side of the equal sign.

This is a little advanced for Junior Kindergarten. However, when the interest is keen, we can't ignore it!

We continued to work on number sentences in our "focus groups". While the concept is advanced for some, other children in the group were counting and mastering their understanding of number. Everyone is learning at the perfect pace for them!

When number tiles and number sentence strips were placed out with other materials, we discovered that some of the children gravitated towards them, and made it part of their play.

We feel privilaged to work with a class full of children who honour themselves by pursuing their interests and inquiry.

Thank you for visiting the atelier.