Working with Symmetry

My 4th graders just finished working with symmetry.  Whew!  Talk about cutting it close.  We begin our state standardized assessment, the CRCT, Monday.  We just finished up our last unit on Friday!  There are just way too many standards to teach with the new Math Common Core Performance Standards in 4th grade.  My kids have worked so hard and most of them have given 120% each day!  Still, I am a nervous wreck not knowing what awaits us on this first year of testing Common Core. 
 It's hard on kids when they don't get to make the coffee filter Shamrocks on St. Partrick's Day, or take a break every so often and do something they don't have to rush through in order to move on to something else.
There are so many cool things you can do with symmetry but, I had very little time to teach it.  However, I was not going to let my kids go without having a little fun while learning symmetry.  
This is where the Ellison machine became very helpful. The only manipulatives I needed last week were construction paper die cuts.  Now, I must admit, I have a student teacher right now so, I didn't have to actually cut the shapes myself.  Yes, I know everyone is probably pretty dog-gone jealous right now!  :)  My student teacher cut all kinds of shapes from the die cuts.  Some shapes had lines of symmetry, others had none.  
The shapes were placed on the tables in-between the kids.  Each child received a piece of white copy paper and folded it, with teacher modeling, into 8 sections.  Once all the preliminaries were completed, the students began folding shapes and finding how many lines of symmetry were in each of the figures.  
The next step was to draw the shape on one of the 8 sections of the white paper.  This drawing was free-handed since the die cut was so much larger than the section on the paper.  After drawing the shape, the number of lines of symmetry was also written in that section.  
After completing the activity, the kids were allowed to color a butterfly.  Of course, both sides of the butterfly had to be decorated symmetrically.  I believe my kids had a good time, and most importantly, I believe they learned a lot about symmetry. 

  

20% Off TPT Sale

I'd like to invite everyone over to my TPT shop, Mrs. C's Classroom, for a 20% off sale the next few days!  The discount is for everything in my shop, and the sale runs from 3/30/13 - 4/1/14.  Check out my Freebies while you are shopping!  Just click on the picture below to get there even faster! :)  I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend!
Lisa

Another Math FREEBIE!

If you want to get a jump start on your next place value unit, I have a memory game resource you will want to add.  I use this game every year with my students.  It can be used as a partner or small group activity...for practice or review.  
Simply click on the cover page below to download the activity, along with the directions, for free!  

I hope you enjoy!

Place Value Freebie!

Auntie Nym - Antonyms & Synonyms

I have been wanting to put my "Auntie Nym" stories and activities together for a while now, but, something always came up.  It is so exciting to finally get her posted on TPT for everyone to use!  I have told stories about my great Auntie Nym since the 1980's and have had so many students, as adults, ask if my Auntie Nym has calmed down any, or if she is still up to her old antics.  Auntie Nym, if you haven't guessed, is a terrific way to teach antonyms.  Kids don't forget her!  In fact, it was because of a former student that I decided to go ahead and put her on TPT.  I saw this former student a few months ago and she was telling me how she and her friends had just been talking about Auntie Nym.  That warmed my heart.  
A few years ago, I decided to teach synonyms by creating her cat, Cinnamon.  Cinnamon has all the common sense.  For my activities packet, I have created "Elizabeth," Auntie Nym's great-niece.  Together they have wonderful, although strange, adventures.  
The Auntie Nym packet on TPT comes with 8 mini-poster stories about Auntie Nym's adventures, a task card activity, a hinky pinky activity that my kids have absolutely loved throughout the years, sorting cards 1 and 2, (sorting cards 2 is for remediation, etc...), and challenge task cards.  Answer keys and recording sheets are included where it is applicable.  
Feel free to take a look and enjoy my dear ole' Auntie Nym. Just click on her portrait below.

Geometry 2-D Scoot - FREEBIE

I've been busy lately creating some new free items. Here is my newest freebie!  It is called "Geometry 2-D Scoot."  I have just recently been introduced to the scoot game.  The Geometry 2-D Scoot has 12 pages, including the cover page and a full set of directions.   Simply click on the picture below to see the description of the game and to download a free copy.

Enjoy and check back often for more FREEBIES!

  

It's the Little Things

With all the things teachers have to put up with on a daily basis, it sure is nice to know that someone cares!  I work with some of the nicest people!  It's the little things that people do for one another that makes the day a little brighter.  Thursday, I walked into a 2nd grade teacher's classroom and since I will be teaching time intervals this year with the new CCPS standards in place, my eyes were immediately drawn to this teacher's, Mrs.P, clock.  It was adorable.  It was made to look like a pink flower, with each 5 minute interval being a flower petal.  I had seen this clock on interest and had even pinned it.  When I commented to Mrs. P that I loved her clock, she didn't skip a beat when she asked me what color I wanted for my flower petals.  By Friday afternoon she had made the clock and had it hot-glued onto my classroom clock.  I love, love, love, it!

My new Flower Clock!

  

The day got even better. Friday afternoon I was walking down the hallway with another teacher, Mrs. A.  I bragged on her necklace and before I knew it she had put it around my neck.  When I went to take it off, she refused to take it back.  I tried several times to give it back to her, but, she said she wanted me to have it and that I would offend her if I gave it back.  Wow!  I work with some very generous, kind-hearted people.  I do know how fortunate I am.  Daily, teachers still have time for each other after giving of themselves all day.  My day was made.  I was in a great mood the rest of the week-end! This generosity made me begin thinking about what I can do for others this week!

The Necklace!

Fractions, Decimals, Number Lines

     I have a student teacher this year.  It works out well for me because I have a sounding board to vent my frustrations on and someone to talk my way through and reason with on a standard such as Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to a fraction (n x a)/(n x b) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size.  I guess I have partner in crime, so to speak.  It does make me feel better when we both have a "deer in highlights" look on our faces.
     Although my student teacher, Mr. L., has not began his two week take over yet., he did prepare and teach a lesson in my classroom last week that I especially enjoyed.  I told him it was going in my lesson plan book for next year!  I like it so much I asked him if I could share it on my blog. 
     The lesson a wrap-up of making equivalent decimals and fractions using 10ths and 100ths, writing fractions in decimal notation, and making a number line to display the information.  He prepared an excellent lesson.  The final activity for the day was what he "Decimal 4 Square." 
     The only materials that were needed for this activity were a pencil, crayons, a piece of construction paper, and a hundredths decimal square.
     My kids folded the construction paper into 4ths, then label each section.  The kids were allowed to draw any picture in the decimal square they wanted, in any order they wanted.  They could skip spaces and begin the picture anywhere.  I love this since it made them stop and realize that decimal squares do not have to be always in rows and columns. 
     Next, they filled in the sections of the paper labeled Decimal and Fraction .  Finally, they made a number line and labeled it to show the information. 
     The only change I am going to make to this activity next year, is to have students label the number line with the fraction and decimal notation. 

This student actually included the fraction and decimal notation on her number line. :)