Geometry and Space!

This week we have begun studying Geometry and Space! We wrote letters to martians explaining what a triangle is. We learned about the Solar System and galaxies using the Kids Discover Galaxies App and studied oi/oy words, taking pictures and writing complete sentences defining some of those words. We also worked hard to try and recreate the rocket our teacher made using one square of paper cut into four pieces. It was tricky!

Weather Watchers

For the past week we have been watching the weather around the world. Each group chose a city on one of 6 continents; North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. We checked the weather each day using the Weather+ App on our iPads and recorded the high and low temperatures as well as the weather conditions. At the end of the week we used the data we collected about our cities to make line graphs.

Candy Colors Project

In math this week we are working on estimation, counting by tens and ones, collecting and graphing data and adding double digit numbers.  Greyson said that he discovered you can count a big group faster when you put them into smaller groups of 10.  Collin thought the graphs helped us to see our information more easily.  We also discovered that we couldn't number the y axis of our graph by 1's because there were only 12 spaces on the worksheet and some of us had more than 12 candies for a particular color.  We decided we could number it by counting by 2's.  

Exploring Bridges in Mathematics Apps

In our district our K-2 team uses the Bridges in Mathematics curriculum.  A few nights ago I was browsing their website to see what was new. The Math Learning Center has been busy creating and sharing supplements to meet the new Common Core State Standards and I often find great resources on their website.  I got really excited when I discovered that they had two new Apps...FOR FREE!  I made sure to put their Geoboard and Number Rack Apps on our iPads first thing the next morning and encouraged my second graders to explore the Apps as they came in the door.

I LOVE what these second graders do with free exploration!  Each time we do this I am amazed at how much, and how quickly, they discover and learn while "playing" with the Apps.  After each exploration session we sit down together and share what we have learned about the App through our exploration.  During this time students are teaching each other (and me!) what they discovered.  This is also a great way to build their vocabulary.  My students spent approximately 15 minutes exploring the Geoboard App.  Here is a glimpse at what they created:

This week we will use the Number Rack App, which is also called a Rekenrek or calculating frame, to deepen our number sense and our understanding of addition and subtraction strategies.  Bridges has a wonderful K-2 supplemental unit that you can use this App with as well.  You can find it by clicking here.

I hope you have an iPad or two handy so you can try these out.  They are fantastic tools!

Number of the Day!

One of our new All About Numbers math activities is "Number of the Day."  Second grader's, ask your parents to print the record sheet and number cards out for you so you can practice at home too!  If you bring back your completed record sheet(s) they will count toward your weekly homework treasure box pick.

Number of the Day

Turkey Graphs

Personalize your own scrapbooking design

Math, Math, Math!

Each day we rotate through several different math activities.  We refer to them as our SMART activities.  S=strategy games, M=manipulatives, A=all about numbers, R=reading & writing about math, T=teacher time.  We know that if we work hard in all of these areas we will be the best mathematicians we can be!

This is an "all about numbers" activity we have been working on.  We are decomposing numbers and learning about place value and how to write a number in expanded form.

This is our Ant Story Problem Journal.  We just finished creating ant story problems and are now working on solving each others problems.  First we draw a picture to show how we figured out the answer.  Then we write it down in our own words.  And last, but not least, we write an equation showing how we figured out the problem.

This is one of our strategy games.  We are studying all the different ways to make the sum of numbers 6-9.

This is another strategy game we have been working on.  We are learning to count minutes on the clock by 5's and working on a little probability at the same time.

Bucket O' Bugs is our manipulatives activity.  We choose a subtraction math fact card and place the number of bugs on the "difference mat."  Then we think of a story problem about the difference between each number of bugs.  We also record the subtraction fact on a record sheet saying, "the difference between 6 and 4 is 2."

We will share pictures of our Ant Story Problems soon.  Our teacher thinks they rock!

Math Games

I just discovered a great new math website I think you will LOVE!  It is called Cyberchase and was created by PBS Kids. I have a feeling you will come back to school next fall a SUPER-DEE-DUPER MATH WHIZ after playing these games!


There is also a an activities page with several different math activities and games you could print out to work on or play when your parents need their computers back.


Try a few of the games and activities and then drop us a line letting us know which ones were your favorites and why.


Can't wait to hear from you!


P.S.  Don't forget about IXL!  You can practice your subtraction math facts, time, money, place value and math problem solving.

Snowman Glyph Graphing

Wow!  Yesterday we had a snow day so today was busy, busy, busy!  On Tuesday we made some snow-people glyphs and today we learned how to take "data" from those glyphs and graph it!  Here are some pictures of us hard at work.

We admired our glyphs and then talked about ways to sort them.

Then we worked together to make a graph with our glyphs.

Here is what our graph looked like using our snow-people glyphs.

Here is a bar graph showing the same information.

Tonight for homework we were asked to post a comment to our blog sharing what we learned about graphing data today.

What kind of graphs do you use to share data?

This morning we made snow-people glyphs.  Glyphs are pictures that tell information about us.  We are going to use our glyphs during math to find out information about each other and graph this information.

These students are building their snow-people.  We decided to call them snow-people so we didn't leave out the girls. (Thanks Quinn!)

This person thinks the best thing about a snow day would be playing in the snow!

Here is the key to our snow-people gylphs.  You can find out more information about our classmate by using this key.

Our teacher found this great idea at the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

What kinds of activities are  you doing at your school right now?