Venn Diagram Fun!

In our classroom we have been creating many Venn Diagrams, and we have also been getting creative in the process.  The 2nd graders recently conducted a survey asking adults around the school about their preferences of cats or dogs.  Dogs were the clear cut winner!  It was fun for them to take their clipboards out of the classroom and to seek out their answers from teachers, principals, and even the superintendent!

I then decided to combine a math lesson in which 2nd graders were to work with Venn Diagrams and 1st graders were to practice making tally marks.  Using hula hoops, we made Venn Diagrams on the floor.  The students had to place their names on each of the 3 Venn Diagrams, and then each student went around to "analyze the data" writing down the results using both numbers and tally marks.

At the end of the week for a Social Studies unit on Minnesota we again used a Venn Diagram.  Except this time we made a human Venn Diagram.  As we were learning about Minnesota's state muffin, drink, apple, and mushroom, we placed our bodies on a large Venn Diagram taped to the floor.  We found that many students like both blueberry muffins and milk.  We hardly had enough room for all those students in the middle of that graph.  We also learned that not many students like mushrooms, and we ended up with many students outside of that diagram showing that they liked neither the morel mushroom or the honey crisp apple.

Math Games in the Classroom

In our first/second grade classroom we have a lot of fun using games to help us practice math skills.  Games are often introduced to the whole class, students are paired up, and then they practice!  I often will pair a second grader with a first grader to help clarify any questions before small groups of students use the game during our math workshop rotations.

Math Workshop

In our multiage classroom, math is an area that takes some extra consideration and management in order for both groups of kids to receive instruction at their grade level.  The way this happens is that the students rotate through 3 different stations.  One station is "meet the teacher."  At this station groups of students meet with me for the grade level math lesson.  Another station is "at your seat."  At this station the students work on assignments in their math folder.  This is an area where I'm able to differentiate what the students are working on and can challenge or modify if necessary.  The final station is "think and play."  At this station the students use a variety of manipulatives and play math games.  This week we have been rotating and learning about how the stations work in order for it run very smoothly once I'm at the table teaching the lesson.