Chapter 7: Manipulatives, Experiments, Labs, and Models

This week's book study discussion, hosted by Deanna at Mrs. Jump's Class, is all about using hands-on strategies to increase learning.

My favorite quote from this chapter:

"When learning is active and hands-on, the formation of neural connections is facilitated and information is much more readily remembered than information learned from an abstract viewpoint, where the teacher is doing the work while the student watch (Gregory & Parry, 2006)."
(Source: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites by Marcia L. Tate)

For me, reading this chapter was a big "You're doing it! Way to go!" I'm all about hands-on learning.

I just wish I had more cupboards and storage space! (Our building was not originally a school when we bought it.) One way we've tried to alleviate the storage burden is by practicing what we preach - SHARING! One teacher has all of the mini Judy clocks. Another a set of the 3D shape models. We even have a cupboard of math manipulatives to checkout in the teachers lounge. When I don't have a certain manipulative... and I don't want to buy it, I just write a note in my lesson plans about who has what I need.

These insect collections were borrowed from the high school science department.

Hands-on learning is engaging. It's important for any grade, but especially the younger grades. They explore using their hands. That's how they make sense of their world.

Here are some examples of Chapter 7 in action....

 

 Fraction Pizza

During our fraction unit, we donned our chef hats and made paper pizzas. 

We discussed equal parts and then cut them into fourths.

 

 

Telling Time

When we read The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle, I give each student their own clock.

As I read, they match their clocks to the time on each page of the story.

3D shapes Models

"When students are working with concrete shapes, they are developing the foundation for spatial sense" (Wall & Posamentier, 2006).
(Source: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites by Marcia L. Tate)

See how we created our own 3D models with play-doh. It's a little tricky, but it's a great way to practice our vocabulary. "Make a sphere, and then roll one end to make a cone."

 

Building Letters and Words

 

Boys love this Word Work station!

Wikki Sticks are great for learning proper letter and number formation. I use them frequently at the beginning of the year. After building them, we trace them with our finger.

TIP: Use glossy paper plates to keep the sticky residue off your tables.

 

Subtraction Bowling

 

Click HERE to get a FREE copy of this recording sheet from Kelly Young.

 

Pumpkin Experiments

During our pumpkin unit we measure the circumference of the pumpkin with string before cutting it open and exploring the "guts" inside!

Bones and X-Rays

Insects 

Here was our "Bug Lab", where we categorized bugs according to the number of legs they had.

In my defense, this should be called a "recording sheet" :)

We created our own models out of play-doh using what we learned about insect characteristics.

6 legs? 3 body parts? Yes, it's an insect!

Check out the link-up at at Mrs. Jump's Class, to see how other teachers are implementing these strategies!

Five for Friday!

It's time for my "week in review" with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching.

It was a rough week! I went in for strep throat last Friday and took off Tuesday for a bad cold on top of it! Nothing like going to school before 6am to type up sub notes. (You gotta get out of there before anyone stops you and sees how terrible you look!)

The struggle is real.

My students started joking with me: "Its like a pattern - you, a sub, you, a sub!" Oh, dear!

I usually do blow painting with my kinders each spring as a fun art activity. I wanted to amp up the science integration and came across Kindergarten Kel's What Will the Wind Blow? experiment recording sheet. It was perfect!

I set up a mini IKEA table in the middle of the rug. We wrote our prediction for each item before I called on someone to try er' out. (TIP: I always have my students use marker to record estimates or predictions. Why? So they can't go back to erase and change their prediction when the result ends up being different than their guess. I can pick out the perfectionists in the group!)

I love hearing at the end of an activity "That was so fun!" *happy dance*

Click HERE to get a free copy of this recording sheet!

After our wind experiment we painted with wind - our wind! All you need is watercolors and straws.

The next day, we added tissue paper flowers using the end of a pencil.

"Buzzy" the Bee kicked off our insect unit.

He taught us his favorite song to help us learn the characteristics of insects.

We used play-doh to make our own insects using what we learned. The bendy straws worked perfectly for legs.

3 body parts? 6 legs? Antenna? Yes, it's an insect!

Here is yet another perk of teaching at a K-12 school: the science department lends us their bug collections!  We got out our magnifying glasses to investigate. (Some of my girls needed confirmation that yes, the bugs were indeed dead.)

I think we might have some future entomologists!

We talked about the difference between insects and arachnids.

These are my favorite kinds of spiders... cookie spiders!

Aren't these spiders "sweet"?

How ridiculous is this? We did these In the Spring... poems..... because we've had spring weather. One day it was a glorious 70 degrees! I thought it was perfectly safe to do these poems.

Well,..... we spent all this time describing spring... and the next day it SNOWS! They must be so confused!

Even though spring is hesitant to come, Easter is on it's way! We began our tradition of telling the Easter story by opening up a Resurrection Egg each morning before our Bible story. My students love guessing what's in each egg and sharing what part of the story each symbol represents.

I'm looking forward to linking up with Easter ideas next week!

Enjoy your weekend!