Shapin' Up in Second Grade Math

As an introduction to geometry, students explored geo-blocks.  Students learned how to count faces on a block and to make 3 dimensional drawings.

In this activity, students first cut out different shaped rectangles.  They ordered the rectangles from smallest to biggest.  All of the students thought the longest and skinniest rectangle was the "biggest".   Then they tested their predictions by covering each rectangle with small squares. Surprisingly, the rectangle that was the biggest, or the one which held the most squares was NOT the long and skinny one!   Students were also very surprised to discover that some rectangles that didn't look exactly the same held the same number of squares!

"We are learning about symmetry.  We used pattern blocks.  Then we put up a mirror to see the reflection.  If you look in the mirror, now you see a reflection of the blocks!  It's so cool!!"

A student took a close up picture of this pattern block design.   We talked about how once you put up the mirror/line of symmetry, the design is doubled.  Of course we thought of math problems as we did this activity!

Math is Double the Fun!

Words from a student:  "We are doing fun doubles games!"

(Our "doubles" games teach students what it means to double a quantity and to write the equation that represents the problem. Knowledge of doubles like 4+4, 6+6, etc. will help students solve problems efficiently.)

You can't tell by this picture, but this lawn was actually covered with over 56 robins! We counted and re-counted the robins a few times!   As a signature learning experience, 2nd grade math students are collecting bird count data to submit to e-bird.com. Our data helps scientists learn more about our local bird population.   Not only do we count birds, but we also graph the bird data and create bird word problems.  Students help to enter the bird data in the e-bird database.  Other skills involve determining how much time we spend collecting the data and comparing month to month data.

Words from a student, "We're finding ways to make 15.  Here's a ten stick and 5 ones. Here's 3 nickels..."

(Students are discovering various ways to make the # 15.  Students discover patterns and number sense by using objects to build the number in multiple ways.)

Mighty Mathematicians at work!

"We are making crayon boxes.  We can only have 10 crayons, and we can only use red, yellow, and green."

"It's very fun! It's funner than expected!"

"We had to add and subtract cubes to make the right number." (In this activity, each bag has a different number of cubes in it.  The first task is to find out if there are enough cubes in the bag to give one to every person in the class.  The next task is to determine how many cubes are needed if there wasn't enough for every person, or how many cubes were left over if there was more than enough for every person!)

We collected data for our first pocket day!

"We're trying to get to 25 cents.  You roll the dice and make trades for dimes and nickels."

We're trading coins as we play money games.

"We had to make up ways to get 5."

"We had to make up ways to make 5."

How may ways can you make 5 using addition and subtraction?

"We had to add and subtract cubes to make the right number."

This activity is called "Enough for the Class." 

 Each bag has a different # of cubes and students determine if they have enough for the class or how many more or less cubes are needed to come up with exactly enough for the class.

"This is more fun that I expected!"

"We are making crayon boxes.  We can only have 10 crayons, and we can only use red, yellow, and green. It's very fun!"

Dear Mighty Math Followers,

It's been a great start to the school year.  Students have been reporting their sightings of "Math is Everywhere!"  We learned a new game called "Guess My Number".  We also counted and experimented with pattern blocks to cover large shapes.  We even started our year long service project involving bird counting/data collection for eBird.  

Looking forward to seeing you at Open House!

Shapin' Up in Math!

From our math student photographer/reporter, "We're seeing how many blocks can fit into a shape.  Three diamonds fit into a hexagon.  Three triangles fit into 1 red shape.  Two red shapes fit into 1 yellow shape."

The 2/3's hosted an amazing assembly!

Way to go, 2/3's!

Math is Everywhere!

Second Grade Student Math Reporter/Photographer, J.,  describes this activity as "We are cutting out magazines and seeing if there is math in it.  There's lots of math in these magazines!"

Quote from a second grader, "There is math all around!"

Welcome to Second Grade Mighty Math 2012!