It's a Common Core Christmas!

Meeting Common Core Math Standards with a bit of holiday spirit can be sooo delightful!  After a lesson on sorting objects from shortest to longest, students were given a set of precut papers.  I alternated colors and shorten the length approximately two inches each time.  The kids were given the sheets in random order and asked to arrange.  During this time, I asked the kids to turn and talk about any "other" math observed during the process.  Within minutes we were talking about patterns.  A few students were struggling to determine the correct order of objects but immediately identified shortest to longest as discussion of an AB pattern took place.  

Once this objective was met, kids were given a set of precut bulbs.  I'm so blessed to have girls from my past looping class drop by each morning and assist with organization, cutting, tutoring, and general maintenance.  Students were asked to write each of the letter from their first name in the bulbs.  We strung their strand on their newly created Christmas Tree.  With a new calendar rug donated this past month from Donors Choose, we were able to easily sort into groups.  Names with 3 letters, 4 letters, 5 letters... all the way to 8 letters.  Allowing time for my students to turn and talk about the data is crucial to my understanding of who is meeting objectives and can clearly explain least and most.  PLUS it's so much fun listening to the kids talk curriculum content.  It makes my heart melt.