We kicked the day off by lining up our tables's pumpkins from BIGGEST to smallest. Then we compared the number of lines on the outsides of our pumpkins.
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| These kids are almost in size order too! Kira- switch with Yiru! |
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| Keep track of those lines! |
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| Great teamwork to prevent having to recount the lines! |
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| Will our prediction be on target? |
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| That's a small pumpkin...but A LOT of lines to count!! |
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| Mickey's pumpkin was on the vine the longest! |
Next, we ran into a problem solving dilemma. How could we use a straight ruler to measure the circumference of a round object? Just ask our second grade experts how to solve that problem!!! If you guessed to use a string, you'd be correct! After cutting the string to the exact circumference of our table's pumpkin, we measured it in non-standard units (unifix cubes) and then in standard units (inches). Our findings were quite interesting...the middle-sized pumpkin had the largest circumference! (Maybe the Mickey pumpkin should consider a diet)! LOL!
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| Measuring circumference in grade 2! |
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| Eric makes the greatest faces when he discovers something!! |
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| Good work Kira...exactly around the middle! |
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| How many children does it take to measure the circumference of a pumpkin?? |
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| Mr. Fitz is getting in on the Pumpkin Math action too! |
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| Measuring the circumference in non-standard units. |
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| How long is your circumference in unifix cubes?? |
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| Looking good Gavin and Alex! |
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| Using inches to measure the circumference now. |
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| Is it easier to measure on the floor?? |
At last, it was time to "go all in." We took turns cutting off the top of our pumpkins and devised a group plan for how to go about counting the seeds inside. Show our work?? No problem! We just grouped the seeds together in order to skip count and then showed our work "write" on our table!!! Even though a few boys were a little grossed out and refused to get dirty, teamwork propelled our learning.
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| Thanks for lending a hand Ms. Kornfeld! |
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| Be careful cutting!! |
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| We should also carve jack-o-lanterns!! |
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| Get in there Dean!!! Mahin- what are you acting out?? |
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| Jack loves a good photo op! |
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| Pumpkin stems blasting off with Gavin! |
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| This group is a little GROSSED out by the pumpkin guts! It won't hurt you! |
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| Pumpkin boogers...ewwwww! |
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| Sorting the seeds from the pulp- a messy business! |
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| Don't be afraid to get dirty Ohm! |
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| Liam is totally nauseous! |
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| Another student who refused to get messy! Stick your hand in Jack!! |
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| Counting seeds by tens... |
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| WOW! You're looking at 522 seeds! |
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| Love how we showed our work! |
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| Concentrate...don't lose count boys! |
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| Lots of math in action! Add 'em up! |
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| Come on guys...don't give up yet. More to count! |
Additionally, we learned some scientific information about the relationship between the number of seeds and pumpkin size. We discovered that the size of the pumpkin has NOTHING to do with the number of seeds inside. A pumpkin that grows on a vine the longest will have the greatest number of seeds on the inside as well as the greatest number of lines on the outside. It will also be a deeper, darker orange color!
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| Recording our findings. |
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| Comparing our predictions with the actual number of seeds. |
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| Charting the results! |
Pumpkin Math was such a thrill, the kids requested to continue the learning. Some children asked to take seeds home to grow their own pumpkins and others asked if we could roast and eat the seeds! The learning and questioning never stops in Room 27! Maybe the kids will bring home a spring-time surprise this year ;)!
