Exploratory Mathematics
Number Sense in the Wild
Research on child learning, as well as the Common Core State Standards show that developing number-sense lays the healthiest foundation for later mathematical understanding. While students differed in age, understanding groupings of 10s, and later 100s, is naturally scaffolded for all levels. Students worked together to count our appreciation stickers, days of school, and other curiosities.
Below Z is teaching his poster on the contents of our Pattern Blocks to the class. He moved from physical manipulatives, to representing his findings with different mathematics strategies on a poster, and finally presenting his work to the class.
Finding Data Everywhere
Students at Cherries’ School learned to collect, organize, compare, and analyze their own data.
Collecting data from the weather, a jar of popbeads, our feet, the furniture, early spring flowers, and many other sources, students learned in depth to find and use data.
Curriculum Plus
Cherries School followed the Eureka Math Curriculum for each grade of students (K-2).
I expanded each unit to include hands-on lessons. Students learned skills in Eureka Math to explore curiosities about the world around them. Here, A was learning about measuring and comparing irregular objects, and measured her classmates body-parts (as well as creating her own chart!)