Showing posts with label math. Show all posts
Showing posts with label math. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Geo-Crochet = Geometry and Crochet



A fun way to learn geometry is through handwork. Crocheting basic shapes leads to discussions and observations about numbers, patterns, fractions, and so much more!



We started with some lovely alpaca yarn that came straight from Upstream Alpacas. They handspun and dyed the yarns from their own alpacas.

Our 5th grader Wilson then wound each skein into a ball.

We played with geoblocks, figuring out which shapes can be used to form other shapes, such as using 6 triangles to make a hexagon.

Wilson then learned how to crochet granny triangles. He had made granny squares before, so he understood the concept of starting with a circle to create another shape.




The rainbow-colored triangles were done!  Now, time to crochet edging and lay out the triangles.








One thing that we learned, is that the triangle points wanted to curve. Wilson made sure to single crochet three times into each corner.

The triangles were sewn up with leftover yarn.

The 6 triangles, when sewn together, curled up a bit, looking like a circle.

Wilson blocked the triangles using water, a foam board, and push pins to encourage the yarn to hold a hexagonal shape.

The end result is a beautiful, rainbow hexagon! We use it in our homeschooling bookcase and place special calendar gnomes on top.




Thursday, March 10, 2011

Grade One Math - The Four Processes

We love how Waldorf introduces all four math processes together in Grade 1.  It just makes more sense, and it takes the fear factor out of multiplication and division.  Introducing stories and characters for each process brings the numbers to life, and the stories help children remember the function of each process.

















Here are some pictures of Wilson with his home main lesson books, telling us stories about the characters and asking us for more math problems.

"A farmer digs three holes in the ground and plants two seeds in each hole." Child draws the picture, below, and figures out that 2+2+2=6, or 2x3=6.














Farmer Plus
 




Mr. Minus





















Tommy Times





















Mr. Divide


Sunday, May 9, 2010

Math Dice
















We love our math dice!  Thank you very much to Jen DiMonte of the Ancient Hearth blog and Etsy shop.  She makes beautiful wood math dice, perfect for games, computations and more.

The kids enjoy using the all the dice together, including the one with Roman numerals!














One of their favorite things to do is to test Mommy or older brother and sister.











We keep our math dice in one of our naturally dyed silk velvet pouches so that they stay protected when we put them away or take them with us on trips.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Spring Flowers and Geometry














We've been inspired by the beautiful daffodils blooming in our yard!  To celebrate this sign of early Spring, we sketched the daffodils for a while when the sun was out....













Daffodils have 6 petals, so we drew 6-pointed stars and hexagons to help us with the symmetry.













Our wonderful neighbor loaned us an amazing Waldorf book that is no longer in print and is all in German.  It features forms and shapes of plants, animals, minerals. 













Next, we drew triangles, squares, 5-pointed stars and 6-pointed stars.  Based on the drawings in the book, we sketched out flowers that follow these 3, 4, 5, and 6-petal/leaf patterns. 
 


Then, it was time to color the flowers.  If the flowers were blooming outside, we observed them (mostly pansies and daffodils right now!).  
Joey

We discussed the color variations of each flower as we drew. 

Ricky


We wrote the numbers in Arabic and Roman numerals and the names of the flowers in English.  Next week, we will add the names in Spanish and German. 

Wilson

Friday, January 29, 2010

Enjoying Math!





















We've been enjoying math lately!  Come and take a peek....



















Time Charts (seasons, months, weather, solstice/equinox -- thank you to the amazing Our Little Nature Nest blog for inspiration!)



















Mathematicians (theories, biography writing)



















Artistic Geometry


























































Tesselations




















Clock

Mathematics Around Us (Waldorf Education Resources S.)
Tessellations : The History and Making of Symmetrical Designs
Teaching Mathematics in Rudolf Steiner Schools: For Classes I-VIII