Snack on Solid Shapes!

Hi all! This is Mary from Sharing Kindergarten.

I am so excited to be guest blogging all about math today.
Math is one of my favorite subjects to teach because

I feel it is so natural to integrate math into
other elements of my curriculum.
I also can move at the pace my class needs
because Math builds on each other. 

This week, I taught my sweet Kinders all about solid shapes. 

{Click here to go to my Pinterest board about shapes! 

I have activities, videos, and other ideas included here}

 On Friday, we created solid shapes
using mini marshmallows and toothpicks.
I used an example on each table for my students to try to create.
Below is a picture of the purple table 
creating a triangular pyramid.

I found that once a student created the shape with their
toothpicks and marshmallows, the others could easily copy.
I had lots of extra hands around to help!

The best part of this activity is that it forces my students
to think about the flat shapes inside the solid shapes. 

We created cubes, rectagular prisms, triangular pyramids,
and a regular pyramid.

I allowed each student to eat their marshmallows
when they made two different shapes.

 After lunch, we had a special math snack.
I found several items at my
grocery store that are solid shapes.

We put them on a plate for each student to explore.
THIS makes it more real for each student.
We talked about the sphere, which was Trix cereal.
We also talked about what other
types of foods are spheres.

We found out apples, oranges, cheese balls (like cheese puffs),
and many more items are shaped like spheres.
Then, the students got to eat some of their spheres.
I brought up biting them in half to make a half sphere.

Then, we discussed cylinders. We reviewed the shape,
then I asked them which food was a cylinder on their plate.
This one was easy - marshmallows.
I used big marshmallows because we used the little ones before.

Again, we applied this shape to other foods.
I mentioned cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving...
still shaped like a can and all! 

* I also use Combos here, but I couldn't find them this time.

Now that you see the process,
I will tell you the foods we matched to each shape.

We had two cone shapes- baking morsels and Bugles. 

Cubes where caramel pieces- each student got one.

Rectangular Prism- Starburst candy

I walked around to assess students while they snacked. 

Almost every single student in my class
could name and describe each solid shape!

I hope this has given you two ideas to help teach
solid shapes to your students.

I hope you stop by my blog to say "HI!!!"
and follow me on my many FUN
math activities with my little learners. 

What other food items should I add to this "solid shape" list?

Mary Amoson,  Sharing Kindergarten http://sharingkindergarten.com/ http://www.facebook.com/SharingKindergarten