STEAM + Math

My first-graders LOVE our STEAM and Osmo centers during our Math center block! At the end of each Math lesson I divide the children up into groups to work on different Math based activities throughout the room. Some groups consist of Math board or file folder games, Dreambox individual playtime, white board or magnet board practice using manipulatives, etc. The student favorites among our centers, however, are the STEAM and Osmo centers!

For STEAM centers I have placed different items into bins along with creation cards to give them some jumping off points/ideas. Most of the bins are filled with things that I already had in my classroom such as pattern blocks, dominoes, pipe cleaners, Legos, play-doh, and dixie cups. The student groups work at tables to create an idea on their own, or to create one of the idea cards that are inside the bin. They can work together or with members of their group, it's up to them. Once they begin the creative juices start to flow and it's not long before they want to post their work for their parents on Seesaw!

For Osmo centers students are working in small groups of no more than three. They work on Osmo numbers, tangrams, and Osmo coding!! The students are so engaged and they run the Osmo centers with little or no assistance from me. I love seeing their minds work and I love to listen to them as they work together to figure out problems or work collaboratively to create something truly magical!

First-graders really do ROCK!!

Guest Blogger,

Michelle Miles

First Grade Teacher, Nutswamp Elementary