I spy a pattern!

Throughout the month of October, my class will be exploring, investigating, and creating patterns.  After reading about them and using shapes and movement to practice creating patterns in my room, they will apply their knowledge in the art room with Ms. Nasser.
Ms. Nasser and I created this unit after taking a Project Based Learning (PBL) course this summer.  We have collaborated in the past and love connecting art with our Kindergarten content areas and the Common Core Standards.
Our goal is to help students to see that patterns are all around us.  They help places, clothing, and objects look interesting.  With the new Middleton Center Complex project underway, we thought we could tie in this real life event with what students are learning by having students design community buildings that display their pattern examples.

Our driving question for the students is: How can we, as Kindergarten architects, use shapes and patterns to create beauty in buildings?

We introduced this unit yesterday with a quick video about patterns around Middleton.



I gave students a little background about patterns with a read aloud of My First Book of Patterns by Bobby and June George.  It is a great book.  I highly recommend it!

After watching the video, we went on a pattern hunt around the school.  The students were better at finding patterns than Ms. Nasser and I were!  We were very impressed! Students learned that they are going to become pattern experts.

The children are SOOOO EXCITED about patterns!  Some were even happy to see they had patterns on their clothing.  We decided as a class that we needed to have a Pattern Day and each of us wear patterned designed clothing!  More information will be sent home at a different time about Pattern Day.

Ms. Nasser and I were hoping to gain your help with spotting patterns at home, out in nature, or while you are out driving, shopping, and having fun.  Simply click on the plus sign in the Padlet box below.   Use the up arrow to upload a picture and write your child's name and description of the pattern and where you found it.  If you are having technical difficulties, feel free to email me the picture and caption and I will add it to the Padlet for you.  We will be sharing our pattern sightings over the next couple of weeks!

Thank you for your support!