Sign-In Becomes More Challenging !

Each day we like to start the children thinking just as soon as they walk in the door.  This challenge was to find 3 triangles.

We'd hidden some triangles around the room.  Some in plain sight...

and others in unexpected places.

Govind is showing us how many triangles he found.

                                Emma even found triangles on the stove in dramatic play!

Another day we asked the children to stack 7 blocks.  The many differently shaped blocks  enabled us to see lots of problem solving going on.

Daniel's  mom asked Daniel if he could stack seven blocks?

"Of course I can!" Daniel was very pleased with his success.  Zoey placed some of her blocks horizontally, giving her stack more stability.  Good thinking!

Noor and Suri were so excited to share the morning sign-in with their dad.  Noor is counting to make sure that she has seven blocks.  When Suri counted her blocks, she realized that she had put eight blocks in her stack. Her dad asked her what she needed to do, and Suri answered" I just need to take one off!"

Another challenge - make an ABC pattern.  We had a container of manipulatives on the table, and assumed the children would use those.

Instead, Emma made a pattern with her body.  It was such a terrific idea we had all the children follow Emma ...
head....

tummy.....

feet.
Finding alternate solutions to problems is prized, not only in our classroom, but obviously in the business world.  Way to go Emma!