Halfway day: [the 90th day of school] - Activities

Instructor, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Jacquelyn Johnson Howes

Instead of the 100th day, try marking your progress in a new way. Celebrate the halfway point in the school year as you explore the concept of one half with marvelous math activities

**********

Super Symmetry

Symmetry is all around us--in natural objects such as the petals of a flower or the wings of a butterfly, and in manmade objects such as traffic signs and floor tiles. For this activity, which explores vertical and horizonal symmetry, provide students with a variety of die-cut block letters or computer print-outs of large letters (perhaps the letters of their names). Explain to students that a shape is symmetrical when two halves of it are exactly alike. Then ask them to identify the lines of symmetry in their letters. How many letters have one line of symmetry? Which of these have horizontal symmetry (i.e., top and bottom halves that are exactly alike)? Which have vertical symmetry (i.e., left and right halves that are exactly alike)? Do any letters have both kinds of symmetry? Do some letters have neither? Once they have the hang of it, ask children to work together to make an alphabet for the classroom wall with the lines of symmetry marked on each letter.

D           The D has
            Horizontal
            symmetry.
A           The A has
            Vertical
            symmetry.
O           The O has both
            horizontal and
            vertical symmetry.
F           The F has neither
            type of symmetry.

Using the Reproducible (Half Dollar Store)

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Reinforce addition skills and the idea of the half dollar with an imaginary shopping trip at the half dollar toy store. Ask each student to choose three different color pens or crayons, then hand out the Half Dollar Store Reproducible on page 53 and explain to them that they have 50 cents to spend. Instruct them to first choose two items that add up to 50 cents and to circle them in one color. Next, have students choose three and then four items adding up to 50 cents, circling each group with a different color crayon. In the space provided on the reproducible, have students write out the equations that represent each of their selections.

Half-Foot Hunt

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Strengthen measuring skills and comprehension with a Half-Foot Hunt. Ask students to measure and then cut out a six-inch measuring stick from poster board. Then invite them to move about the room using their half-foot ruler to find objects that measure one half foot. To extend, have students measure each other's height in half feet, and then convert the measurements into full feet (e.g., a child who is 8 1/2 half feet would be 4'3" tall).

Halves the Whole Day

* DRESS CODE: Invite students to dress half one way, and half another. Encourage them to wear two different shoes or socks, an outfit that is half one color and half another, or two different hairstyles.

* MORNING MESSAGE: Leave the second half of words in your morning message blank. Have students fill in missing letters.

* LUNCH: Send a note home to parents asking to cut everything in their children's lunch in half, or to pack halves of items--half a peanut butter sandwich and half a bologna sandwich, for example.

* HALF & HALF ART: Have students create drawings that are half one thing and half another: an animal that is half elephant and half dog, a vehicle that is half boat and half car, or a building that is half cottage and half skyscraper.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

RELATED ARTICLE: INSTRUCTOR REPRODUCIBLE

Directions:

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Choose two items that add up to 50 cents and circle them with one color of crayon.

Choose three items that add up to 50 cents. Circle them with a second color.

Choose four items that add up to 50 cents. Circle them with a third color.

Write the equations for each of your choices on the lines below.