Learning on the Learning Carpet

Dear families, 

The Learning Carpet is a ten by ten grid carpet. Students quickly noticed that carpet looks like the 100 chart hanging on our math wall and on their name plates. 

We have been using the Learning Carpet to look at number patterns to 100 (grade 2s) and to 1000 (grade 3s). For the past two weeks, students have participated in various activities with the carpet. Students have being challenged with placing random numbers on the unfilled carpet and rationalizing the placement. Within their rationale, students described their number in relation to others using words like: before, after, 10 more and 10 less. We then looked at the placement of numbers on the learning carpet and noticed that rows of numbers have the same numbers of tens and the ones digit increases by 1 as you move to the right, decreases as you move left. Numbers in columns have the same numbers of ones and the number in the tens spot increases by one as you move down, decreases as you move up. We used base ten blocks to build rows and columns to concretely see the patterns.  Furthermore, students enjoy racing to set up the carpet. In table groups, students had to work together to set up as much of the chart to 50, 70 or 100 as they can before their 30 seconds run up. When it does, another table is up! We quickly rotate through tables, continuing until the chart is complete. Once completed, one student is chosen to leave the room while another switches a few of the numbers on the chart. The student re-enters the room and must spot and correct the switched numbers. Tons of fun!

Strong understanding of place value with provide a foundation for skip counting, addition and subtraction and problem solving. 

~Ms.Burland