Pattern Party

The class had worked hard during our patterning unit in Math.  The children were engaged in activities around describing, reproducing, extending and creating different patterns.  As a way to end the unit, we had a Pattern Party to celebrate our learning.  We started by brainstorming all the things we needed to have a party.  The list they came up with included things like games, decorations, food, music, dancing, party clothes, invitations, gifts and loot bags.  While I wasn't prepared to give gifts or make goodie bags, (I have three children of my own and three goodie bags a year is quite enough for me) the rest was very much doable.  The children loved preparing all the things for the party.   It goes to show that when children are given tasks that are meaningful and have a purpose, they are highly engaged.  Before the party, we created patterned paper chains to use as the decorations to hang around the room and the children decorated their own cups and plates using circular patterns.  Each child created a patterned invitation telling their parents all about the details of the party.  We also decided that everyone would have to wear a pattern to the party.  The big day finally arrived.


Party Plan
1:00 - 1:15  Dancing with a pattern (We learned the pattern for and did the Macarena and Chicken Dance)


1:15 - 2:00  Pattern Party Centers
                             The children rotated through 3 centers.
                             -creating a patterned fruit loop necklace
                             -making a patterned crown
                             -Each of the children had brought in a piece of fruit.  At this center, they cut
                              the fruit and made their own patterned fruit kabob.


2:00 - 2:15   Patterned Counting Game
We played a game where the children sat in a circle.  One person is the king or queen and they get to sit on a chair.  The object of the game is to try and remove the king or the queen from the chair.  The only way to remove them from the chair is to get them to say the "magic" number.  At the beginning, the teacher must determine how the children will count and what the "magic" number will be for the game.  To begin, we counted by 10's and the "magic" number was 100.  The person to the right of the king or queen, begins the counting.  Going around the circle, each player says one or two numbers.  Whoever says 100 has to move to the beginning spot beside the king or queen.  The counting starts again by the person who was sitting beside where the child who had just said 100.  The game can be changed to counting by 5's to 50 or count by 2's to 20 etc.




2:15 - 2:30  We had snacks.  The children ate their fruit kabobs and had juice.


2:30 - 2:45   We tried to create our own party music.  The children tried to create their own patterns using instruments.  Noisy but lots of fun!

A great time had by all!