Long/short, tall/low

1st grade – Math (Italian educational system)

3

Materials for the class

Classroom’s objects, radio and music, pictures about real objects on a A4 sheet

Classroom layout

1st phase: in the classroom space, disposition of children in small groups

2nd – 3rd phase: gym

4th phase: classroom space

Phase 1

The teacher explains to children that in the world there are objects with different sizes, which can be compared to find differences.

Children are divided in small groups. Every group will compare the different objects of the class, considering their relation long/short and tall/short. At the end, every group will show its work each other.

Phase 2

The teacher introduce to children a way to play with music.

The children’ group is invited to move all around the gym, listening to the rhythm of music. Then the teacher stops music and asks to children to place their self following her/his indications.

The teacher asks to children a disposition in which there will be relations between long/short and tall/short- For example: form a line from the tallest to the shortest, order themselves to the children who has the longest hair to that who has shortest hair, or simply form two lines, one longer than the other one.

Phase 3

The teachers proposes other dispositions, and helps children to understand in which relation they are. Then children are divided in small groups and every group has to come up with new dispositions which will be shared with classmates and will be realized through the play.

Phase 4

The teacher shows pictures of real objects and asks to children to compare them thinking about the relation long/short and tall/short