Identifying what is the same and different through building.

Students in math today were discussing how things are the same and different. we looked at 8 animal pictures and matched them by the same animal name. students then continued to look at the pictures and noticed though they were the same animal they were different. Body positions and facial expressions were different on each animal. Students discussed with each other that even though they are the same animal they are also different. "the cat in the first row is standing and the cat in the second row is sitting."
Students then carried over what they identified with animal pictures to the blocks at their tables. students began to build objects using shapes that were the same color and shape. they were able to create two of the same and one that was different. students decided to use all different shapes and colors with one creation.  my kindergarten students were able to tell how their buildings were the same and how they were different. I was excited to see my students use blocks rather than a pencil and paper to identify how they were the same. when I asked to students to tell me about their creations they used the vocabulary correctly and could identify how their work was like the animal pictures we observed and discussed earlier in the lesson.