Hi all,

So I just had to share my piece of teacher heaven I had this week. My grade ones and I were looking at a bar graph we had made of our favourite colours. I asked my students if they could compare and contrast the colour turquoise (10 students chose this colour as their favourite) and the colour green (4 students chose this colour as their favourite). They also had to use a because slapper in their answer. One little girl said that she new the difference between turquoise and green was 6 because 4 and 6 were number partners of 10 and 10 - 4 = 6!! Teacher HEAVEN!!!!

Liann
WBT Intern

Liann,

Question...can you explain the "because slapper"? Kudos to you and your students!

Karen

Hi Karen,

As I understand it the because slapper gesture is holding out one hand out in front, palm down, thumb towards your chest, and slapping it gently with the other hand from above when you say "because". For example, the teacher might say, "What is 2 + 2? Use a because slapper in your answer." The student would reply, "2 + 2 is 4 because (because slapper gesture) 2 apples and 2 apples are 4 apples altogether!"

Liann
WBT Intern

Remember as a kid when you put out your hand, palm down, and your friend put his/her hand on top, then you slapped your hand on top and continued building and slapping? Think of that slapper game when you think of the "because slapper". You are building on to your statement, using the word because.
For example, "I know that 8+7 is 15 BECAUSE it is doubles plus one, and BECAUSE I know 7+7 is 14, I can easily figure out 8+7".
Or, "Shoe is a noun BECAUSE a noun is a person, place or thing, and shoe is a thing, therefore it is a noun."
My first graders are getting really good at explaining their answers using "BECAUSE" and they are growing in their critical thinking skills in the process!
Deb Weigel
WBT Arizona

Liann & Deb,

Thanks so much for the clarification. I plan to try it out tomorrow! I'll keep you posted.

Karen