Learning About Kinesphere with Mrs. Macnee's Children!

We learned a new scientific word last week: KINESPHERE. We visited Mrs. Macnee's classroom where her children taught us a new song, what KINESPHERE is and how it helps us keep a safe body. Sometimes when we are in line, we have a small KINESPHERE and when we are playing outside our KINESPHERE is bigger. We practiced staying in our own space/KINESPHERE to a wonderful 'Mind & Body' song called 'Freeze It' by Jack Hartman. The videos give you an idea about what we were learning. Thanks so much to Mrs. Macnee and her class!

Creating and Designing The Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly!

This afternoon the children began phase 2 of our mobile project.  Each stage of the Monarch Butterfly's life is special.  We are creating each stage using a variety of materials.  The children are talking out loud about each of the stages while they are working!  Wonderful creations!  You will be able to see them at our life cycle open house in October.

Creating the egg and the chrysalis

Creating a Monarch caterpillar!

A New Morning Greeting!

This morning Miss Holly taught us a new morning greeting.  We sing hello and greet each other.  This was lots of fun and a great way to start our day!

A School Wide Celebration!

This morning we had our first school celebration! It was so exciting. As a school we celebrated how we are all kind, safe and responsible. We have been receiving warm buzzies whenever we are safe, kind and responsible. We fill up the Beehive with our buzzies. When the Beehive is full, we have a celebration recognizing all of our efforts. Each child created a special crown to wear at our celebration!

iPads!

This morning we introduced a new math station! iPads! The children are using an app called,"Finger Count." This is a great app to use as it helps us with our oral counting, number identification and the understanding of the concepts before and after! The sound is great as it gives feedback while the children are touching the screen. I have posted a few videos for you to check out. Amazing tool!

Mrs. Beele Visits Kindergarten!

Every Monday for the next 4 weeks Mrs. Beele, our guidance counselor will visit our classroom. Each week she focuses on a different topic. Today we talked a lot about our feelings and what it might feel like if we are in mud mind, clear mind or sparkle mind. Be sure to ask your child to explain the different types of minds we can be in. She also read us a wonderful story called,"The Way I Feel."

Exploration Time!

Exploration time is an opportunity for your child to make choices about what they would like to explore within Kindergarten. This time of day is really important for young children. It gives them another opportunity to make connections with others, practice oral language, problem solve and also an opportunity to design their own learning opportunities within any area in the classroom.

Math Workshop!

During Math Workshop time we focus on lots of different mathematical ideas. In the videos you will see the children making mathematical observations about bugs! It was interesting to see what the children noticed. Some counted legs, some counted legs and used different counting strategies, some made observations about the features that their bug had. During the beginning months of our math workshop time we are creating patterns, sorting, classifying and making observations.

Writer's Workshop!

During the beginning weeks of Kindergarten your children will learn about many different ways to express themselves. During our writing time the children will act out through creative play to communicate an idea and to learn about how writing helps us to communicate an idea. In the video you will see how children are beginning to experiment with different types of writing tools through creative play.
Today the children began exploring with paper and special writing tools during our writing time. Each child has their own special writing folder too!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

We have enjoyed reading the story,"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. In the story we made lots of connections with the caterpillar. Some of the children made a self to text connection because they also get a stomach ache when they eat to much too! During our Writing Workshop time we focused on becoming illustrators like Eric Carle. The children illustrated their own book. I loved watching the children talk about the story while creating their own colorful pages in their 1st book! Later during our Reading Workshop time we partner read with a friend! When we read with a partner we sit close, turn the pages carefully, read the story to each other and make observations about what we notice. Sometimes we make connections too!
I hope you enjoy the photographs and the slide show of your amazing children!

Math Workshop In Kindergarten!

This afternoon we explored some of the mathematical tools we will be using to explore our ideas. The children discovered patterns, created columns and noticed how some towers were longer or shorter than others.

During Number corner we began using the word Because to help us explain our math thinking. We use the word because when we are justifying our mathematical understanding.

***you can click on any photograph and it will get bigger!***

iPads In Kindergarten!

This afternoon we were able to use a new tool! We explored with iPads. This is what they children had to say;"wow! You can hear animals real voices, I can write letters, Look, I am tracing my name, I can see lots of numbers, this is so cool, I like this!" After we learn how to navigate the iPads, we will then begin using them in a safe and responsible way that supports our learning!

How We Make A Difference For The World!

Today in Kindergarten we talked about how we can reuse, reduce and recycle materials and food. We have a recycle bucket and a place to put our compost each day! At the end of each day some of the children walk the food scraps to our garden and put them in our school compost.