Kindergarten

Saturday, November 20, 2010

What Did You Learn at School This Week?

This week the kids were busy with mixing colors; yellow and blue make green, yellow and red make orange, and blue and red make purple. The science experiment included taking small plastic baggies filled with glue, shaving cream, and a couple drops of food coloring. Students then mixed the bag together and used the concoction to make 3-D feathers on turkeys. The kids also watched a video about mixing colors and thought it was absolutely hilarious. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dczpjt5HLo

We also worked on writing during Writer's Workshop. Here are some of our friends at "Authors Chair."

Their friends are always so excited to give them a compliment or ask a question about the story!

Last week in science the kids did weaving, they loved it!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Mancala Website

Today I showed the kids a fun game online. It's a fun strategy game that can be played online or as a board game (can be bought at Target for $5). Here is a link to Mancala.

http://www.jgames.com/cgi-bin/mancala.cgi?whofirst=1&twohumans=false&depth=1&numstones=4&playsounds=on&f=

OR

http://www.freegamestower.com/game/530/mancala

Enjoy!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Red Ribbon Week, Spiders and Bats, and Halloween

We've been very busy in Kindergarten learning about tricky teen numbers 11-20, estimating, symmetry, carving a pumpkin, putting letters and sounds together to read consonant-vowel-consonant words, and practicing the sight words.

Today we had an AWESOME Halloween party! Thank you so much to Mrs. Mendoza, Mrs. Sanabria, and Mrs. Scully for all of your time and energy in organizing and preparing the activities. The kids dressed in their costumes, had a cupcake and juice snack, played games, participated in a school-wide parade, made a pumpkin craft, and watched a special Word World Halloween DVD on the projector. Please remember to send only 1 piece of candy in your child's lunch next week.

What did you learn at school this week?

"Bats and birds can fly." -Mark
"Symmetry is the same on both sides." -Zoe
"We guess to estimate." -Mackenzie

Friday, October 15, 2010

What Did You Do at School This Week?

There might have only been 4 school days, but they were packed with learning. I'm so proud of how the kids are improving and becoming more and more independent with each day. I couldn't believe that it was pouring down rain Wednesday morning for the field trip. Once we arrived at Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm in South Barrington, the sun was shining and we had perfect weather.

When asked, "What did you do at school this week?"

"We tasted lemons, and radishes, and crackers, and grapes." -Josephine

"We had lunch." -Brianna

"We played outside and run around and played football." -Michael S.

"We went on a fun field trip." -Mackenzie

"We saw pumpkins, animals, corn, and vegetables." -Joey and Vincent

"WE HAD FUN!" -Everyone

Here are some pictures I think you will enjoy...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

What Did You Do at School This Week?

Fire Safety

We were so lucky to have had a presentation about fire safety from Mackenzie's dad, Mr. Pack. He taught the kids about his firefighter gear, staying safe, and calling 911.

Can you find the shapes we used to make fire engine artwork? (Hint: rectangle, square, circle, triangle)

"We read stories about families." -Julie

"We learned about controlling our bodies." -Zoe

"You need a mask to breathe in the fire." -Konrad

"Stop, drop, and roll." -Julia

"When there is a fire in your house, get out." -Joey

"We learned the words; I, the, a, my." -Mackenzie

Friday, October 1, 2010

What Did You Learn at School This Week?

This week we continued to practice following our class rules:

1. Raise your hand
2. Make good choices
3. Control your body
4. Follow directions

We made leaf rubbings. There is something stunning about these simple pieces of artwork.

Mark shared a super funny joke...

Question: Who is the chicken's favorite teacher?

Answer: Ms. Boc-boc-boc man

Thank you Mr. Evans for your creativity!

The kids worked on numbers 1-10, identifying bigger and smaller, taller and shorter, as well as an introduction to money.

Ms. Rojas, Garvy's Occupational Therapist, came to teach us about the tools necessary to make all letters. They are big curve, little curve, big line, and little line.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

What did you learn at school today?

Hi Kinderfamilies! Today we had our first science experiment of the year. The kids made predictions, choosing if the apple would float or sink, and then observed. We saw apples floating in the tub of water. Here's what they learned;

"We did a science experiment of apples." -Reed

"Apples float." -Dehne

"Air inside the apple (makes it float)." -Vincent

"Water balloon floated." -Joey

"Rock sunk to the bottom." -Sebastian

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Welcome to Kindergarten!

After two busy weeks of classes, we are off to a great year in Room 3-0-1(fun). We will continue to work towards making new friends and good choices. The kids have really enjoyed trying the NEOs which they call their "laptop." Some of their favorite activities are listening to stories and playing toys with each other at the end of the day. They LOVE the toy cars, magnetic building pieces, building blocks, Lincoln Logs, and Legos. It's awesome to watch them work together and foster imaginative and creative growth. I'll start posting pictures soon!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Field Day

We had the greatest time moving from station to station. The kids got to participate in many games and activities. Mr. Dewitt coordinated the events and we had GREAT parent volunteers to run each station. Thank you parents for being here today and volunteering to help make field day a success!

Some of the kids favorite stations were: tug of war, Frisbee toss, throwing rockets, using sticks to pick up toys, water sponge game, lacrosse throwers, and the parachute.