Amusement Park Collaboration

Mr. Moore, Laguna’s inventive and inspirational 8th-grade science instructor, stopped by Lower School today to present an exciting project to the kindergartners.

Mr. Moore taught the students about G-Force and how it occurs when there is change… so the roller coaster may speed up, slow down, or turn.

Next, to illustrate gravity, Mr. Moore showed the students four racing tracks with different-sized drops. He asked the students to predict which track would make the ball roll the fastest.

Blue vs. Orange

Green vs. Blue and Green vs. Orange

Yellow vs. Blue

And now, the fun begins!

Kindergarteners will work with their 8th-grade partner to design an amusement park ride for a LEGO minifigure. They’ll choose the theme and ride type, then share ideas and details for the 8th-graders to build. Kindergarteners will visit the 8th-graders’ amusement park ride, try it out, and rate the final project with 1, 2, or 3 stars.

We can’t wait for this partnership between kindergarteners and 8th-graders!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 18

Cardboard Gingerbread Creations!

Students have loved our December Gingerbread Unit! Ms. Downing and I collaborated on another project between our class and the STEAM class. This time, students created a cardboard gingerbread house.

First, I clipped the template to the cardboard.

Then, students “pokey pinned” the outline of two gingerbread houses using my favorite giant push pins. These push pins work great for strengthening finger muscles!

Then, students used the CHOMPSAW to cut out their design. (The Chompsaw is back in stock!! Hooray!) Here is how the two pieces looked after they were cut out.

We cut slits into the cardboard houses so that they could be inserted, creating 3D structures.

Finally, it was time to decorate!

Students used white acrylic paint markers to draw their windows, doors, and snow. They glued pompoms, glitter, and buttons onto their houses for decoration. We even had mini light strands that we added!

But the icing on the cake (or gingerbread houses!) was the adorable 3D printed gingerbread characters a student and his family made for everyone in the class to bring home! We took them out during Choice Time today, and the students had so much fun!

I love that they will bring their houses and characters home and be able to enjoy more imaginative play time!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 17

50 Days of Learning and Laughing!

We recently celebrated the 50th day of kindergarten with a special 1950s-themed day. The students were encouraged to come to school wearing clothes in the 1950s theme.

The kindergarten class also performed the “Hand Jive” at our weekly school meeting!

After a bit of dancing, we headed inside for five activity centers!

Students came to the “Locker Room,” where they matched a picture to the corresponding beginning sound on one of the colored letterman sweaters.

At the “Shake Shop,” students scooped ice cream….each ice cream cup had a different number of scoops. Students used an ice cream scooper to place scoops in a tens frame and count the number of each color.

The third activity was “Write the Room: 50s words.”

Up next, at the Kindergarten Diner, students used 1950s cars to count syllables in words that were food items from a diner. For example, using the “hamburger” card, students would zoom the vehicle according to the number of syllables in ham-bur-ger!

The last center is the most fun and the most challenging… the Bubble Blowing Center! Students received a large piece of Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum and learned how to blow a bubble. This activity always provides us with lots of laughs, and the students always try SO hard to blow that bubble!

They talk about this activity all year long!

Our 50th day celebration would not be complete without some delicious root beer floats!

Here is a quick video that shows the activities and the classroom decor up close.

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

December 3

The Great Gingerbread Glow-Up!

It’s December, which means we have begun our Gingerbread Literacy Unit! A goal of mine is to always offer students a toy to play with during Choice Time that incorporates our current theme. For our Five Senses Unit, I introduced Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. For our unit on Trees, I provided a Tree House Engineering Set.

But what toy would encourage cooperative and imaginative play for the gingerbread theme? Would you believe that a homemade gingerbread craft just happened to pop up in my Instagram feed? All I needed was a pre-loved plastic house (like those from Fisher-Price, Bluey, or Dora), brown spray paint, white puffy paint, glue, and plastic candies. I sent an email to my class parents and asked if anyone had a house that their child was no longer using. Sure enough, one was sent in!

Here is the back side.

My first step was to wipe it down and then add blue tape to the parts of the house I wanted to keep the original color.

Then I spray-painted the house a nice, gingerbread brown color, made by Krylon.

Next, I added a bunch of plastic sugary treats, like these

gum drops,

peppermints

mini gingerbread cookies

I sprayed a clear coat over the gingerbread house to protect the paint from peeling. I then realized that the children needed accessories to encourage imaginative play. I found this reasonably priced wooden furniture set

But it wasn’t very “gingerbready.” So, I used the same brown spray paint to paint all the furniture pieces. Then, I took a white chalk marker and drew some accents. Once everything was dry, I varnished the pieces. I love how it all turned out!

The most amazing part of this project is that another family offered to 3D print gingerbread girls and boys for me, which the students could use to play in the house! They surprised me by creating gingerbread cats and dogs as well! Today was the first day the students were able to explore the gingerbread house, and their enthusiasm was catching!

I know there will be many fun Choice Times ahead with this special toy! Thank you to all who helped me create this unique toy for our classroom!

*If you are interested in purchasing these items, click on the underlined words, and you will be brought to the Amazon link.

Category: Uncategorized | 1 Comment

November 21

STEAM Collaboration Project

I am so excited to share that the kindergartners collaboration project with Mrs. Downing in STEAM class. This summer, I found the COOLEST tool that I instantly wanted to purchase for my own son. He loves to create things using recycled cardboard, so I was hooked when I saw a cardboard cutting table saw tool that is safe for kids to use. The CHOMPSAW makes this dream a reality. Click on the link and take a look. It’s AMAZING!

During the fall season, I like to plan a sewing project to celebrate our learning about pumpkins. However, this year, I came across a really fun weaving activity that I knew we had to try! Weaving=excellent fine motor practice! First, students used pokey pins (more fine motor developing!) to poke the outline of a pumpkin onto a piece of cardboard. Then, they used the CHOMPSAW to cut out their pumpkin. Look at the focus involved!

The Chompsaw can be used by people of all ages. My sixth grader recently used the Chompsaw to create an Eiffel Tower using cardboard!

But back to the pumpkins. We then used this orange yarn and this green yarn for the pumpkin weaving project.

We practiced over and under!

Isn’t the final project so cute?

Mrs. Downing and I are already planning more Chompsaw creations….gingerbread houses, dinosaurs…the possibilities are endless!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

September 17

Building a Strong Foundation in Reading

We are eight days into our new school year, and Reading Centers have officially begun! Early in the year, we spend at least fifteen minutes a day building phonological awareness to provide students with the solid foundation they need to become strong readers. Here is a great post from last year that offers more information on phonological awareness.

Phonological Awareness

Like in years past, the current kindergartners absolutely delighted in listening to the story The Hungry Thing

The students quickly realized that the Hungry Thing was changing the initial sound in each word when he told the townspeople what he wanted to eat. Not shmancakes….pancakes!

Students drew items to feed our classroom Hungry Thing.

Fandy=Candy!

They also illustrated their very own Hungry Things eating a food item they chose. Do you know what they are eating?

In addition to manipulating the beginning sounds in words, another phonological awareness skill we are working on is counting the number of words in sentences. We practiced doing this using acrylic jewels and pop its

Watch us in action:

You will notice that we also used the same tools to practice identifying the number of syllables in words, which is another phonological awareness skill. These are quick and easy activities that you can do at home with your child to ensure they have a solid foundation in pre-reading skills!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

September 4

First Day, Hooray!

Our first day of Kindergarten was filled with magic and friendships. When students arrived, I quickly snapped their picture.

Next, after a quick welcome, I read the following poem:

Students then went to their tables to make magic BEAD bracelets.

I couldn’t believe how quiet and focused the kindergartners were! After the bracelets were completed, we took a walk outside to see if, in fact, we would have a magical year…

And guess what?! All signs point to yes!

We assembled back in the classroom where we chose our Lucky Duck (aka line leader) for the day, and then I read aloud the book, Butterflies on the First Day of School

We discussed some of our first day feelings, and then students colored their very own butterfly…that we later had fly away!

Next, we listened to How to Grow a Friend

and played a little get-to-know-you game. We found out who ate tacos this summer, who petted a cat, who went camping, and who even ate broccoli!

After snack and recess, I enjoyed reading aloud Pencils on Strike, a silly story that shows students how pencils should be treated.

Students then practiced tracing their names using their new PENCILS!

And the students were just as excited about these PENCILS! as I was! ( and they are even on sale now on Amazon!)

They also colored their special cloud for their rainbow activity.

In addition to all of this, the kindergartners enjoyed Choice Time, where they had a chance to play with the new BRIO WORLD DELUXE TRAIN SET and CALICO CRITTERS! They also had Music, PE, and Spanish classes today! I bet there were a lot of tired kiddos after school today!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

September 2

New Learning Tools for 2025-2026!

It’s that time of the year when I have completed my back-to-school shopping for supplies for our classroom, and I can’t wait to share my newest purchases with you! But first, here I am unpacking all these goodies!

Pencils

I found these PERFECTLY-sized pencils. Little hands need little pencils, right!? I am excited for the students to use them!

Cube Fidgit.

These are a great fidget for those who need to keep their hands busy.

Spaceman

A student first introduced these Spacemen to me. They make learning to leave a finger space between words more fun!

Bright Colored Mini Pompoms

I am excited for the students to use these brightly colored mini pompoms for fine motor strengthening activities that will be integrated into language arts and math centers!

Safari/Paleontologist Hats

We’re ready for Dino Day, and each of my paleontologists will have a special hat to wear.

Ocean Animal Cookie Cutters

Elmer’s Glitter Glue

How cute are these? We will fill them with glitter glue, let the glue dry, and make a mobile for a Friday Fun activity during our Ocean Unit!

Translucent Magnetic Chips

I ordered these for students to use during light board activities. I also purchased clear tape for my label maker and plan to type the letters of the alphabet onto the clear tape and then adhere each letter to a translucent magnetic chip! Students will use these to play phonological awareness games, spell words, and more!

Mr. Potato Head. Ms. Potato Head

I thought students would enjoy playing with Mr. and Ms. Potato Head during our Five Senses Unit. These will be a Choice Time Activity during this unit.

Ticonderoga Neon Tri-Write Pencils

I HAD to order these because I LOVE everything Neon!

I am refreshing my Choice Time bins, so I purchased a new set of Magna-Tiles and…

Classic Magna-Tiles Set

some new Calico Critters, as the ones I have are very well-loved! I ordered:

Calico Critters Cat Family

Calico Critters Kangaroo Family

Calico Critters Bunk Beds

Calico Critter Poodle Family

The supplies are unpacked and put away! All I need now are some students!

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

August 28

Calm Kits Round 2!

The Calm Kits we introduced into each Homeroom and Specialist classroom last year were so successful that we are bringing them back and stocking them with even more fidgets and calming tools. During our teacher in-service week, I enjoyed reintroducing the Calm Kits to the teachers. We read an excellent article by Dr. Roland Rotts that detailed the importance of fidgets for students with ADHD. What I love about the article is that Dr. Rotts includes a list of criteria for fidgets that help with focus and are learning tools.

Taken from the article, “How Does Fidgeting Enhance Focus for Individuals with ADHD,” by Roland Rotts, PhD

With this in mind, I added the following tools to our Calm Kits.

Schylling Needoh Nice Cube Sensory Toy with a Super Solid Squish

These are the best squishy fidgets! They are easy to clean, and nothing leaks out of them! I brought them to a faculty meeting, and the teachers enjoyed squeezing them….they didn’t want to give them back!

DNA Balls – Fidget Toy Stress Ball

Another great squishy stress ball that all ages love to use.

Schylling NeeDoh Ramen Noodlies – Sensory Squeeze Toy – Contains 5 Noodle Clumps

Ms. Barker, our Librarian, showed me this fun fidget and said students love to use them, and they are clean and not distracting. So I thought we would give them a try in our Calm Kits!

Fidget Toys Sensory Rings for Kids

I thought we would try these spinner rings, as they looked small enough to not be distracting.

Worry Stones

These textured rubber “stones” are the perfect size for a child to keep in their pocket and rub when they are worried. I like that they are easily cleanable.

Calm Stickers

I LOVE these Calm Stickers. They can be stuck anywhere…on the table, desk, a student’s pencil box….the possibilities are endless! The messages and calming strategies printed on the stickers are also helpful.

Here is last year’s post on Calm Kits 2024

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT

February 12

Fill Our Hearts

Kindergartners have spent the past few weeks writing special notes to each class member as part of an activity that will fill our hearts with love! We brainstormed ideas on what makes each of us special.

I created these note templates to help students with the writing process.

Next, I gave each student a class list with their own name crossed out. Then, we got to work! I love the things that students notice or like about one another!