Dinosaurs!

The kindergarten class is enjoying our third week of learning about dinosaurs! For Friday Fun, I prepared a fine motor-focused project that used balloons, water, mini dinosaur figurines, and pipettes!

The students LOVED it!

They squeezed…

and squeezed…

until…

a little dinosaur “hatched!”

This is a quick and easy project you can do at home! Simply grab a balloon (full-sized, not water!) and blow it up. Hold the air in it for thirty seconds to stretch out the shape. Let the air out and then use your fingers to spread open the balloon. Push a small plastic dino figurine into the deflated balloon. Fill the balloon with water and tie it off. Place in the freezer for 24 hours or more. Then, remove it from the freezer. Cut a hole in the balloon and have your child remove the balloon. Provide a cup of warm water and a pipette or turkey baster. Then watch as the egg melts away, and the dino is revealed! The repetitive squeezing of the pipette is the perfect way to strengthen fine motor muscles!

 

 

Candy Land Day!

We ended our Gingerbread Literacy Unit with an exciting and engaging Candy Land Day!

Students visited Cupcake Creek, Licorice Lagoon, Lollipop Woods, Gummy Cave, and Gumdrop Hills.

Three of the activities were independent activities, while two were teacher-led.

Cupcake Creek was an independent activity where students matched a CVC word to a picture, and the end result was a bunch of yummy cupcakes!

At Licorice Lagoon, students had to construct a way to get the Gingerbread Girl across the lagoon without falling in. First, they planned and sketched their design. Then they built their contraption, and finally, they tested it! “Run, run, run! With a leap and a twirl! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Girl!”

Lollipop Woods was a “write the room” activity where they walked around the room in search of incomplete sentences. Students read the sentence and then solved and recorded the mystery word. Here is an example:

Students wrote the CVC words cat and vet.

After Lollipop Woods was Gummy Cave. At Gummy Cave, students used dice and gummy bears to solve equations. This station was easily differentiated, as students could use multiple dice to add more of a challenge. They also could record their equations. But the most challenging part of this activity was using the gummy bears as manipulatives and not eating them!

The final stop was Gumdrop Hills! Students had to construct the tallest tower using toothpicks and gumdrops. I loved watching their creativity and building processes!

Once students completed each of the activities and “won” the game, it was time for a celebration! What better way to celebrate than with these adorable cookie pops!?

Such a fun learning-filled day!

 

 

Kindness Land

As part of our Gingerbread Literacy Unit this year, I decided to add more of a general candy theme. In fact, instead of having a gingerbread-themed party at the end of this week, I am planning a Candy Land-themed one! Over break, I started thinking about my favorite game as a child- Candy Land. I also was brainstorming how I could encourage kindness in our classroom. I came up with the idea of “Kindness Land!” I created a game board on a bulletin board with the hopes of recording specific acts of kindness.

I introduced the game to the students two weeks ago. Since then, I have read aloud a book a day that focuses on ways to be kind. Some of the titles I have shared include Finding Kindness, by Deborah Underwood, Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, The Smile that Went Around the World, by, Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Day by Emily Pearson, the 12 Days of Kindness by Jenna Lettice, and Kindness to Share from A-Z by Todd Snow.

Look at our progress:

The students do not know it yet, but once they reach the finish line, I have a sweet candy bracelet kit that they will each make and wear on Candy Land Day!

Busy Little Elves

In lieu of Friday Fun, students were surprised with the annual kindergarten Elf Workshop! When they walked into the classroom in the morning, each student had a special elf hat on their table..accessories always make learning more fun! Ms. Barker and I got into the theme as well!

After a quick tour of the workshop, we had no choice but to get right to work!

I organized the activities once again using our Smart Board.

And the busy elves were off to complete five activities!

At “Deck the Halls,” students had to match CVC words to pictures.

The “Gift Wrapping Station” had students wrapping homemade holiday gifts for their loved ones. This sweet gesture also is a great fine motor builder, so parents, let your children help wrap gifts at home! The folding of the paper, the manipulation of the sticky tape, the physical pressure the fingers use to complete these tasks help strengthen those little finger muscles!

 

“I Spy an Elf” was a reading activity, where students used a magnifying glass to read CVC words that were written in teeny tiny print, that even with the glasses and the magnifying glass, I still couldn’t make out!

The fourth rotation included puzzle building, where students assembled puzzles of mystery holiday toys/gifts and then recorded their findings.

Lastly, students met with Ms. Barker where they used unifix cubes to measure actual presents! (not really…I just happened to have a lot of boxes from Black Friday purchases that I wrapped and decorated.) But, what fun the children had guessing what was inside each box!

We ended our Elf Workshop with a well-deserved rest by the fire…..

 

while I get the classroom ready for the next event…Candy Land Day!

50th Day!

Our 50th day of school fell on the day we returned from break last week! I had prepared the classroom before we left the week before, and the students were shocked to see the transformation.

My favorite comment was, “Wow, it really does look like a shake shop in here!” Not only did they love the decor, but they enjoyed seeing the morning attendance on the Smart Board. We jumped right into our 50th-day activities even before the morning bell rang!!

I took pictures of each little greaser in front of the 1950’s car.

Then the rotations began! I made sure to organize the activities using the same method that we use daily during our Literacy Centers…that way students were already familiar with the flow.

During my rotation, students participated in a writing activity:

Students learned how to blow a bubble gum bubble in another rotation. Would you believe that five of the students were able to blow a bubble?! That is a new record!

Students also had to create something using 50 LEGO bricks. I loved their creativity!

The Word Work station had students identifying the middle sound in CVC words. Each vowel was on a bubble that the students then matched to the card.

Even during our daily PE class, the children learned about the 1950s when they were taught how to hula hoop!

Our day ended with rootbeer floats!

Parents were invited to join in on the fun!

It’s the month of special days! Next up is Elf Workshop!

Missing Letter Day

Overnight, there was a crime committed in kindergarten…the letter D was stolen! When students arrived at school today, they found crime scene tape covering the classroom door as well as displays of evidence around the classroom.

Detective Delwiche and Detective Barker were here to help the students crack the case!

On their desks were briefcases that had detective supplies inside as well as a special thinking cap…AKA fedoras…to help them get into their detective role for the day.

We gathered the evidence and worked together to identify six suspects. Students found bandaids, a red sweatband, a paintbrush, a boom wacker, a Dodgers pencil holder, the number 3 with multiplication facts on it, Clifford the Big Red Dog, a maraca, and a whistle. Who could the suspects be?!

After agreeing on the suspects, students had to engage in five different language arts learning activities. Once they completed each activity, they received a riddle to solve. The answer to each riddle provided students with the name of the suspect who did NOT steal the letter d.

Here’s a peek at the visual organizer I created to help students know which activity to complete and when:

Activity 1: Students chose a magnifying glass picture card and identified the beginning sounds in words. They recorded their answers.

Activity 2: Students colored a secret picture.

Activity 3: Students looked at pictures and spelled the CVC word using invisible ink.

Activity 4: Students used pattern blocks to build the letter d. They then tallied the number of blocks used.

Activity 5: Practicing alphabetical order, students walked around the room in search of hidden cards with missing letters of the alphabet. They had to record the letters that are missing.

After completing these activities, we came to the conclusion that Mrs. Green, our third-grade teacher, was the one who stole the letter D.

Why did she do it?

She even gave us a special treat that begins with the letter d!

Next up….putting all those letter sounds to good use when we begin blending and reading words!

Pumpkin Day 2022!

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Well, that’s what we did three years ago when the COVID pandemic canceled field trips! I wanted students to still experience some of the “normalcy” of kindergarten, so I created a pumpkin patch on campus and turned the event into a full day of pumpkin-themed learning! I immediately knew that this change was one that I would love to continue in future years.

Today was Pumpkin Day 2022! When the students arrived, I showed them a quick time-lapse video on the life cycle of a pumpkin. They recorded the life cycle in a pumpkin-shaped book we had prepared for them.

Nest, we headed to the backyard to the pumpkin patch!

We then headed inside to begin our math and literacy activities. There were four rotations that included a rhyming activity, measuring the height and circumference of the pumpkins, and a listening station.

As the day went on, we surveyed and graphed how we best like to eat pumpkins: pie, seeds, or bread. Pumpkin pie was the majority vote! The day ended with a simple experiment to discover if pumpkins sink or float. The majority of students predicted that pumpkins would sink. Watch their reactions!!!

What a fun day of learning! The children were thrilled to bring home their special pumpkins at the end of the day!

 

What If You Had A T-Rex Teeth?

Today, I read the best book aloud: What If  You had T-Rex Teeth: and Other Dinosaur Parts, by Sandra Markle.

This creative book explores what would happen if you had a Brachiosaurus’ neck, an Ankylosaurus’ spikey tail, or a Triceratops’ three-horned face. The results are hilarious!

Using the book as inspiration, I created a writing activity where each student chose a body part from the dinosaur that they have researched. Then, they wrote why that body part would be fun to have. Finally, I snapped a picture of each student, and they illustrated themselves with that body part. Look at our finished products:

 

Too much fun!

Kindergarten Readiness

I was asked to present my thoughts on Kindergarten Readiness at Open Mike Monday on January 24. Below are activities you might try with your child to help them prepare for kindergarten.

Social and Emotional

  • Give your child opportunities to interact with other children in preschool or social groups or playdates.
  • Teach your child how to express their feelings if they do not like something.
  • Role-play different situations they might experience on the playground or at school. Help them find solutions for typical problems they might encounter.
  • Give your child two and three-step directions. For example: “Put the toy away, pick a book to read, and sit on the couch.”
  • Play Simon Says with two or three-step directions. For example: “Simon Says touch your toes and shake your head.”
  • Let your child play! Imaginary or make-believe games, board games, and “cooperative” games are not only fun but help support growth.
  • Read books about kindergarten or going to school.
  • Drive by school and point out “There’s your school!”
  • Attend orientation days.

Self-Care

  • Let your child practice dressing themselves.
  • Show them how to use the bathroom and wash their hands. Let them do it on their own while at home with you.
  • Encourage independence throughout the day. Small daily tasks they can that are age-appropriate include clearing their plate, filling their water bottle, picking up toys, dusting non-fragile items, or putting their shoes away in a specific spot.
  • Encourage consistent hygiene skills like washing hands before and after meals and after using the bathroom.

Motor

Fine

  • Build with blocks, string beads, and play with play-dough.
  • Write using all types of supplies including fat crayons, window markers, outdoor chalk, colored pencils, and markers
  • Work with your child to learn to write their name. Write in shaving cream, use chalk outside, paint letters with water and a paintbrush on your driveway. Write in the steam on your shower door or bathroom mirror!
  • Help your child learn how to use scissors – show them how to hold and use scissors safely.
  • Give your child old magazines or newspapers to cut up. Have them make a collage using scissors to cut out pictures and then glue them onto a piece of paper.
  • Encourage drawing and coloring, and talk about your child’s artwork together.
  • Have your child pick small items, like cotton balls or uncooked pasta, up with a clothespin.
  • Write numbers on a piece of paper and place these numbers in the bottom of a muffin tin. Have your child move that amount of an item (cotton balls, LEGO bricks, mini erasers) into the tin using tongs or chopsticks.

Gross

  • Climb! Gallop! Hop! Jump! Run! Skip!
  • Make a hopscotch to practice jumping. You can add numbers or letters to the squares and call out the square in which you want your child to jump.
  • Draw a line on the ground for your child to walk on. Pretend it is a tight-rope, a log over a creek, a freeway, and have your child practice walking on the line in a way that mimics the scenario you give.
  • Play catch or kick a ball back and forth.

Language

  • Roleplay. Use stuffed animals to have conversations that help your child practice advocating for themselves or communicating their feelings.
  • Have your child help you prepare a meal or snack. Talk through the directions. “First, I am going to wash the apple. Next, I will cut the apple. Last, I will eat the apple.”
  • Read with your child.
  • Sing with your child. Sing rhyming songs, silly songs, or even your favorite songs.
  • Tell your child about your day and what you are doing, and ask them questions about their day.

Academic

Reading

  • Run your finger under the words as you read to your child to help them learn that words go from left to right and top to bottom.
  • Play games with rhyming words to help your child hear similar sounds in words. For example, as you are going up the stairs, name one word that rhymes with bin for each step as you go up. Nonsense words work too!
  • Make your child aware of the sound that each letter makes.
  • Find items around the house that begin with the same sound and identify the letter that makes each sound. (“Show me three items that start with the sound /s/.”)
  • Use those old magazines and newspapers to make letter collages. Have your child find pictures of things that start with each letter of the alphabet.

Math

  • Count throughout the day (How many crackers are they eating for snack or how many socks that you are taking out of the dryer. You can even count the number of apples you are bagging at the grocery store).
  • Point out numbers you see in your environment and have your child name them (Identify the numbers found on food boxes or street signs).
  • Play games in which your child finds objects of particular colors and shapes around the house.
  • Play I Spy.
  • Make number collages. Write the number 5 on a paper and have your child cut out five items from a magazine and glue those items to the number 5 poster. Repeat!
  • Games like Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho Cherry-o, Candyland, Avalanche, and Memory are perfect for reinforcing math skills and practicing graceful winning and losing.

In short, have FUN! Your child will benefit greatly from the special time you are spending with them! Play games. Read books. Talk to each other. And LAUGH! Learning means so much more when it is enjoyable.

 

Elf Workshop

We had our Winter Concert last night. It was a beautiful event that was held outdoors in the crisp winter air. I knew the students would be tired this morning, so I planned a fun and engaging day: Elf Workshop! When the students arrived, they each had an elf hat on their desk. I had them come into my warm and cozy living room for a photo!

I had five rotations all set for my little elves to complete. Here is the overview:

At the Gift Wrapping station, students wrapped their holiday gift. I showed them how to fold the paper. It was a fun fine motor activity that included cutting and using the tape.

Another activity was “I Spy an Elf.” Student used magnifying glasses to find CVC words on their page. Then, then recorded the words they found.

Next, students put together puzzles of many different types of toys. They illustrated their puzzle and recorded the type of toy.

For the fourth activity, students had to use unifix cubes to measure the width of gifts.

The final activity was called “Deck the Halls”. Students read the words on the stockings that were hanging by the fireplace. They then found the coordinating picture on a recoding sheet and wrote the word.

You can see the stockings for “Deck the Halls” and the boxes that were measured in the background.

We wrapped up this fun day with a gingerbread cookie five senses activity. The students loved tasting the gingerbread cookies! Next week, we will complete our Gingerbread Literacy Unit with a gingerbread themed party!