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!

 

Dino Day

We wrapped up our dinosaur unit with a dinosaur showcase this morning. Parents were invited to attend our Dinosaur Extravaganza where they looked through the math and language arts activities the students completed over the last two months. Activities included measuring life-sized footprints.

Bones with long vowel words hidden on them were excavated.

Students wrote a creative piece about what they would do with a pet dinosaur.

They researched a dinosaur of their choice.

Students classified dinosaur skeletons as herbivores or carnivores based on characteristics they had learned.

 

The art activities were incredible.

 

Students sculpted the dinosaur that they researched.

Each student created a glow in the dark, Pop Art-style painting of the dinosaur they researched.

The finale was the premiere of each students’ dinosaur presentation that was created using the Puppet Edu app. I am so proud of the students’ hard work.

 

I’d say we have a class full of dinosaur experts now!

Measurement

We have been exploring the concept of measurement. I began our lesson by reading the book The Best Bug Parade by Stuart J. Murphy.

“Which bug is the biggest? Which bug is the longest? It’s time to find out as all the bugs in Ladybug’s garden line up for the best bug parade!” (Amazon)

We practiced using the vocabulary words big, bigger, biggest, short, shorter, shortest, and long, longer, longest. Students demonstrated their knowledge through a sorting activity.

Students also went on a hunt around the classroom where different measurement stations were set up. Each station had a task card that read “Which is shorter?” or “Which is longer?” Students read the card and then set up the items to compare, making sure everything was carefully lined up.

Students then recorded their answer using a polka dot painter.

Fun!

 

Ocean Math Centers

We started our ocean math centers earlier this month with nine skills being explored.

Students figure out numbers according to place value, using tens and ones.

 

Students match up a number with the corresponding number word and tens frame.

 

Students count tally marks and record the two-digit number.

 

Students randomly choose four seashells and place them in order from least to greatest. They then record the numbers.

 

Students choose a crab and identify and write down the two-digit number. They then record the three numbers that come before that number.

 

In Number Chomp, students each choose a number. They decide which number is greater and place it inside the alligator’s mouth. The smaller number goes on the other side of the alligator. Students record the information.

 

Students measure the sea life using nonstandard units and record this information.

 

Students add sea life and write and solve the corresponding number sentence.

They have had so much fun with these centers, while practicing important grade level skills.

Dinosaur Math

We measured the length and width of dinosaur footprints using unifix cubes and pattern blocks. Students were stunned with how large the footprints were, especially in comparison to their own foot.

We are wrapping up this unit soon.  Students will be paleontologists tomorrow. Wait until you see what they dig up!