We had another great week of learning in Room 143! It was a short week, but busy nonetheless! For our "A Bug's Life" project, we created three-dimensional models based on our bug diagrams. We also began our investigation on a bug's habitat. In my project group, we created our own tangled or "messy" webs. We also studied and traced our own orb or "circular" webs. We then created our own spider models out of construction paper and pipe cleaners. Miss Danielle's Bee Experts created a bee model with special attention to all three body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. They also studied the different roles found within a bee colony (i.e. Queen Bee, Drone, and Worker). Ms. Cate's Butterfly and Earthworm experts also created models out of construction paper and recycled materials (Earthworms were created out of paper towel rolls!). The children also reflected on their project learning thus far. It was amazing to hear the children talk like little Entomologists ("I learned that spiders have a cephalothorax and pedipalps!").
We had a marvelous week studying the letter "M." We brainstormed many objects that begin with the letter M, such as: Mommy, Ms. Michelle, monkey, and Mariana. We also had some items put into our "M" box: money, 2 microphones, monster, monkey, and Mariana's magenta hat. The children had a magnificent time in our "Letter of the Week" Center. They worked on a Letter "M" Magazine Hunt, where they searched for and cut out words and items that begin with the letter. They found pictures of men, mothers, monkeys, and mountains. We will conclude our study of "M" on Monday! One of the highlights of our week was our SLC Reflections. For our Student-Led Conferences, students will share their reflections of our year so far. They will discuss what they enjoy about school, what they find challenging, and what they want to learn about this year. This week, students shared their reflections with each other. Some reflections were poignant and others were hilarious! One student shared that his goal this year in Kindergarten was to learn how to drive! Although I may not be teaching your children how to drive, I am honored to be sharing their first year of Elementary School with them! Reminds me of one of my favorite education quotes: "All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school." (Robert Fuhlgum) Check out this sweet tribute to what we do in Kindergarten and how it applies to our lives as adults: http://www.peace.ca/kindergarten.htm Much love, Mrs. Rosemarie
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Calling all the monsters!! Wow! What a fabulous way to start our week! We pulled off an awesome school wide flash mob on Halloween. The Kinders did such an amazing job so please be sure to congratulate them again for their efforts. If you did not get a chance to see the flash mob, I will be posting a video in the next week or so!
We had another great week of learning in Kindergarten. The children went deeper into the anatomy of their bug. My spider experts observed an actual spider and studied a giant spider model. They drew anatomically correct diagrams and labeled specific body parts (cephalothorax, abdomen, eyes, legs, and jaws). Miss Danielle's Bee experts learned specifically about a bee's head (how bees use their antennae and how they suck nectar through their proboscis). Ms. Cate's Worm and Butterfly experts learned that a worm's anatomy greatly differs from that of an insect's! Be sure to ask your child about his or her bug! They are all learning so much! The students really enjoyed studying the letter "S." Many students brought in items that begin with the letter "S." We had a spoon, scarf, sunscreen, sweater, straw, Sea Eagle, spider and stickers! We then took those items and sorted them into two categories: Soft or Sturdy. This activity was a fun way to integrate math, build vocabulary, and conclude our study of "S." Our star students did a stupendous job! If you would like your child to practice our "S" song at home, I have provided the link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1orYZAoGgoQ We ended our week on a high note! Our fifth grade "Buddies" took a field trip to the Chula Vista Library and specifically checked out books to read to us. Our "Buddies" read us the books with special attention to text features (author/title) and story structure (beginning, middle, end). We also made "Bugs in Dirt" in our Cooking Center. "Bugs in Dirt" is a decadent dessert made of pudding, crushed oreos, and gummy bugs/worms. The children loved it! A very big THANK YOU to the parents who donated the ingredients. Your generosity enables us to run this wonderful center!Thank you again for your support! The family connection only strengthens our Kinder program at HTe! Warm Regards, Mrs. Rosemarie We continue to stay busy in Room 143! This week we were introduced to the anatomy of a bug. We made comparisons of our bug to our own anatomy and created diagrams of the bug we are studying. We are beginning to have conversations around a bug's anatomy and how it's anatomy helps with its role in the environment. We will continue to study anatomy and will use this knowledge to design our own bug costumes. We will transform our designs into actual costumes for our first Exhibition (December 15). Ask your child about his/her bug and its anatomy! I'm sure he/she will have a lot to share!
This week we began our Counting Unit in Math. We are practicing counting objects with one to one correspondence and comparing numbers with the vocabulary: more/less. We practiced these important skills with a math game called "Cookies on a Plate." We also develop our "Number Sense" daily through our Calendar/Number of the Day routine. Everyday we sing songs to practice the days of the week, months of the year, numbers to 20. We count the number of days we have been in school and represent that number in a variety of ways (number form, word form, ten frame, tallies, movements). The students are quite familiar with the routine so we will begin taking turns leading Calendar in the next few weeks. This week we were fortunate to have Ms. Sherrie lead our Cooking Center. She invited her dear friend, Christy Leonard, who is in Culinary School studying to be a Pastry Chef. Ms. Christy spoke with the children about Culinary School and led the students in decorating pumpkin sugar cookies. The children thoroughly enjoyed it. Please look out for photos on our Shutterfly site! Thank you again for your continued support! I love working with your children! In Gratitude, Mrs. Rosemarie |
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September 2017
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