A Hoot of a Kindergarten Class!: week of February 16 snapshot

yep. still playing blog catch up :)

Monday we celebrated President's Day.

our journal writing...If I were the President of the United States, I would…

in math we had fun with The Penny Spill. I timed the students for 3 minutes while they spilled their penny out of their cup and tallied whether it landed on heads or tails, which we previously discussed before the lesson.

we also spent time in social studies comparing and contrasting George Washington vs Abraham Lincoln. we had fun learning so much about these important men.

and then what fun would it be without a George Washington craftivity?!?!

each student listed a fun fact.

Ms. Rosa and Ms. Emily came to visit us and took us on an amazing adventure for the Great Bird Watch. First, Ms. Rosa discussed how birds have similarities and differences. She did this using two of our students. We talked about the things that were alike and different. Then, she showed us a poster with many kinds of birds on it. Next, she passed around pictures of the three most common types of birds we see in Alabama during this time of the year. We learned about the Blue Bird, the Redheaded Woodpecker, and the Mocking Bird. She taught us characteristics of each type of bird and showed us what to look for when we go outside. Then, she and Ms. Emily gave us binoculars made from toilet paper tubes. The binoculars helped us the see the birds much easier. We then went exploring all around the Campus School, near the greenhouse and even over by the Duck Pond. We saw many different birds, bird nests, and even saw where the Redheaded Woodpeckers had hidden food to come back for later. We saw a hawk flying over us most of the time we were near the Duck Pond. We think she may have been looking for food. The ducks came close to us too. On our way back, Ms. Rosa found an abandoned Mocking Bird nest. She taught us how they make their nests and even use grass that may have fallen from our Easter baskets. We collected the nest for further investigation. She reminded us to never touch a nest if we are not sure the bird is not coming back. We learned so much and appreciate the time and effort Ms. Rosa and Ms. Emily put into this activity. Thanks a ton, ladies!!!

in science, we we learning about Arctic animals. all week we compared an Arctic animal to an Alabama animal.

we compared Arctic fox vs Alabama red fox

Arctic wolf vs Alabama red wolf

polar bear vs Alabama black bear

Arctic owl vs barn owl

every morning after journals the students LOVE doing the Mystery Letter. (they have to bingo dot certain numbers to reveal the mystery letter and come whisper it to me) K-CC1

we celebrated Fat Tuesday with the end of Mardi Gras and Mabry found the baby in our king cake! :)

we had a great art experience with torn paper art. we looked at a lot of creative pieces online before we let our creative juices flow. I was very impressed by their pieces. each student named their art work before it was displayed in the classroom.

Penguin by Marissa

A Winter Wolf by Miles

A Polar Bear by Matt

Rosie by Jayla

Winter by Rebecca

The White Wolf by Rob

Penguin by Katelyn

Art by Mabry

we started a new CVC activity called Spy, Read, Write. the students use a magnifying glass to search for words. after they find them all and write them down, they have to come to me and read them to me. something new and fun!

in math, we had fun estimating length and angle measures with Ladybug Mazes on NCTM's site. the students planned a series of moves that navigated a ladybug through a maze. their plans turned the ladybug at the appropriate corners and kept it on a path without crossing the walls.

then students then created mazes for their friends and tried to solve them. :) K.G.A.1 K.G.B.4

they also had fun with this shared reading activity, The Chubby Snowman.

we are also continuing with our shapes and having fun with snowmen pattern blocks mats

K-G2 K-G3

Ammar's mom (in Ms. Kim's room), Ms. Sharifa, is getting her teaching degree and is doing some of her teaching lessons with us. she is doing a wonderful job and we are enjoying seeing her in the classroom. she did a lesson on arctic animals with us on this day.

here the students illustrated a book from our shared reading book My Grandad by Joy Cowley.

and on Friday, to end the week, the students had a blast with the UWA Volleyball team. we love how the athletic teams always take time to spend with our students. it means so much to us and them and does not go unnoticed!