Weekly Newsletter
Balls!
Dear Parents
Our Ball Unit has sparked curiosity and mathematical skills, such as counting, comparing and measuring among students. This week’s focus question was “Do all Balls Bounce?” We have wondered, predicted and tested which balls bounce best. A part from bounciness, we have also learned about height and weight by comparing and identifying big/small balls as well as light/heavy balls. Our learnings about different sizes were integrated with the Norwegian fairytale “Three Billy Goats Gruff”. Children were involved in the storytelling of the fairytale using a big bridge as well as small, medium and big Billy Goat puppets. A new vocabulary word was introduced: ‘sphere’. We have discussed how spheres are different from flat circular objects such as a Frisbee or a CD. This means that a sphere looks like a circle from every angle.
We encourage families to talk with your children about your favorite childhood ball games. As well as to talk about what balls are made of, if they are heavy or light, or if they are big or small. Wonder aloud with your child to inspire his or her thinking about balls. And of course celebrate their learnings and accomplishments!
Enjoy the weekend,
PK3 Team
Books, Rhymes, and Games
Conscious Discipline In Our Classroom
We re-introduced 4 tools for calming down and asked children to choose their favorite one.
We also made a personalized STARS. These are great props to remind children that they can all be STARS, even when they are upset.
Snap Shots!
- Rhyming Match based on the song "Down by the Bay"
- Buried Letters
- Retelling Stories: Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Weighing and comparing using balls
- Painting with balls