KINDERGARTEN newsletter
A bi-weekly newsletter from Kindergarten at Lamplighter.
**Important Information: The Living Zoo will be a student-only event this year. If you have any questions, please email Jeff Peck (jpeck@thelamplighterschool.org). Thank you!**
Animals!
Literacy
As we wrap up the year in Kindergarten, we are reading books and looking at pictures of animals that we learned about during our animal unit. Each child picked an animal at the zoo to design their very own zoo exhibit. We know to keep their animal's natural habitat in mind while we design. Your children are designing their habitat with pictures and information from books. With their information they will draw and then construct their zoo exhibit.
We continue to read and share our reading with our reading partners and friends. We love non-fiction books because we can learn new fancy words and share our new knowledge with others.
Word Families: _ug
Math
In math, students have been exploring fractions through games and books. Our students understand what a fraction is a how objects all begin as a whole. We used food to explore halves, thirds and fourths and did several picture sorts to build their understanding of fractions. During lunch several students have tried to divide their food into half, thirds or fourths! We are so excited that our students are seeing fractions everywhere. At home have your child draw a shape and divide the shape into halves, thirds or fourths.
We have also been working on becoming more comfortable with counting money. When counting money our students work primarily with pennies, nickels and dimes. Not only do we have our students count money but we also ask them to find another way to show an amount. Our goal is for our students to see that there are many different ways to show am amount.
At home, work on counting change that you have around the house. You can also give your child a pile of money and ask them to use those coins to show you a certain amount, up to $1.00.
Please continue working on the following:
- Count by 2's up to 30
- Count by 5's and 10's up to 100
- Counting to 110
- Creating patterns
- Counting back from 20
Science
Kindergarten is having a blast learning about animals in different animal orders (amphibians, reptiles, insects, birds, mammals, and fish). The children are learning about what habitats/environments animals live in, what characteristics the animals have, and identifying examples/non-examples of animals that belong in each order.
During the last two rotations of the school year, the children will select an animal to build a zoo exhibit for that keeps them in their natural environment.
Questions you can ask your children at home:
- What characteristics does a(n) ____________ have? (amphibian, reptile, insect, bird, mammal, fish)
- What are examples of a(n) ______________? (amphibian, reptile, insect, bird, mammal, fish)
- Where does a _____________ live? What might you find there?
Recommended learning activities at home:
- Read books about animals (fiction and non-fiction)
- Visit the Dallas Zoo
Technology
"With ScratchJr, children aren't just learning to code, they are coding to learn."
Spanish with Mrs. Krage
Ask your child what a "cuaderno" {journal} is.
Media Center with Mrs. Vermillion
Monday-Thursday - 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday - 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Environmental Science with Mrs. Cauley
Our alphabet hike in April was an adventure! Using magnifying necklaces, each child searched for tiny snails, buds on flowers and any bit of nature that smelled or moved!! They found many items that began with a particular letter – an amazing list grew! I’m always surprised at their remarkable observation skills!
Enjoy your summer outdoors so your nature detective can explore!
Media Center Book Fair
Friday - 7:30a.m. - 12:30p.m.
Monday, May 8, 2017, 07:30 AM
Media Center
Square Dancing Performance!
Children may wear pearl snap shirts, boots, bandanas and hats. However, when it comes to the performance time, children are asked not to wear their cowboy/cowgirl hat due to it conflicting with their dance routine. Please, no spurs!
Friday, May 12, 2017, 10:30 AM
Klyde Warren Auditorium
Ice Cream Social
Rooms 31 (Curtis) & 33 (H. Brown) - Tuesday, May 16 from 2:15 - 3:00p.m.
Rooms 32 (Reyna) & 34 (Sizemore) - Thursday, May 18 from 2:15 - 3:00p.m.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 02:15 PM
Your Child's Classroom
End-of-the-Year Picnic
Please pick up your child from their classroom at 11:30 and then proceed to the Jonsson Garden. We will be eating lunch from 11:30 - 12:15pm. You may want to bring a blanket or beach towel to sit on while you eat. After a picnic lunch and time visiting with friends new and old, you and your child are free to begin your summer break.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 11:30 AM
Jonsson Garden
Parent Conferences
(See link below.)