Kindergarten Happenings
Ms. Chartrand's Class 5/1/16
The Chick Eggs Are Finally Here!
The long-anticipated chick eggs arrived in our classroom on Wednesday of last week. We took time to study the eggs prior to putting them in the incubator. Here are some things that we have noted since their arrival:
- chick eggs come in a variety of colors including white, beige, dark tan, blue and even green
- some eggs are solid in color while others have specks
- birds are not the only animals that hatch from eggs
- not all eggs hatch -- they need to be fertilized and certain conditions need to be met
- it takes 21 days for the chick to develop inside the egg
- its heart begins to beat on day 2
- its nose, legs and wings begin to form on day 3
-
the yellow yolk is what the chick eats when it is inside the egg
My Have They Grown!
It is hard to believe that these are the same eaglets that were covered in gray down just last month! The children love to check in on the eaglets' progress and talk about the changes we see.
Science
Social Studies
In social studies, we continued to learn about community helpers. After reading Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do, students thought of a job that they would like to do and created their own clothesline with clues to that job. The children came up with a wide range of occupations. The list included artist, ballerina, volunteer, scuba diver, horseback rider, swim teacher, police officer, fire fighter and paleontologist to name a few! Students also investigated what continent, country, state and city they live in as well as their street address.
Literacy
- Our focus letters this month were Bb, Ww, Zz and Qq.
- We studied sight words up, to and an. Students learned when to use a and when to use an in a sentence. Be sure to ask your child about it.
- For shared reading, we practiced the poems Pitter Patter Raindrops and Baby Chick. Ask your child to recite them for you.
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears is one of the many read alouds we used to practice our retelling skills this month. Remember to ask your child to use his/her retelling hand after reading a story with you.
Reader's Workshop
In reader's workshop, we learned what it means to be an avid reader. Unlike "blah" readers, avid readers love reading so much that they cannot bear to stop! Not only do they read a lot but they are always finding places to read. They keep stacks of books-in-waiting. They pay close attention to the story and feel what the characters are feeling.
Writer's Workshop
Students have started writing "All About" books to teach their readers all about a topic. We learned that labeling pictures and zooming in can give the reader a better understanding of what is being discussed. Ask your child to show you an example of zooming in.
Math Workshop
In math, students worked on a unit called Apple Boxes which invited them to explore the unique combinations that make up a given number. They also practiced composing and decomposing numbers by playing a game called Part-Whole Bingo.
Students have also been learning how to solve math stories. They do so by following a series of steps. First, they determine whether things are being combined (addition) or taken away (subtraction). Second, they use pictures to show and solve the problem. Third, they use the pictures to write a number sentence (ex. 3+2=5) and circle their answer.
SPECIAL Performance
Kindergarten attended an ACT Performance put on by Chhandika. Students learned about the art of storytelling through Indian dance. Students were then given the opportunity to tell a story through movement.
Upoming Dates
Wednesday, 5/11/16...............Safe Routes to School/School Spirit – wear yellow/black
Friday, 5/13/16.........................Spring Big Backyard Walk
Wednesday, 5/18/16................Day 21 -- Hatch Day!!!
Tuesday, 5/24/16......................Read Aloud Day
Wednesday, 5/25/16................Literacy Assembly
Monday, 5/30/16......................Memorial Day, no school
Wednesday, 6/1/16..................Kindergarten Assembly, time TBD
Wednesday, 6/8/16..................Spring Class Celebration