Our Snowmen at NIght class book

Last week we read the book Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner. The story is about a boy who builds a snowman and the next morning when he looks at it, it is not the same. This makes the boy wonder what snowmen do at night. 

Using the app Book Creater, our class made our own version of this fun story. First, we read and discussed the story. We talked about the ideas the boy had and then we brainstormed some other things that the snowmen might do during the night. Next, I modeled how to create a page on Book Creater and then during the next few days, during our workshop block, the students created their page for the story. They learned how to change the color of the background, change the pen stroke, change the color, draw a picture with details, and add their voice.  We hope you enjoy our version of the story. Click on the link below..... Our Snowmen at Night class book

Global School Play Day

Today we celebrated Global School Play Day! The students had a great time playing, building, and creating throughout the day. Thank you to Mrs. Higgin's class and Mrs. Kennedy's class for joining us during some of our fun. 
Click on the link below to view a video highlighting our day........

Global School Play Day!

Math Workshop

What is math workshop, you ask? Math Workshop is time set aside during our math block to work in small groups practicing a variety of skills. Students work at one station each workshop day for about 20 minutes. Current math stations include: practice reading numbers in a variety of forms (numerals, ten frames, and tallies); using and understanding the terms bigger and smaller in regards to numbers; writing addition and subtraction sentences from picture problems; adding dice; and measuring. In addition to practicing math skills the students are also working on skills such as turn taking, sportsmanship, and communicating with peers. 

Common Core Standards:
K.CC.A.1: Count to 100 by ones and by tens
K.CC.6.C:  Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.
K.OA.A.1: Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings 1, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
K.MD.A.1: Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.

Sciencetellers

Happy New Year!

On Wednesday the students were treated to the amazing show Dragons and Dreams by the Sciencetellers. Combining storytelling and science the students learned about dry ice and the changing states of matter. Thank you to the PTO for bringing us this fun and engaging show.

Water and dry ice created pressure that caused the cap to pop off the tube.

Creating bubbles!

Blowing air and creating fog!

Polar Express & Percussion Ensemble

What better way to celebrate the week before vacation but with Pajama Day! The students were so excited to wear their pajamas to school and to see their teachers in pajamas too. In addition to that, the students got to listen to the story The Polar Express in the library. Each student got their very own ticket stamped by the conductor as they entered the library.  

A special thank you to Mrs. Libby's grandfather for being our conductor! 

After enjoying the story, the students wrote about their favorite part and made their own Polar Express trains.  It was a great day!

What would Polar Express Day be without some singing from our very talented students! 

To end our amazing week the entire school was treated to a performance by The Percussion Ensemble. The students learned about percussion instruments and how they can use materials at home to make music.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears & The Gingerbread Man

During the month of December we studied different versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Our focus was on comparing the characters and setting, and sequencing the events of the story to help us retell the story to others. 

To wrap up our unit on Goldilocks and the Three Bears we had "Bring Your Favorite Bear or Cuddly Stuffed Animal to School Day" The students told about their cuddly animal and why it's a favorite. They also investigated their bears/stuffed animals. It was a fun way to end our Goldilocks and the Three Bears unit. Click on the link below to enjoy an animoto video of the students and their cuddly friends.
Click here for the link: Teddy Bear Day!

We were also lucky enough to have Mrs. Miyazaki as a mystery reader. Thank you so much for reading to us Mrs. Miyazaki!

After finishing our study of Goldilocks and the Three Bears we studied different versions of The Gingerbread Man. While we continued to talk about the characters and setting of each story our focus was on comparing the endings and the refrain of each story and sequencing to help us retell the story to others. 

Here the students had to glue the characters that the Gingerbread Man, Gingerbread Girl, and Gingerbread Cowboy encountered in the correct order. This activity demonstrates comprehension of the story and also provides a visual for retelling.

Here the students drew a picture and wrote a sentence telling how each story ended. 

To conclude our unit of study, the students each got to decorate a Gingerbread Man cookie. It was a lot of fun and the students enjoyed the different versions of the story.

A Very Busy Month

November was a very busy month! In addition to election day we had many other activities going on in kindergarten. Mystery Reader A huge Thank You to Mr. Thomas for coming in and reading to the class as a mystery reader. The students loved the story you read.

Kindness Day The students celebrated International Kindness Day by working together with  Mrs. Higgins class to create kindess rocks with kind/caring messages on them. Once the rocks were completed our class participated in a special kindergarten/first grade cooperative project of making a kindness garden. Each class put their rocks in a section of the garden and then together we read the Kindness Pledge. It was so special to see all of the beautiful rocks with such kind and caring messages on them.

Thanksgiving Performance The students were so excited to perform the poems and songs they have been practicing. They did an amazing job! 

Gratitude Tree November's Life is Good theme was Gratitude. After reading books about giving thanks and having gratitude for all of the people in our lives and the things we are lucky enough to have, each student wrote one thing they are grateful for on a fall colored leaf, and it was added to our school-wide: Gratitude is Always in Season tree. Next time you visit, stop in the lobby and read all of the things our students and staff members are grateful for. It is truly inspiring!

Hide the Turkey! This month's family homework project was to work together to disguise a turkey so it wouldn't get eaten on Thanksgiving Day. The students loved sharing their projects and did a great job telling how they chose their disguise and what materials they used.

Thanksgving Feast  The students enjoyed a special feast before Thanksgiving break. Our feast included mini corn muffins with homemade butter, apple slices, and the biggest surprise of all......a turkey stuffed with popcorn. 

Finally, we ended our day by learning about the Pilgrims, Native Americans, and the First Thanksgiving from Mrs. Kennedy's talented second graders. Thank You!

As you can see, November was a busy and exciting month for us.