What's Up in KG?

Dear Families,

We have come to the end of our first trimester of KG and it has been a very busy time. I have been spending my days with your wonderful children, and my evenings and these wonderful long weekends...working on report cards. The highlight of this busy time, for me, has been watching your children take off in their learning. They are embracing their role as authors, scientists, readers and mathematicians. During the first trimester, we were busy growing and preparing our wings....And now, we get ready to fly! Trimester 2 promises to be full of accomplishments, fun, improvement, growth spurts, friendship, learning, creating, investigation, discovery and more...I am honored to be able to play a part in helping each child continue to grow and learn both socially and academically.

AND, I look forward to continuing the journey with you and your child.
Second Trimester, HERE WE COME!!!

So....What have we been up to in KG lately?

SCIENCE-

Here are a couple of videos of our AWESOME, AMAZING Science Experiments. As you can hear in the videos the children have a LOT of enthusiasm for Science. So exciting!

Our first experiment was the Rainbow Milk experiment. We put whole milk on a plate and added a few drops of different colored food coloring next to each other in the middle. Then we dipped a Q-tip into dish soap and pressed the tip of the Q-tip into the center of the plate. Have a look!

(Thank you Paige for making these two videos)

Here we are experimenting with Magic Potions....mixing colors. First, we set up our materials by putting two cups in the middle of a plate. Then we put some vinegar in our little cups and added red, yellow or blue. We made sure that each partner had a different primary color. At this point, one of our young Scientists exclaimed, "This is going to be AMAZING!" Yes, yes it is!!!!

Finally, on the count of three...we added baking soda. Watch the video to see what happened next...

WRITING WORKSHOP
This coming week, we will begin a unit on Personal Narrative. In this unit, the children will write true stories about their own lives. We will continue to learn how authors write stories across pages and make books all about one topic. We will have an underlying focus on how to make books that others can read. We will learn about writing a good 'lead', how to write a beginning/middle/end, creating a cover, writing a title to capture the reader and more! I can't wait to see all of the children's different stories transformed into little books. Exciting!

READING WORKSHOP- 
We now have lots of books in our book boxes. Students are excited to choose emergent reader books to add to their book boxes. Emergent readers are little books which have a small amount of text on each page. The text follows a predictable pattern, and is highly supported by the pictures. In the coming weeks, I will continue to help your child find books that are just right (not too hard, not too easy) for him or her to read. This means that each child's book box will be individualized and unique, just as each reader in our classroom is unique. Brain research shows that the best way for children to become stronger readers is to read books that are at their "just-right" reading level. 

Each child will have 10-12 books in his/her box to read during our Reading Workshop time. Approximately every other week, children will "shop for books" to put into their boxes. When they are "shopping", I will guide them to choose books that are at a reading level "just-right" for them. In the coming days, we will discuss the importance of choosing books that are a good fit to put in our book boxes. We even have PARKED our book boxes in their very special PARKING PLACES at the front of the room! 

Students read individually, with partners and in a small groups. After the winter break, your child will begin bringing books home to read to you. We are having fun exploring our new books! 

MATH- 
We just completed our study of Two-Dimensional Shapes. The focus was largely on problem solving with shapes and vocabulary used to compare or describe. Children explored making shapes in a variety of shape stations (using shaving cream, wooden sticks, waxy "wikki stix", rubber bands, salt trays, blocks, etc.). Students problem solved how to combine shapes to make another shape, figure out mystery shapes and were asked to come up with multiple solutions. We discussed how different shapes are alike and different, noting the attributes of the shapes. We noticed how some shapes have straight/curved sides and how shapes may have the same or a different number of sides. Our next focus is on Three-Dimensional Shapes.

We began our Two-Dimensional shape unit by going on a Shape Hunt! 

Here are some pictures from that adventure.

We wrapped up our Two-Dimensional shape study with a fun project. The children designed pictures using their wonderfully creative imaginations and a variety of different shapes of all colors and sizes. After making their picture, they dictated the story of their picture to me. You can see these on display in the classroom. Stop by ANYtime!!!

OUR SHAPE MUSEUM...THREE-DIMENSIONAL SHAPES NEEDED-
Next week, we will begin collecting 3D shapes for our Shape Museum. Please see the note that will go home this week for more information.

SCIENTIST WANTED- 
Are you a scientist? Do you have a personal interest in science or background knowledge in a field of science through your work? If so, please consider coming into the classroom and teaching us about your interest/expertise. You could give a demonstration, show a video, read a book, show us a model, bring tools or equipment, bring artifacts to examine, or other ideas. OR, maybe you aren't "officially" a Scientist and would like to come in to share an experiment with the class, let me know! I have lots of idea books and can help you make a plan. If you are interested, please contact me through email and we can work out the details. 

SPECIAL PROJECT- 
We are still collecting jars for an upcoming project. We are looking for short, wide jars like a jam or salsa jar. We just need a few more. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

 

I hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend! Just a quick and busy two weeks and we'll be on holiday again! Hard to believe it is already December. Wow! 

Thank you for your continued support! Your children are amazing...I am so grateful to spend my days with them. 

HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS WEEK AT THE TERRY FOX RUN!!!!

Cheers!

xx Ms. Cori