Saturday, March 31, 2012

Tell It To Teddy

Tell Teddy all about it!


This is not a new idea, but I posted a picture of a super-interested boxer in my room.  

When kiddos want to tell on someone, I'll ask them to tell it to Teddy.  

Of course we have a conversation about things that I need to hear, such as violence or bullying.

The cutest part is when the kids tell Teddy their problem, and then make up a voice for him to give them advice!

Hope: Jacob won't give me the red crayon!!!
Teddy (Hope's voice):  You have to take turns.
Hope: Okay!

Giggle Giggle

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Eric Carle Week

A few weeks ago, we had a mini Eric Carle unit in our Kindergarten classrooms.  Our science focus was objects in the sky:  clouds, the sun and stars, the moon.  

The Grouchy Ladybug




We put words that begin with /g/ on one side and end with /g/ on the other.  









Draw Me A Star





We had a mini lesson about drawing a star using dry erase boards.


Then we cut triangles out of yellow and orange paper.  We counted each color and found the total!








Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me





We watched the video of the story.




Then we practiced making stars, and had a great following directions lesson!













Little Cloud
and
It Looked Like Spilt Milk










The Very Hungry Caterpillar

We watched Eric Carle read the book (here) and later in the week we watched the animated version.




How Eric Carle made The Very Hungry Caterpillar




Then we created The Very Hungry Student book from a template found at Teaching Heart.








Enjoy!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sponge Capsules~Discovery Station

Sponge Capsules!

Is is a bird?  It a plane? Or is it a SUPER DINOSAUR?! 

Sponge capsules spark so much interest and curiosity in kids.  This new addition to our Discovery Station has been a huge hit!  


I bought a variety of sponge capsules from Target's Dollar Spot, opened all the packages, and dumped them into one baggie.  Dinosaurs mixed with bugs, vehicles, and ocean creatures;  the kids just had no idea what they were getting!!

At our Discovery Station, the students follow the pictorial directions posted on the wall.



Fill container with water.



Choose capsule from Mystery bag and drop 'er in!


The kids drew each step in the process.  I encouraged reaching in to feel the capsule dissolving.




Our papers got a bit soggy, but that's all right!


At the end, they drew the final sponge image.  


Next time I might have the kids draw what they predict the sponge to be.  They will have to narrow down the options based on the types of sponges available.

Fun, Fun, Learning!!



Sunday, March 4, 2012

Dr. Seuss Days!

We had an amazing week of Dr. Seuss activities over in Kinder-land!


We focused on a book a day, but I supplemented with others for read alouds.  There are just too many good ones!


One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish


We made a shape book of words that rhyme with fish.
Click on the fish black line picture to go to the site that has shape books.
I manipulated it to make the mini book.


Click picture for shape book master.






We drew an underwater scene and wrote about what we could find in the water.





Mrs. T gave us a great idea to create an underwater scene that illustrated the title.  The kids could choose to draw and cut out their own fish or use a fish template to trace.













The Cat in the Hat


We made hats and bow ties.  

We wrote about what would happen if Thing 1 and Thing 2 came to our houses!





If I Ran the Zoo

Before reading we brainstormed about what we knew about zoo, and what kinds of animals live there.

Koala-Dog

After we read the book, we created a class animal.  It was a ladybug-elephant-cheetah.  Then we wrote a sentence to describe it.  

Then the kids got to create and write about the animal they would find for their own zoo!

Dinomite



Green Eggs and Ham


We graphed before we read.  

Do you THINK you'll like green eggs and ham?

And after...

Did you like green eggs and ham?


I was very surprised!  Everyone tried and LOVED the green eggs and ham!!




We had lots and lots of fun celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday this week!

I couldn't bring myself to eat the green eggs...Could you?