April Learning

 

April Learning

Our Topics:

Plants and Environment, Inventions and Workshop

 

 

 

Here a classmate is planting her sunflower seed! We spoke about what plants need to live and grow. We had a soil table to experiment with in the classroom.

Mad Science came in and presented "Water Works". We experimented with water. We tested objects to see if they sink, float, absorb, or not absorb. The class also explored hydrophobic sand (you can find on amazon). This sand let us dip our fingers into water without getting wet.

Here we are using our listening ears to find out what tests we will be running.

The children are conducting their experiments!

Exploring what materials will absorb, or not absorb water.

We discussed how and why boats are so special. The children explored sail boats to see what would happen if they filled up with water.

When we finished experimenting we thought it would be a good idea to water the flowers.

Flowers need water to survive, and they absorb the water. Both preschool and pre-k enjoyed watering the flowers.

Here we are talking about hydrophobic sand (magic sand).

The sand floats!

We learned about the Wright brothers, and their invention the airplane. Each person invented their own airplane and we all flew them in the big room!

Here two students are enjoying a grid game where we used screws to cover up different tools. Each player rolls a dye to see how many screws they need.

A student is using snap blocks in three dimensional shapes to create larger shapes. Most of the time we invented robots out of the snap blocks.

Here a student is being creative making abstract art on the chalkboard. We also learned about the chalkboard, and held and wrote on slate.

When inventing you might need tools. Our class learned and practiced using a wrench, screwdriver, and hammer.

Students enjoyed taking apart and putting back together the chair.

Here a student is designing on the snap block board.

Our class loves puzzles. They are great for working on problem solving skills, and refining fine motor.

Here another student is completing the puzzle.

Here students are working hard in the workshop.

Some of our students are checking the growth of their sunflowers.

 

Some students are working on puzzles together. Preschool and pre-k love to help each other learn and explore.

These two are working hard on removing the nails out of the board.

 

 

Our praying mantis eggs hatched!!! Finally after a month and a half wait. We talked about what they need to survive, and how they will grow. We looked closely at the new nymphs with a magnifying glass!

 

Here is an up close look at our new classroom addition.

Everyone wanted to talk about what praying mantis eat, and watch them move around.

Finally we enjoyed a day in the mud!

Even Ms. Elizabeth and Ms. Miranda couldn't resist. Everyone was so happy to enjoy the outdoors.

Our Standards Covered:
Domain: Social and Emotional
Strand: Self
Topic: Awareness and Expression of Emotion
Indicator: Communicate a range of emotions in socially accepted ways
Domain: Social and Emotional
Strand: Self-Regulation
Topic: Sense of Competence
Indicator: Show confidence in own abilities and accomplish routine and familiar tasks independently
Domain: Social and Emotional
Strand: Relationships
Topic: Peer Relationships
Indicator: Interact with peers in more complex pretend play including planning, coordination of roles and cooperation
Demonstrate socially competent behavior with peers
Domain: Approaches toward Learning
Strand: Initiative
Topic: Initiative and Curiosity
Indicator: Seek new and varied experiences and challenges
Demonstrate self0direction while participating in a range of activities and routines.
 Domain: Approaches toward Learning
Topic: Planning, Action and Reflection
Indicator: Develop, initiate and carry out simple plans to obtain a goal
Domain: Approaches toward Learning
Strand: Engagement and Persistence
Topic: Attention
Indicator: Focus on an activity with deliberate concentration despite distractions
Domain: Approaches toward Learning
Strand: Engagement and Persistence
Topic: Persistence
Indicator: Carry out tasks, activities, projects or experiences from beginning to end
Domain: Approaches toward Learning
Strand: Creativity
Topic: Innovation and Invention
Indicator: Use imagination and creativity to interact with objects and materials
Use creative and flexible thinking to solve problems
Engage in inventive social play
Domain: Approaches toward Learning
Strand: Creativity
Topic: Expression of Ideas and Feelings through the Arts
Indicator: Express interest in and show appreciation for the creative work of others.
Domain: Physical Well-Being and Motor Development
Strand: Motor Development
Topic: Large Muscle, Balance and Coordination
Indicator: Demonstrate spatial awareness in physical activity or movement
Domain: Physical Well-Being and Motor Development
Strand: Motor Development
Topic: Small Muscle
Indicator: Use classroom and household tools independently with eye-hand coordination
Domain: Cognition and General Knowledge
Strand: Cognitive Skills
Topic: Reasoning and Problem-Solving
Indicator: Demonstrate ability to solve everyday problems based upon past experience
Solve problems by planning and carrying out a sequence of actions
Sub-Domain: Science
Strand: Science Inquiry and Application
Topic: Inquiry
Indicator: All
Sub-Domain: Science
Strand: Life Science
Topic: Explorations of Living Things
Indicator: All
Sub-domain: Math
Strand: Number Sense
Topic: Number Sense and Counting
Indicator: All
Strand: Algebra
Topic: Patterning
Indicator: All
Strand: Measurement and Data
Indicator: All
Strand: Geometry
Topic: Analyze, Compare, and Create Shapes
Indicator: All
Domain: Language and Literacy Development
Strand: Listening and Speaking
Topic Receptive Language and Comprehension
Indicator: All
Domain: Language and Literacy Development
Strand: Listening and Speaking
Topic: Expressive Language
Indicator: All
Domain: Language and Literacy Development
Strand: Reading
All topics and indicators covered

We really enjoyed these units and learned so much!





 

Working Outside

Here is one of our students working outside.

We talked about our favorite outdoor activities

We spent time with the preschool class too!

Finally a day outside!

On our way to play.

We decided to dig up worms and dirt for our praying mantis habitat.

Ring toss!

Ms. Elizabeth worked on temperature and thermometers one-on-one outside!

 Studying weather, maps, and the continents. These three are planning their trip!

We used our own wind power to mix different colors of paint together.

These two are planning to take a highway to the park.

A student created a very intricate structure! 

This was one of our most challenging puzzles because it has six puzzles in one!

Here a student is using a transparent container on the light table to paint with sand! We used new vocabulary like opaque and transparent to learn and describe light.

This class loves to play games together. Here the students are trying to grow their trees on their way to the finish line.

Here is another student painting with sand at the light table. All of us took interest to the way light works all around us.

We also used the light table to trace. By placing a stencil not on top of, but underneath the paper.

The class frequents the library. Reading together and sharing what we are seeing and reading is something everyone likes to do.

Sometimes you just have to dance it out, even when you are working! We were listening to Alvin and the Chipmonks.

Here a student is mixing colors. Primary to get secondary, and all of them to see what happens.

Here we painted a type of light that we use.

The writing center seems to have a never ending wait. Everyone loves to write to one another.

Here on of our friends is working on his fine motor skills.  

Some in the classroom have really enjoyed playing this game. We recognize numbers 1-6 and stack blocks. Then when we run out of blocks we continue by taking turns getting blocks from our neighbors.

We have been studying maps, continents, and weather. Here our friends in the weather center are trying to navigate to the park.

 Here is one of our path games that we play. Our friends try to collect leaves for their sprouting and growing trees.

Here one friend has made a rather intricate structure out of blocks!

 Spending time working on puzzles with our older friends too!

During March we have studied different types of weather, maps, and used wind power for painting. There are just some of the many things we have been working on. Our goals this month so far have been with literacy, math, science, social studies and approaches towards learning. Coming up, Light.

Space Adventure

MISSION CONTROL

 Astronauts taking pictures of the planets as they orbit space. 

"I landed on Saturn, where are you?"
"I landed on Mercury!"

"Mission Control, we're ready for lift off.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,  BLAST OFF!"

Fixing the space camera so they can take pictures of their adventure in space.

Communication Week

Hello! It has been great getting to know everyone. We have been busy so far this week. Some of us have been working on the around the world puzzle, while others have been busy in the grocery store. We have also been using the peg puzzle to stack and pattern. Ask us about the silly book "My School's A Zoo" by Stu Smith, I'm sure we have a lot to talk about.

Costume Party

Watch out! Batman, Thor, Spiderman, and a scientist are on the loose in the big room!












The costume parade in the big room. The kids had fun showing off their cool costumes and checking out all the other fun costumes.













One of the parents even joined in on the fun and surprised us by showing up as Dracula!