Rocks Rock!

Did you know that we all live on a rock? That's right!  Earth! Earth is a big rock!  Kindergartners have been working hard learning about rocks.  The children became investigators learning about the different characteristics of rocks.  Rocks have different textures, colors, and sizes. Our student teacher, Miss Hannah, took charge leading the investigation!

First, the students brainstormed a list of what they know about rocks.  Then, Miss Hannah read the story, If You Find a Rock, by Peggy Chistian. To continue the investigation, Miss Hannah had the students make connections to the 5 senses.  They made a chart of how rocks touch, see (look), hear, smell, and taste (what?!).  

In small groups, the students got to experiment with the rocks they brought in.  

Using string, they measure the length of their rock and circumference.   Then, they  measured the rocks using a ruler.

Next, the children got to predict and estimate which rock would roll the farthest.  They also got to predict the height of the ramp would create the fastest and furthest roll. 

This was a favorite by all! CCSS: Science: Uses scientific method (observes)  Knows concepts of the following: seasonal changes, properties of objects, transportation technology & engineering, living and non-living things

We Are Readers!

The children have been working so hard this year learning all about the alphabet in Room 121!  We know that the alphabet is made up on consonant and vowels.  Consonants are any letter that is not a vowel.  So, what is a vowel?  Did you know that vowels have 2 different kinds of sounds?  <

Watch this cute Scratch Garden video about short and long vowel sounds!

Watch this video: writing words with digraphs!

All year students have been working on identifying the letters of the alphabet, the corresponding sound, and a picture associated with the beginning sound since the beginning of the year. We have been reading c-v-c words and building our fluency! C-V-C words are consonant-vowel-consonant words in which the vowel is always a short sound.

These writers are learning how to writing real c-v-c words and nonsense c-v-c words.  What are nonsense words?  Words that don't make any sense at all!

Happy Reading, Kindergarten!

RF.K.2: Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

RF.K.3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Author David Biedrzycki

Welcome David Biedryzcki!

Author and Illustrator David Biedrzycki came to Fuller Meadow!

The Kindergarten got an interactive visit with him while he shared the different ways he comes up with his ideas for his books.  He showed us his sketch books and a very cool tech tool.  Author Biedrzycki showed us www.sumopaint.com and how  he uses it for his drawings! 

Then, Mr. Biedrzycki showed us the creative way publishers put all of the drawings together to make a book!  Who knew?

He even put our very own Mrs. Carreiro into one of his books!

Author and Illustrator David Biedrzycki entertained and enlightened us with his stories and illustrations!  

Thank you, Mr. Biedrzycki!

We See Rainbows!

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, we began with answering the question  "What will you find at the end of the rainbow?" We brainstormed lots of ideas such as a pot of gold, $100, and a house by the beach! Then, we made magical headbands to wear for the day! 

Next, we read Jaime O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie DePaola.  The children made predictions about the ending of the story.  We retold the story using pictures.  Finally, we made connections to the text and ourselves. 

click on the book to listen to the story

Finally, our Rainbow Science Experiments began!  The children had to predict what would happen based on the materials being used.  

Ask your child which one was their favorite! Try this one at home & share your results by posting them here with a comment! What you will need: shallow pie pan, whole milk or half & half, food coloring, popsicle stick and dish liquid Directions: pour the whole milk in pan, add drops of food coloring around the edge of the pan in rainbow order, dip the tip of the  popsicle stick in the dis liquid, then place the stick in the middle of the pan and watch the magic! Don't forget to report back and share your findings!

Presidents Day

Click here to learn about the 1st President

Presidents Day was a great time to begin learning all about 2 famous Presidents of the United States of America.  The children read nonfiction texts to discover interesting things about our first President, George Washington.

Click here to learn about the 16th President

As well as, our 16th President Abraham Lincoln.

We were able to make a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting details about their lives. 

We learned many interesting facts about these great Presidents. Ask your children these questions and hear what they say!  Perhaps they might teach you an interesting fact!

Why was George Washington voted to be the first President?

What made Abraham Lincoln one of the most famous Presidents?

What  did both Presidents have in common?

Please watch our ChatterPix movie about all the interesting facts we learned in Room 121.

CCSS: RI.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

RI.K.1 With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.

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100th Day of School

After 2 snow days, the children were finally able to celebrate the 100th Day of Kindergarten!
It was a great day of fun filled activities!  The day began with making 100th Day crowns to wear all day.  Next,  the children made a self portrait of what they will look like at 100 years of age.  There were many laughs all around during this project!.
Then, the children made ice cream cones counting by 10's to 100.  They looked delicious!  Kindergarteners made great text to text connections with the story Sneezy the Snowman when he had an ice cream cone with only 7 scoops of ice cream.





The children also had the opportunity to write about what they would do with $100.  We brainstormed very creative answers, such as an Orbeez foot spa, a new bed, legos, a guinea pig, and  new clothes.  They also, responded to the prompt "100 days ago I didn't know_____________but now I do!"

Finally we got to enjoy all of the wonderful projects the children brought in.

Click on my picture to sing along counting to 100

Happy 100th Day of Kindergarten!

A Snowman Should Not

We had been working with our first grade buddies in Miss Klipfel's class over the past few weeks.  We have been working together brainstorming ideas what snowmen should not do.  First, we began by reading, Snowmen At Work, written by Carolyn Buehner and watching Olaf sing "Summer". 

Click on book to hear Olaf sing "Summer"!

The students began thinking about what things snowmen should not do!  Together they worked on creating pieces of art on paper illustrating snowmen in some hot places.
We then used our favorite app, Chatterpix, to make our snowmen come to life!