Insects

The children had fun this week investigating insects. As homework the children with the help of their parents made insects out of recycled materials. I had never done this and was very amazed at what they came up with.









The children labeled the parts of a bee and drew its life cycle. They also drew the life cycle of a butterfly then on Friday we compared and contrasted the bee and butterfly.




The children used their insects to measure height, width and area.
They also used pom poms to make caterpillars and put them shortest to tallest.










On Friday the children were able to make insects using all different types of candy. (Thanks to Deanna Jump's insect unit)









Here are some of the books I used.

Easter/ Earth Day/ Oviparous Animals

egg addition

We did addition and subtraction facts today. I took plastic eggs and numbered them then put a math fact inside each egg. I numbered the eggs so they knew which ones they already completed. While the children where in the hall I had an aide in my class hide the eggs around the room. We were suppose to do this outside but because of the fires around our area and the wind it wasn't the best air quality.
The children had to find the eggs and write the math sentences on paper and answer.





Here are their Easter Bunnies. OH how they love googly eyes!

Egg Investigation

We did an investigation with eggs today, the children measured the area of their egg and the weight.

Zoo part 2

To continue our zoo unit the children did subtraction sentences using animal crackers.



The children had to ask 10 friends which was their favorite zoo animal and record the results using tally marks. When they finished questioning everyone they had to record the data on a graph then write which was the least and favorite animal chosen. This was from Deanna Jump's unit.





After the children finished their graph we made a class graph.



In the computer lab we used pixie 2 and the children picked an animal to write about then illustrate.


On Friday we made alligator pie. Before we made the pie they had to write the ingredients then the steps on how to make it.






After we finished everything on Friday I had them make a cover and put everything we did for the week inside and I stapled it all together to make a book.

Curious George

I really love Curious George and take any advantage to read any of the books. This week to go with our zoo unit I read "Curious George Feeds the Animals" and we made a map of beginning, middle, and end as a class. I take the map down before the children begin, I tell them they have to use their own brain and not mine. I then had the children make their own story map, they started with the title of the book then beginning, middle and end on a different page. This took a lot of time but it turned out really well and the children worked hard on their writing and illustrations.
I work really had all year to get the children to not copy so I say they have to use their own brain and not their friends. I wasn't sure how well it was working until we did this a little girl said "look I am using my own brain" and she was so proud because she was doing her work. Days like this make me truly love my job.

Zoo Part 1

We have been working all week on our Zoo unit. We started our week doing Alligator syllables whole group then the children did their own syllable book.




I read books about Giraffes and the children had to make a tree map.


The children did addition sentences using lions and zebras.


I read books about zebras and the children made bubble maps. After we studied the zebra's and giraffes we made a Venn diagram and we also did an investigation on a thumb prints. The children put their thumb print on the paper then had a friend put their print on the paper. The children then used hands lenses to compare them both, then they wrote on what they seen.



I read Good Night Gorilla and we had a lively conversation about the book. Picture books allow for great conversation with kindergartners, I so love to hear their stories. After our discussion we went over the order of the animals and everyone was able to pick an animal or zoo keeper and we acted out the story.
They all followed the zoo keeper around so quietly and did such a great job, they begged to do it again and again. When we finally finished I had the children write the order of the animals using ordinal numbers and illustrate.









Thanks to Deanna Jump's Zoo unit for some of the lessons.