Penguins, Winter, and more Penguins

Hello Friends!!!  It's that time of year when my class learns about Penguins.  This unit is always fun for me to teach because of the fascination, and curiosity the kids have about Penguins.  In fact, they are still talking about Penguins, which makes me happy that they got so much out of it. 

Here are the highlights of ...

PENGUINS, WINTER, and more PENGUINS 

I started out the unit with a KWL chart. We charted what they already knew, and wanted to know about Penguins.  

I read a variety of non fiction books about Penguins to my class.  These are a few of my favorites.

I taught a mini lesson about the continents & oceans, and then we marked where Penguins live around the world.

We learned about the parts of a Penguin by using this diagram.

After reading a few non fiction books about Penguins we completed this anchor chart about what they learned.

The kids used the chart above to write three sentences about Penguins.

 My class made their own Penguin by cutting different shapes out of construction paper.

Here are a few of my favorite YouTube videos about Penguins.

We focused our learning on the Emperor Penguins- this particular video is amazing!

We also observed Penguins by watching these two live Penguin cams. 

Sea World Penguin Cam

Monterey Bay Aquarium Penguin Cam

Moving on to Winter...

My class painted these cute snowmen, and measured how tall they were with linking cubes.  Also, they practiced making an addition sentence with the eyes and nose of their snowman. This idea came from Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten.

My class used watercolors to make a snowflake.

We learned all about winter by reading these non fiction books.

We recorded our learning on a bubble chart (forgot the picture).

Here is a picture of one of my winter themed centers.  I wrote cvc words on blue paper and then crumpled them up like a snowball.  The kids had to read the word and place it on the correct chunk. We played this game whole class a few times before it went into my center rotation.

After this post I'm so ready for spring!!!! How about you?

February Fun!

Love is in the air... take a look

Valentine art makes my heart happy! The heart fish and butterflies are what graced the walls in my classroom for February. Simple but adorable.  In addition, to the heart themed art we learned a poem titled Valentine.  

Here are a few of my favorite valentine themed books. 

This months family project was to create a mailbox using recycled materials.  The finished products always amaze me! I love how the children feel so proud of their creation.

It's always a challenge to think of new ways to engage five and six year olds, especially when practicing a new skill.  With that in mind, I set out to create a game that would allow the kids to practice  adding with the help of a number line.  The game is simple - one child throws a heart shaped beanbag and hits a number on the red heart and another student throws the beanbag and hits a number on the white heart. 

  

A student recorded the number sentence on my board (pictured below) and the class recorded the equation in their interactive journal (pictured below). We then used the number line to find the sum.

My class loved this game! 

One of my all time favorite Valentine books is called the Valentine Surprise.  The main character in the story makes a bunch of different shaped hearts while trying to create the perfect heart.  After reading the story we graphed which heart they liked the best.

We analyzed the data in the picture graph (sorry it was cut off in this picture). 

I created yet another game this time to allow my class to practice making/ reading cvc and cvce words.

The life size game board really grabbed their full attention.  Here's how it works - first one student rolls the die and moves the game piece that many spaces. Another student turns over a card in the center of the game board.  We put the onset and rime together and read the word.  The class had their interactive journals in front of the them to record the words.  We made two categories real/ nonsense.  If the game piece landed on "pick a friend" the child who rolled the die would pick a friend to help them make a word.  If the piece landed on "nonsense word" we had to make a nonsense word with the card that was turned over.

Here is another picture of the game board.  The hearts are from the dollar store.

On Valentines Day my class sorted and graphed their conversation hearts.  This activity is always a hit with the kinders!

During writers workshop my class worked on writing two sentences the first one telling who they would give their valentine to, and the second to describe their valentine. 

I love art projects that require the kids to be creative- this one sure fits the bill.  I gave each table a bunch of different materials, and told them to decorate their heart... simple as that!

Happy Valentines Day!

100th Day of Kindergarten

The 100th day of school is officially in the books! My class had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this momentous day, and to be honest so have I! Planning for our big 100th day was no small feat it took quite a lot of time- let's just say I've been dreaming about it, and NOT because I wanted to! In the end all my hard work paid off... take a look

Our 100th day celebration started off with a family project.  They had to make a picture using 100 items.  The projects pictured above are some of my favorites.  

Here are a few of my favorite 100th day of school books... 

Center time!

Centers are a big deal in my class, so you can imagine their excitement when they heard the centers would all be centered around 100!

  

Center #1- Showing 100 on ten frames

Center #2- Writing to 100 

Center #3- Writing 100 words (this idea came from Kinder Craze)

Center #4- 100 pattern blocks creation (this idea came from The First Grade Parade)

Center #5- Build a 100 cup structure ( this idea came from The First Grade Parade)

Center #6- Practice counting by 10's to 100 by painting dots (this idea came from For the Love of Kindergarten)

Center #7- Roll to 100 (this is a freebie from Kindergarten Rocks)

The 100th day of school wouldn't have been complete without a silly hat.  

I love how these hats turned out! They are so adorable.

One of the art projects that I had my kinders do was to make this 10 scoop ice cream cone. This idea is a freebie from The First Grade Parade).

Here is the finished product. 

My kinders also made 100 day masks. They love having free reign over that glitter!

I found these adorable 100 day certificates and bookmarks at Target! My class was so excited when I presented them with one.

This is how I had their desks set up for the 100th day of school. 

Here are a couple of counting to 100 videos that my class enjoyed.

My class loved this 100 day PowerPoint from the The Primary Techie! 

Couldn't have said it better myself

Thanks for stopping by!

Thankfully it's Thanksgiving!

I don't know about you, but I'm so thankful to have a WHOLE week off for Thanksgiving! There's nothing I love more than a vacation!  

                                 Here are a few highlights from the month of November...

 During the month of November my bookshelf was stocked with all of my go to Thanksgiving books. I love seasonal books, but doesn't everyone?! Maybe... that's just me?

We read The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving book in small sections, so we could focus on important information.

First, we read about the Mayflower.  I created this anchor chart to record what they learned.  They helped me write the beginning sounds of some of the words.  

Check out this cute turkey directed drawing.  I also had my class practice writing a sentence that described their turkey's. 

I read the The Littlest Pilgrim to my class, and had them recall one thing that the main character Mini was too little to do.  They drew it on a Post- it and added it to our chart. 

Every year I assign a family project to make a turkey.  Once the turkeys are made they bring it back to class to share.  I  also give them the opportunity to write about their turkey in their journals.  

Check out these turkeys they're amazing!

My class each made a placemat to use at our feast.  We also made cornbread muffins, butter and pumpkin pie to eat.

During the feast they wore their pattern noodle necklace along with the hat they made.

Have you ever read Duck for Turkey Day? It's one of my favorite Thanksgiving books to read to my class. After,  reading it we created this story map. 

Finally, it's vacation time!

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