Wacky Watermelon Wednesday

      

Today was “Wacky Watermelon Wednesday”.  We learned about the letter Ww and how to write it. We drew what the watermelon looked like on the outside and the inside.  We also did a Ww paper to practice hearing that Ww sound.

 We talked about how watermelons are a fruit that grows on a plant and that they grow from a seed. We reviewed how plants need: sun, soil, air and water to grow.  We learned how bees are important to spread pollen from plant to plant.  We found out that a watermelon plant is a living thing and we learned that watermelon is very healthy to eat.

 Next, we were artists and painted a picture of the watermelon with our own paint set.  My painting is the one on the cover of this booklet.

 We also felt the watermelon and held it too. It felt smooth and cool. Most kids said it was heavy, but one boy said, “It’s literally not that heavy!” Some guesses on its weight were 150#, 20#, 210,050# pounds, but Mrs. Preheim weighed the watermelon and it weighed 11 pounds.

 Later we told Mrs. Preheim a make-believe story about this watermelon being alive and going to the beach.  She typed it out for this booklet.

 In the afternoon, the teacher cut the watermelon into pieces and we looked at it and smelled it. Then we sat outside and ate it.  It was yummy, but we sure got sticky!  We learned a lot from a watermelon today!  

               

 

Week 1 Lessons

      

Since our Reading and Math workbooks haven't arrived yet, I'm taking this opportunity to find out where the kids are on letters and numbers.  We have been working on naming letters and numbers as well as matching uppercase and lowercase letters.  We also have spent time on learning position words, rhyming words and understanding alike and different.  During week 2 we will be trying to identify the first sound in a word and knowing a word after changing the first sound among other things.  I usually teach the lessons and then the students move from one center to another, but we can't do that now, so I will have to come up with other ways.

 

Art Project - About Plants

 

Apple Art

These kindergartners are a GREAT bunch!

 

Journal Writing by Kindergartners

Kindergarten students write in a journal.  It's true!  They write in their journal every day.  At first the pages may have a basic drawing and you will see where they tried to write their thoughts using lines, circles or random letters of the alphabet.  Throughout the year the drawings become more advanced and your child will start to draw letters of that sound and then words using inventive spelling or by looking at the Word Wall in the classroom. In time they will be able to write on their own.  Each month, they are challenged to write more, using details and adjectives. 

Each child is at a different level and that is okay.  I try to get them to keep advancing at their own pace.  Each day I do a lesson teaching them how to write and how to use a "magic line", if they just can't figure out how to sound out a word.  I model the writing for them at the white board to demonstrate how it is done.  We review our anchor chart on how to write a sentence.

I explain to the kids that their writing is called "kid writing" and mine is "grown-up writing".  We don't want them to think that their writing is wrong, but it just different.  The goal is to get each child to feel free to write and express themselves without the pressure of it being perfect.  I think that you will enjoy seeing what your child was thinking about at this young age.  Its very interesting to watch them progress throughout their kindergarten year.  

We also keep a class nature journal where together we write about what is happening around us in nature.  Encourage your child to write at home by providing them with paper, markers, colored pencils, and crayons.  You could even buy a "primary" journal notebook and together you could journal his/her life as a small child.  What a great keepsake that would be!

Journal writing teaches students:

• how to read from left to right 
• how to write a sentence 
• how to read 
• how to spell and sound out words 
• how to use correct punctuation 
• to understand that the spoken word can be put into written words  

This is our anchor chart that we read through each day as I demonstrate how to do it.

Science Lesson About Plants

In science, we discussed living and non-living.  Then we talked about the parts of a plant and the needs of plants. In the afternoon, we went outdoors to look at real plants.  We discussed the difference between trees and other plants.  We compared leaves, roots and stems. They enjoyed pulling up plants. Then they used chalk to show me if they could draw a plant showing all the parts.  I thought this was a good introduction to plants.  These young students were very interested in the lesson. 

                           

                           

This crazy-looking character is from a book titled, David Goes to School.  I  made a chart to help young students remember what rules David had trouble with.  Getting the rules established early helps classroom behavior for the school year.  I also discuss with the kids how it is important to follow rules at home and be helpful to their family. It takes some practice and a positive attitude, but I hope that it will make a difference.

Meet Rascal

By now, you probably have heard of Rascal, the raccoon, who visits with the kindergartners every morning.  In fact Rascal has been the class mascot for some 27 years for the kindergartners in our school.  

Rascal is a rascal and gets into a bit of trouble.  He helps the students to learn what is right and wrong.  He also loves the kindergartners and he lets them know how he loves them. 

When he visits with the children in the morning he poses questions helps the students learn social skills and manners from him.  He encourages them to try hard in school and to follow the rules.  He is all good!  

Rascal is also very funny!  This week he told the kids that he roasted a marshmallow on his tail.  Also he went swimming at the pool using his tail as a propeller and then dried himself while riding on the ceiling fan. The kids love their morning visit with Rascal!  

First Day Activities

 

Meet the Class

 

               

S'mores Snack

 

This was our owl-y snack for the day.  We added a stick to make them into an owl puppet to play with at home.

Our First Day of Kindergarten

 

Here we are! This is our first day of school!