We are finally seeing signs of warmer weather, and are so excited to be studying Spring and have even begun growing some grass from seeds in our classroom. We have been doing yoga in transition times to help us calm our bodies and become focused on the new activity or period.
Literacy:
We have been writing Spring words in our writing center and talking about letter sounds and blends. Our reading groups are making their way through our leveled readers, including high frequency word books, paying special attention to the popcorn words we have learned/are learning.
Math/Science:
We are counting and adding and subtracting raindrops from rainclouds in our Math Center, and discussing story problems as we use manipulatives to help us count. We are counting down numbers too. The children wrote their numbers after counting raindrops to complete their clouds.
We are studying plant life and the plant cycle. We made a chart focusing on the parts of a plant and what a plants needs to grow. We took turns completing a graphic organizer detailing all of these things. Each child used a picture or vocabulary word to help complete the chart.
We love that our centers are informed by STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), or as I like to add, STEAMSL since our centers incorporate Social Studies and Language Arts as well. It is not uncommon to have most of these components to one center. We had a challenge as a part of our Engineering/Constructing time this week, as we talked about how we could create a structure to get people and/or water from one side of a river to the other, if our water source was separate from our crops/plants in our fields. The children rose to the challenge so quickly, and created not only bridges, but also ramps using legos! I enjoy making even the smallest of tasks a challenge as they "play", always stimulating their play in a way that will encourage growth to their current understanding and ideas.
Programming or coding awareness is extremely beneficial as they learn to think like a computer programmer. I also love to have them offer directions within the classroom by telling a classmate to turn a certain direction, or follow a path by giving step by step help.
Root systems were a topic of conversation. The children were intrigued to learn that a corn stalk may have roots up to six feet long. That's taller than many of their parents! We compared roots to a drinking straw and visualized getting a drink by pouring water on our heads or feet. They thought that was hilarious! It helped them understand that watering the leaves of a plant won't help it drink! (Although, spritzing a fern is helpful to it's health!)
Fine Motor:
The kids made their April calendars as we talked about the Spring weather and changes in the "precipitation" falling from the sky. It's still water just in a liquid form! They colored, glued, and used finger prints to paint raindrops. We finished decorating our flowers for our JK Flower Garden. Please notice all of their heights as demonstrated by the different flower levels. They all seemed to have growth spurts over the break! They looked so tall and grown up when they came back!
Each child is coloring and labeling the parts of a plant, as they replicate words they find by knowing the first letter sound and finding the corresponding word. They all presented to the class and named all of the parts of a plant and talked about the differences between plant parts and what plants need to grow as a part of their presentation.
Language Arts:
We have read many non-fiction and fiction books about planting things and Spring, along with other stories. We have read Little Green, Arthur's Nose, Bug Off, Willoughby and the Lion, Seed Soil and Sun, In the Small Small Pond, Vegetable Gardens, Gardens Through the Year, Spring Across America, How a Seed Grows, Growing a Garden, Flower Garden, and Me...Jane.
Spanish Class had the children beginning books about themselves, as they practiced their scissor skills by carefully cutting out their faces. They love singing the song about the animals and acting out the animal behaviors and sounds.
The children are working toward another pajama party, so hoping by middle of next week we will celebrate their work. I'll give you notice via email!
Have a wonderful week!
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