Outdoor Science

As part of our Science unit on Trees and Weather, this week we went outside to find two special trees that we will be focusing on throughout the unit, as well as for the entire year.  Before going outside, we discussed our expectations for Outdoor Science, as it is much different from our indoor science lessons.  

We then went outside to choose our trees.  We observed them in different ways, collecting samples of bark, twigs, leaves, needles, etc.  We also discussed their shapes, sizes, and parts.  We measured the circumference of each tree using both kids and string.  We'll be doing this at several times throughout the year to see how much our tree grows! 

Tree #2

Tree #1

Measuring the circumference with students

Our tree is 7 students around!

Measuring Tree #1 with string

Measuring Tree #2 with string

Trunk & Bark - Tree #2

Trunk & Bark - Tree #1

Branches - Tree #1

Branches - Tree #2

Leaves - Tree #1

Needles - Tree #2

The Group Plan

Today as part of our Social Studies lesson, we read a book called, The Group Plan.  

The book helps to remind us that we are all part of a group - our kindergarten class!  When we are all thinking about the same thing and doing the same thing, we have a group plan.  We talk about the group plan as a way to help students know what is expected and what to do as part of the group.  When we follow the group plan we work well together.  When we all have different plans, things don't turn out as well.  After reading the story, we worked in small groups to build a structure as large as we could.  We had to really work hard to make sure we were following a group plan to create one shared structure, rather than individual plans.  

Finally, we talked about how our class bus moves forward when we all work together and follow our class's group plan.  We celebrated how well our class worked together by moving our bus to it's ending spot at the school, earning our popsicle party!  We really enjoyed our juice pops to end the day!

Mat Man

This year we have been using our friend, Mat Man, to teach us all about the different parts we can include when we are drawing people: head, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, body, arms, hands, legs, and feet.  Mat Man also helps to familiarize us with the different types of lines we use when we are forming our uppercase letters: big line, little line, big curve, little curve. 

You can find out the pieces used to form each letter using the following document:
http://www.hwtears.com/files/click/2013/TGK/K_CA_Capital%20Formation%20Chart.pdf

We have started by learning the "Frog Jump" letters: F, E, D, P, B, R, N, and M.  We have practiced them in lots of fun ways!

Transition TIme!

This year one of our favorite ways to transition from one activity to another is to watch Elmo's ABC's featuring Usher on our SMART Board.  We work to get cleaned up and ready for our next activity by the end of the song.  Here is the video: