Shapes, Shapes, Shapes..

We spent the past week learning all about 2 dimensional shapes in Math. We identified and discussed the attributes of squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, trapezoids and hexagons in order to meet the Common Core Standard K.G.3. Identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane, “flat”) or three-dimensional (“solid”). On Friday, we took our shape experience to another level by engaging with them through the use of playdough. The students were all given a ball of playdough and shape cards in order to mold the 2 dimensional shapes that we have learned about. This hands on experience is helping us master the Common Core Standard K.G.5. Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes. I hope your student came home with great stories of their afternoon in Math!

All About....

In Writer's Workshop we have been working on the Report writing genre. The students have spent the last few weeks writing "All About" an animal or non-fiction topic of their choice. We are working towards meeting the Common Core Standard W.K.2. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic. We have a wide array of experts in our class! I have had a students write reports on a variety of topics ranging from dogs, bears, hyenas and dolphins to their friends, family, me :) and the San Francisco Giants baseball team. This week we began working with a graphic organizer called a "web" to gather and organize facts about a topic. The students have to tell one fact about what the animal looks like, what it eats, where it lives and something cool or unique about them. If they choose to write about another non-fiction topic, they must include 4 or more facts in their writing. Ask your child what they are "experts" on and find out what interesting facts they know!

Hip Hip Hooray for the 100th Day!!

Time sure flies when you are having fun! 100 days down and only 80 to go! I can't believe how much we have accomplished in the last 5 1/2 months of Kindergarten! On Friday we celebrated the 100th day of school. Each day we add a number to our number line during our Math Workshop. The students have learned how to count by 1’s, 2's, 5’s and 10’s up to 100, as we have been inching towards the 100th day! In order to celebrate all of the hard work that your children have put in, we had a celebration that was ALL about 100! We kicked off the big day by reading Miss Bindergarten celebrates the 100th day of Kindergarten. Each student made a Miss Bindergarten hat that reinforced numerals of 10. During Writer's Workshop, the students each wrote about what they would do with 100 dollars. The responses varied from buying toy cars, babydolls, fancy purses and even taking out their families for ice cream! Each child had their own idea of what 100 dollars would get them. We had a special gust reader, Mrs. "E," who read the students a great story called "100th Day Worries." The book talked about how Jessica worried about what to bring in for her collection of 100. This was a great segue into sharing our own collections of 100. The students shared several unique collections such as stickers, pennies, crayons, beads and even a creatively designed picture of animals and people made out of 100 objects. We then made 100 day trail mix during Math; which was made up of 10 pieces of 10 different yummy treats (fruit loops, M & M's, gummy bears, etc..). It was delicious and slightly nutritious! To wrap up the day, we made 100 Day sunglasses, which were fun to design and made for a great photo op! All in all, it was a fabulous and fun 100th day! Hopefully your children came home with lots to share! Thank you to the parents who sent in items for our trail mix and those who helped out in the classroom! I couldn't have done it without you!

The Science of Seuss

January is "Literacy Month" for the Florida Department of Education. They have a variety of initiatives put in place to get teachers, students and parents fired up about reading. At New Berlin, we also celebrate Science in January because this is when individual and class science projects are due. This year we decided to combine the two (literacy and science) and we had one big "Science of Seuss Day" on Friday the 13th. In Kindergarten through 2nd grade, students and teachers particpated in a variety of science activities centered around the famed author Dr. Seuss. In our class we read the book "My Many Colored Days" and experimented with mixing primary colors to make secondary ones. We also read "Bartholomew and Oobleck", where a gooey green substance, Oobleck, fell from the sky and wreaked havoc in the kingdom. The students had an opportunity to make and take home their very own gooey Oobleck. The Science of Seuss was a fun way for the students to think outside of the box in literacy and engage with the scientific process. Here are a few snapshots of our day....

How do we MEASURE up?

Rulers, meter sticks, measuring tapes, craft sticks, colored tiles.... all tools that we have learned about measuring with in Math. The Common Core Standards K.MD.1 and K.MD.2 state that students should be able to describe and compare measurable attributes. More specifically they need to be able to:
1. Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
2. Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/“less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.

We have been working towards mastery of these standards by measuring objects in our classroom using a variety of math manipulatives. We also have been creating connecting cube towers and then determining which has more or less. The students have enjoyed the many hands on measuring activities and exploring this math concept.

Season's Greetings!

Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! To get in the spirit of the holidays, we had our very own Winter Festival. We started out with a relaxing and delicious lunch in our classroom. We ate pizza, carrots and ranch, yogurt and a yummy Christmas cookie. This was followed by an afternoon full of crafts, activities and goodies. We decorated Christmas trees made of pinecones, made reindeer food, designed and ate Christmas trees made out of waffle cones and frosting, and even created snowman ornaments! We ended the day with a holiday movie and a special treat brought in by one of our classmates. It was a fun time for all! Thank you to all of the wonderful parents who helped make the holiday party a success!

Another slideshow design by Smilebox

All Aboard.......

On Thursday night, December 16th, we had our annual Polar Express Night. Students from all grade levels came back to school dressed in their pajamas, ready for a magical night. The first stop for students and parents was a classroom or designated location where they stopped in to listen to the reading of the book "The Polar Express." Following the book reading they headed down to the cafeteria to do lots of fun crafts, eat delicious treats, make Christmas cards for soldiers, donate Toys for Tots and get a picture with Champ (our school's mascot) by the Christmas tree. This year we celebrated the Polar Express Florida style; which entailed yoo-hoos instead of hot chocolate and fun beach themed Christmas crafts. Champ even arrived in his bathing suit!! It was a fun and wonderful way to kick off the holidays!