Unit 3 Inquiry Project: Home and Family

Our latest inquiry project was a two week process of answering the question "How are our families the same and different?"  Students learned how to take data (fun word for them to use!) and represent it in a graph.  We took data on type of homes, siblings, pets, and number of people in each family.  Students worked in small groups to create a graph and we concluded by adding all of the graphs together and making observations. 

Using a Scale to Measure Weight

In math today we learned more about the balance scale and how to use it to measure weight.  After exploring the scale and how it works, the kids got to "play" this game on the smartboard: Virtual Scale  to practice making each side equal.  Another game I found that looks fun is on PBS kids- Weight Game on PBS kids  The PBS game is great because it also works on counting by 5's, which we have been doing recently, as well! Happy Weighing!

Counting by 5's

Today we worked on counting by 5's, using our turkey hands to help us!  We also explored what counting by 5's looks like on a 100's chart.  Click this link for your child to show you at home:  100's Chart  The video above is a fun skip counting rap we practiced.

Each student had a number on their turkey- we got in order counting by 5's and then put them up in order in the hallway. 

Music Demonstration

Today was our Kindergarten Music Demonstration where the kids got to show off what they've been learning with Dr. B in music! They did such a great job.  Thanks to those who were able to make it! Below was the program:

Warm-up……………………………………………………….Body/Space Recognition

The Five Parts of Music…………………………………..…………..Elements of  music

Music Terms/Concepts…………………………...……………..Pitch, dynamics, tempo

Echo Clapping…………………………………….……………..…….Rhythmic memory

Reading Pitch Notation…………………………..….Lines and spaces on the music staff

Reading Rhythms………..…………………………………………..…….Note durations

Music Instrument Names…………………………………….……....Visual identification

C Major Scale (with solfage’ hand signs)………………………….Extending vocal range

Singing  melodies……………………………………………………………..….Pitch Matching

                                                Hello There How Are You?                            

                                                Come Along

                                                Let’s Make Music

                                                Bingo

                                                This Old Man             

                                                Indian Valley School Song

Fluency Performances

The fluency piece that your child brings home every Monday is something that we work on all week as a class- individually, with partners, whole-group and one-on-one with the teacher when needed.  The fluency poem this week was called "We Are a Family." 

Every Friday, kids perform this piece by choice to the audience.  Often kids will compliment the reader on things he or she did well- appropriate pacing, loud voice, speaking clearly, emphasizing punctuation marks, and great reading in general! 

You can look for the fluency poem/riddle to come home every Monday!

Paul Mesner's Puppet Show

We went to Paul Mesner's Puppet Show today to see Officer Buckle and Gloria.  We read the book this morning before we left and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. 

Paul Mesner's Puppets Link

Some of the characters from the play. 

Paul Mesner's is great because when the show is over, the puppeteers show the kids how the puppets work and take questions from the audience. 

Happy 50s Day!

Wednesday was the 50th day of Kindergarten and we spent the day celebrating! We spent the morning doing rotations through each of the K classes.  These activities were followed by an all-Kindergarten sock hop in the gym- complete with music and hula hoops!  We concluded our day with root beer floats- yum!

Race to 50 game- activity in our room! This game was sent home. All you need are two pieces to play (we used bears) and a di.  Roll to see who can be the first person to reach 50!

Sock hop!

50s day pattern math- coloring in records.