1st Full Week of School

This past week we began a two-week unit on Mother Goose nursery rhymes.  Students had a chance to act out the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary Quite Contrary using props.

We also had a chance to act out the nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner using real plums.

This week students had their first "full" choice time where they could choose from any of the toys/activities in the classroom.  Students chose to use blocks, our class dollhouse, construction equipment, among other fun activities.

On Wednesday we read the story Lacey Walker Non-Stop Talker by Christianne Jones.  After reading the story we spent time discussing qualities of a good listener before students created their own Lacey Walker owls.

We also spent some time this week enjoying the beautiful fall weather!

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was the first day of kindergarten!  It was a great day!  Students worked hard and practiced lots of school routines.  

Here is a picture of our whole class!

Students had a chance to take their own individual first day photos as well!

It was raining during our scheduled recess time so we had choice time inside our classroom instead.  Students could choose to play with pattern blocks, legos, puzzles, a train set, or blocks. 

Thankfully the weather cleared up by the end of the day and we were able to spend a little bit of time on the playground before heading home for the day!

Field Day, Mo Willems Author Study, & Bell Museum Field Trip

It has been a busy week for us this week!  On Wednesday the weather held out and we were able to have our field day in the afternoon.  Students participated in several relays, played a few games, and did the tug-o-war.  

All week long we have been doing an author's study of my favorite author Mo Willems.  On Tuesday we read several books featuring the Elephant & Piggie characters, including, There Is a Bird on Your Head!  

Afterwards students had a chance to create their own comic strips using the Elephant & Piggie characters.

Later in the week we read several books featuring Mo Willem's Pigeon.

Here's the whole class wearing the special pigeon hats they made.

After reading Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late students created their own writing projects that included what they each thought the pigeon shouldn't be allowed to do.

We took some time at the end of the week to independently read Mo Willems' books.

Finally, on Friday we went on our field trip to the Bell Museum on the University of Minnesota campus.

Students were guided through many different dioramas and also had a chance to explore the Touch & See Room.

Our week so far...

Last week during E week we read the story of Elmer by David McKee.  Elmer taught us the importance of being proud of who were are!  Students each made their own unique Elmer which our now on display on the big bulletin board in our classroom.

This week in math we have been learning all about symmetry.  Students used pattern blocks to create symmetrical designs.

 

Next students walked around the classroom and used rulers as "symmetry sticks" to find lines of symmetry on their classmates' creations.

 

We've also been learning about silent E this week.  Students have learned that a silent E at the end of a word helps the other vowels to say their names.  We have been working on reading and writing silent E words.  Here are the Super Es we made yesterday!

On Monday we began a new science unit on oviparous animals.  We started by reading the book Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller.

Then students drew and wrote about one animal that was oviparous (lays eggs) and what that is viparous (does not lay eggs).

Yesterday students created riddles about oviparous animals.  They did a great job writing clues and drawing pictures of the animals they chose.

 

I forgot to share these photos of students with their plants in the last blogpost so I thought I'd include them in this one!