Bean Plant Update

The bean plants that the JK's and SK's planted last week have begun to sprout.

SK Plants

JK Plants

 

What a difference a day makes.  The JK's planted their seeds last Tuesday and the SK's last Wednesday. 

 

In SK, the students have begun to work in their plant journals.  They drew pictures and labeled what their plant needs to grow:  soil, water, sunlight and seeds. 

Their Day 7 Observations included a picture and written observation of  what they saw happening with their plant.  They recorded whether or not they watered their plant today and if they saw any growth.

 

 

 



 



Mixing Paint

We have been reading the big book Mouse Paint in JK.  In this story, the white mice jump into pots of paint and then mix the primary colours to make orange, purple and green.

 

We decided to try and mix paint ourselves to see what would happen.

 



 

The students extended their learning by working with some cards from the book.

 

 

Check out this story online called Jack and the Green Socks that incorporates the Jack and Beanstalk stories we have been reading and colour mixing :)

 

Exploring Geometry

In math we have been exploring with geometric shapes and solids in a variety of ways at different centres.  Students have had fun creating structures and designs and then describe the shapes that were found in each creation they made.

Check out the video that we sing to as a warm up before we work and sort our geometric solids.

3D Shapes That I Know

Pete the Cat

We've been reading some Pete the Cat books this month.  They have a simple rhythmical text that the kids love. The tunes are catchy so don't be surprised if your child is singing one out loud at home.  I know the songs pop into my head throughout the day. 

We like to watch them on the smart board (read by the author) and follow along with the book.  We even have a Pete the Cat stuffie to help us out.

Today the JK's made their own Pete the Cat.  They had to follow directions to create Pete. This helped us review colours and shapes.  Then they selected the colour shoes they wanted to add to Pete's feet.  He loves white, red, purple, and orange shoes in JK.

I have a couple of links to share if you are interested in extending this at home.  Check out the online video performed by the author. Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes  Also have a look at Pete the Cat - Harper Collins  This site has news, activities, excerpts and free audio downloads of the books.

We discovered that there was a Pete the Cat app for the iPad.  I downloaded that today and we will have to explore it and see what it has to offer.

 

Little Gardeners

Now that Spring is here, students in both JK and SK are trying their hands at gardening. Students have been exploring the new sensory box, scooping up beans and 'planting' silk flowers. 

The materials must have been very authentic looking because one of the students who was at the water table thought they would be helpful by watering the flowers with the watering can :)  Needless to say we had to lay out the beans to dry so they didn't go moldy and we could use them again.

 

 

We  have been reading different versions of Jack and the Beanstalk and decided to plant our own bean seeds.  Every student had their own plastic cup that they filled with soil and 2 bean seeds.  The plastic cup will let them see what is happening as their seed grows.

In keeping with the story, we placed a skewer in each cup with a castle in the clouds attached to the top.  As our bean seeds grow, we will train the plant to climb the skewer to the castle. 

 

 

We took a poll to see how long we thought it would take for the seeds to grow.  The estimates went from 1 day to 20 days.  Stay tuned for more information.

 



The Three Little Pigs

We have been reading different versions of the Three Little Pigs in both JK and SK.  After reading six different versions of the story, the kindergarteners voted on their favourite.  Understandably, the fractured fairy tales came out on top.  The most popular being The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.  Check out a video reading with your child at The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

The SK's had to select their favourite version of the story, draw an illustration of it and write why they picked it.  Check out their writing in the cloakroom if you get a chance.

In JK, the students performed a play of the Three Little Pigs complete with character headbands and scenery.  We had these coloured acetates that we used with the overhead projector to set the scene.

The JK's also made Three Little Pigs houses by gluing on straw, sticks and bricks to the side of a milk carton so they could act out the story with smaller props.

April Newsletter

April Newsletter