The school year is off to a fantastic start! Students have been doing well getting used to the classroom and school routines. We hope that they continue the great job throughout the rest of the year!
Category Archives: In the Classroom
Preschool 5 Scientists in the Making
Oh, the Places You’ll Go… In Your Imagination!!!
This week, students began their major project for our new Unit of Inquiry on Imagination. They will choose to create a play, puppet show, mini film, or other means of expressing themselves, using their imaginations. Here are some photos of the students collaborating with one another as well as reviewing story elements (such as setting, character, and plot). We also integrate with Mr. Fernando to create sound effects and pieces of music to go along with their presentations. We can’t wait to see the finished products!
Review and New Learning in Week 20!!
This past week, students had the opportunity to continue to explore which addition strategies worked best for them. During several “Round Robin” type activities, students used the strategies they’ve learned about to help them to add. They chose from using hands-on materials, counting in their heads, out loud, or on their fingers, tally marks, number lines, writing a number sentence, and touch points. They had a lot of fun discovering how they learned best and were able to accurately complete their tasks while having fun.
In English this week, students also learned about inferencing this week, taking what they know and see and coming up with new ideas. We used a game called “Inference Charades” to help students initially understand the concept. They also practiced reading their tricky words by recording them on our touch pads, iPads, and microphones. The students enjoyed learning through technology! Great job, Preschool 5!
We, additionally, introduced Unit 4! (can you believe it?) on Cultures and Traditions, allowing the students to explore different artifacts from different places around the world. We discussed what they knew about Cultures and Traditions and what they wanted to know more about, which will help to guide our unit and learning.
Science Experiment Excitement!!!
Our students have really enjoyed conducting science experiments during this unit. In our next unit our focus will not be on science but we would like to encourage students to keep up their enthusiasm and conduct experiments of their choice at home. Below are links to great resources with ideas for simple experiments that the whole family can enjoy. Please try to do at least one experiment with your children. Students can bring in pictures of them completing the experiment for show and tell!
Science Projects for Preschoolers
For our last experiment, students tested the affects of acid pollution on sea shells. We filled one cup with water and the other with vinegar. Next, we chose two similar looking seashells and placed one seashell in each cup. Students then observed the seashells throughout the day and recorded their findings. Here are some pictures of our investigation.
A Look at Week 17
Students enjoyed their week at school. We were busy working on summarizing and predicting while reading stories in English class. We also completed another science experiment as we inquired into how humans can change habitats and the affects of pollution. Our classes loved trying to clean the oil off of their animals. The Lion class also had their library session and practiced summarizing The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly. During math, we learned the touch point strategy to add two numbers together. Great job this week Lions and Tigers! We hope you enjoy your holiday!
A Look In Our Classrooms
This week we began to discuss the scientific method as we conducted experiments in class. Students really enjoyed working on the experiments as well as our introduction of the unit. We “polluted” our classrooms so that students were able to make a connection with problems of pollution in the ocean. Their reactions were great! Our classes really did not enjoy working in a messy environment and tried to clean it as quickly as possible. We also had the opportunity to practice coding by using our Bee Bots. Students made a quilt of different story settings and programmed the Bee Bots to travel from one setting to another. Our classes really enjoyed the challenge! Students had to practice spacial awareness and thinking skills to figure out which directions to give the robot. In English class students practiced identifying the story’s plot (beginning, middle, and end) as well as the setting and character. During our UOI, students compared and contrasted fresh water and ocean water habitats. Students also began to use the scientific method to conduct experiments. Our classes loved having the opportunity to conduct experiments! For more on the scientific method, please see our post. Below are some pictures documenting our learning.
Story Elements
Hello and welcome back! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday! In ELA this term we will move from phonics to story elements, reading strategies, and writing. This week and next students will be learning about characters, setting, and plot. We have watched Brain Pop jr. about each of these story elements and have completed or will complete a variety of activities for these elements. Below are the anchor charts we use in class to explain the elements.
Friendship Reading Challenge!
Preschool 5 has expanded their Friendship Challenge to include reading activities in the school library. Students from the Lion class were paired with students from the Tiger class and read stories to one another. This activity extended Preschool 5’s perspective and showed them more about ways they are similar and ways they are different from one another. Despite differences, they have learned they can still be friends.
Preschool 5 was also privileged to have Mrs. Natalia come and talk about how “Before you speak, think and be smart. It’s hard to fix a crumpled heart.” We continued talking about how to be “bucket fillers” and “bucket dippers”. Great job, Preschool 5! 🙂
Friendship Challenge … Accepted!
For the past few weeks of our Unit of Inquiry on Friendship, students in both the Lions (Preschool 5A) and Tigers (Preschool 5B), have gotten the chance to practice making friends with one another. The students have been partnered up with different students to practice Kelso’s Wheel Strategies for Problem Solving as well as learning how to fill our invisible buckets from “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” with compliments and good gestures, deeds, and words.
The students have made new friendships within their own classes and across both Preschool 5 classes. They truly accepted the “Friendship Challenge” and have excelled at recognizing how to begin, develop, and maintain their friendships. Great job, Preschool 5! Have your child share an experience with you and with us about the Friendship Challenge by posting a comment on the blog.
