Welcome to McDonald's

This week, we worked to create a brand new center using art, literacy and mathematic skills.  We converted the house center into McDonalds.  The children made signs, money and props for this very popular center.  (We also had a discussion about healthy eating and recognized that McDonalds is a "treat" place and is not the type of food we should eat every day!).  Take a look at our photos of the fun we are having at this new center.

Party Like a Penguin

Here is a favorite song that we enjoyed during our penguin learning.  A great song to get those wiggles out on all these cold, winter days!

Party Like a Penguin

All about Penguins

Over the past few weeks, we have been doing a learning inquiry on "penguins".  The children had the chance to share their prior knowledge of penguins and this then lead us to create our very own "I wonder…" statements about penguins.  Thanks to everyone who was able to bring in a "penguin" object from home.  The children always enjoy sharing things from home, whether it be a video, book or a stuffed animal.

The children were particularly interested in learning about how the mother penguin leaves the egg with the dad as she goes off to the ocean.  We had some fun acting this out using some basic props from around the class.  The children also participated in a book talk, in which they "browsed" through different non-fiction books about penguins.  If you have the chance to come by the classroom, we have a great bulletin board display of our penguin learning.

Incorporating our penguins into block play!

During our book browse of non-fiction books about penguins, we learned some more information.

This friend is acting out the role of the daddy penguin.  The baby penguin has just come out of its egg and they now wait for the mommy penguin to return from the ocean.

PATTERNS

After finishing our learning about 2-D and 3-D shapes, we are now beginning our next math unit on patterns.  This week, we began creating patterns using a variety of class materials.  We even used our bodies to make people patterns, such as SK, JK, SK, JK, SK and girl, girl, boy, girl, girl, boy, girl, girl,, boy.

Take a look at a few of our friends who made patterns this week!  The bottom picture shows the patterns we made using the link toys.  We continue to have these patterns on display in our classroom.  A great at home connection would be to look for patterns around your house - on clothing, tablecloths, dishes and in books perhaps!

We've Been Busy Again…Snowmen, Marshmallows, Toothpicks, Clean Goop and Puzzles

Well, there has been lots going on again over the last week in our JK/SK class.

We experimented with freezing water filled balloons by comparing if the water froze better outside or in the school freezer.  Guess where?  Outside.  We put the ice together to make our very own snowman.  Isn't he cute?  Then we named him and got to observe the melting process.

We completed our learning about shapes by building 3-dimensional shapes and structures using marshmallows and toothpicks.  This activity was a big hit in our classroom!

This week's Super Science Wednesday investigation involved  making "clean goop".  Using a mixture of shredded toilet paper, grated ivory soap and warm water, we had fun talking about how this "goop" feels.  It was great fun to create with the "clean goop".

Puzzles were a popular activity in the classroom this week.  Some of the children took on the challenge of doing as many of our floor puzzles as possible - here they are showing off their great work!  Fantastic cooperation!

Snowflake Playdough Recipe

Looking for something to do with your child on a day when you can't get out to play.  Try making "Snowflake Playdough" together.    The link to the recipe is found below:

Snowflake Playdough Recipe

Back in Business!

After an unusual snowy start to the new school year, we are happy to be back at work and play in our classroom.  Here are just a few photos of what we have been busy doing….

Exploring the effects of different types of salt on melting snow.   On our winter walk, we noticed "rock salt" on the sidewalks outside the school.  Some friends have turned this learning into making their very own salt trucks using class building materials.

Painting snow…what fun!  Look at those colors!

Building with 3-dimensional shapes and shaving cream!

Playing with "snowflake" play dough!