Monday and Tuesday marked the kickoff of our much-anticipated Penguin Week in the classroom, and the excitement was palpable! As we always do, we transformed our learning space into a penguin paradise, with each table geared towards a unique theme, creating an immersive and engaging environment for exploration and discovery.
Table Themes:
Sensory Bin Wonderland: The sensory bin was a snowy haven, filled with white snow and an array of animals found in colder climates. Students dove into this frosty landscape, exploring textures and learning about the inhabitants of chilly regions.
Alphabet Adventure: At the alphabet table, students encountered an array of alphabet unifix cubes and the entertaining Penguin Alphabet Bump game. Matching letters became an exciting endeavor as penguins and letters came together in a delightful learning experience.
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Counting Stew Extravaganza: The counting stew table was a winter wonderland of mittens, snowmen, icicles, and more. Students engaged in counting activities, honing their math skills while enjoying the wintry charm of their counting stew.
Math Exploration Station: At the math bump table, students had a blast with 12-sided dice and math bump, exploring numerical concepts in a lively and interactive manner. Learning became a game, making math both educational and entertaining.
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Penguin Slide and Glide Challenge: The penguin slide and glide table featured the intriguing math spinners. Here, students delved into addition and subtraction skills, maneuvering their penguins to keep them from slipping off the icy precipice. A truly engaging way to reinforce math concepts!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Penguin-Slide-Glide-Math-Game-10940476
Artistic Freedom Zone: The art table, intentionally left theme-free, encouraged free exploration with recycled paper, scissors, glue, and various art materials. Students expressed their creativity and individuality, letting their imaginations soar.
Habitat Exploration at the Train Table: The train table became a penguin habitat exploration play zone, complete with loose parts and our previously crafted wet felting mats. Students had the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of penguin habitats through hands-on play.
Monday’s Adventures: We kicked off the week by diving into our letter of the week – U! Students molded uppercase and lowercase U’s out of playdough, all while brainstorming the myriad things that start with the letter U. Our directed drawing session took a chilly turn as we put pencil to paper and brought adorable penguins to life.
Tuesday’s Penguin Olympics: Tuesday saw us immerse ourselves in the world of Emperor Penguins through non-fiction books. Channeling our inner Emperor Penguin Dads, we practiced the art of balancing balls on our feet and waddling around the classroom, adding a touch of whimsy to our learning journey.
Wednesday marked another exciting day in our penguin-filled week of exploration and learning. Our classroom buzzed with enthusiasm as we delved into the delightful world of penguins, sliding and gliding with our feathery friends on a fun penguin ice cube table.
Slide and Glide Penguin Ice Cube Table: The highlight of the day was undoubtedly our Slide and Glide Penguin Ice Cube Table. Laughter filled the air as students joyfully slid their penguins around on miniature ice cubes, immersing themselves in a frosty world of waddles and slippery adventures. The sensory experience added a dynamic layer to our penguin-themed week, creating lasting memories of Arctic escapades.
Writing Adventures: Punctuation Marks and Volcanic Stories: Wednesday also brought an exciting writing lesson as we continued our journey towards the halfway mark to grade one. Our primary focus in these writing sessions is to instill a love of writing in our kindergarten stars. Each lesson follows a structured format, beginning with a mini lesson from a captivating picture book, followed by a demonstration of writing skills, and then a gradual release of responsibility as the students embark on crafting their own stories.
This week, our writing adventure centered around punctuation marks, which we playfully referred to as “stop signs for the reader.” We drew inspiration from the charming story “Oh No, George!” to understand the importance of punctuation in our writing.
For my own writing example, I shared a tale from a different season, drawing upon my summer experiences. I recounted my visit to a volcano, weaving in vivid details from my trip to Yellowstone National Park. The students were captivated by the story, and I sent them off to embark on their own writing journeys.
Surprisingly, the collective interest sparked by my volcanic tale led to a flurry of stories about volcanoes from the little authors in our classroom. It seems we might have stumbled upon a shared fascination that we’ll have to explore further in the future. Providing the freedom for students to choose their writing topics not only fosters individual creativity but also eliminates the struggle of deciding what to write about, ensuring that our writing time is productive and enjoyable for all.
Thursday brought a unique twist to our week as it became a ‘no bus day’ due to challenging road conditions. Despite the smaller class size, it turned out to be a fantastic day filled with extra playtime, additional classroom cleaning, and exciting new additions to our learning space.
Creative Ownership in Dramatic Play: With the help of our eager students, we introduced a new dramatic play center that stirred up a buzz of excitement – the Pancake Cafe! Though our dramatic centers may not make it to the pages of Pinterest, their real beauty lies in the joy and enthusiasm the students bring to them. The Pancake Cafe is quickly becoming a hub of creativity, with students taking ownership and infusing their own ideas into the center. It’s a place where learning becomes a personalized experience, and their excitement is palpable.
Letter Craft Adventure: Under the Dirt: Thursday was also dedicated to unleashing our artistic side as we delved into our letter craft activity. The theme of the day was “under the dirt,” and it’s remarkable to witness the growth in our students’ willingness to try new things and take risks over the past half-year.
Creativity flowed as we crafted scenes featuring gummy worm “under the dirt” inhabitants and red dirt, inspired by the discovery of fossils in the dirt crafts. One student enthusiastically explained that fossils somehow turn the dirt red – a charming detail that showcases their imaginative minds at work.
Fitness Friday Fun: Our morning kicked off with Fitness Friday, a fantastic way to energize our bodies and minds. From stretching to jumping jacks, our penguins waddled their way through a series of fun exercises, fostering not just physical activity but also enhancing focus and engagement.
Exploring Numerical Depths: In our ongoing math adventures, we delved into the world of numbers, discovering the concept of magnitude through an entertaining game of “War.” The game not only reinforced our understanding of numbers but also brought out the playful and competitive spirit in our little mathematicians.
Balloon Tennis Bliss: Midday brought an unexpected twist with a delightful balloon tennis activity. Our penguins showed off their racket skills as they batted balloons back and forth, bringing joy, laughter, and a touch of friendly competition to our Friday festivities.
Forest Friday Adventure: As the week drew to a close, we wrapped up our Friday with our beloved Forest Friday tradition. This time, our adventurous explorers ventured into the enchanted depths of the back forest. From observing nature’s wonders to imagining stories inspired by the rustling leaves, our forest adventure provided a perfect end to our week.
Reflecting on Penguin Week: Throughout the week, our penguins dived into the world of these fascinating birds, exploring their habitats, creating penguin-themed masterpieces, and discovering the joy of learning through play. We’ve witnessed curiosity, creativity, and collaboration bloom in our classroom.
A Grateful Goodbye: As we say goodbye to Penguin Week, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support and partnership. Your involvement enhances the learning journey for each penguin in our class, making every day a new opportunity for discovery.
We hope you enjoy the weekend and share in the excitement of your child’s penguin adventures. Stay tuned for more incredible learning journeys ahead!
Wishing you a fin-tastic weekend!
Kindy Play 