Tag: kindergarten

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L is for Leprechaun: A Magical Week in Kindergarten!

NicoleLeave a comment

This past week, our classroom was filled with leprechaun magic, rainbow adventures, and playful learning as we celebrated L is for Leprechaun Week! The excitement was palpable as students engaged in hands-on, play-based activities that incorporated literacy, math, science, and creative storytelling. Here’s a peek into the golden moments that made this week so special!

Storytelling & Literacy Fun

Each morning, we kicked off our day with a themed read-aloud. From How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace to Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola, our books sparked lively discussions and imaginative storytelling.

  • Letter L Writing: Students practiced forming the letter L using rainbow-colored chalk on black paper, making their letters pop just like a vibrant rainbow after a spring rain.
  • If I Found a Pot of Gold… This creative storytelling activity had students imagining what they would do if they stumbled upon a leprechaun’s treasure. Their ideas ranged from buying unlimited candy to sharing gold with their family—pure kindergarten magic!
  • A Letter to a Leprechaun: Students wrote letters asking leprechauns their most pressing questions. “Do you ever get tired of running away?” and “How do you make rainbows?” were some of our favorites!

Leprechaun Math Adventures

Math took on a lucky twist this week as we explored numbers, patterns, and measurement through our St. Patrick’s Day-inspired centers.

  • Counting Gold Coins – Students used gold coins for counting, addition, and even some sneaky subtraction where the “leprechaun” stole some away!
  • Graphing Lucky Charms – A tasty math activity where we sorted and graphed the different shapes found in Lucky Charms cereal. Who knew math could be so delicious?
  • Measuring Leprechaun Footprints – Using rulers, students estimated and measured tiny (and some not-so-tiny) footprints left behind by mischievous leprechauns.
  • Patterning with Rainbows – Beads and pom-poms helped students create colorful patterns, reinforcing early math skills in a hands-on way.

Leprechaun Traps & Engineering Fun

One of the biggest highlights of the week was our Leprechaun Trap STEM challenge! Using craft sticks, pipe cleaners, gold coins, and glue, students designed their own traps in hopes of catching a sneaky leprechaun. Their creativity was through the roof—some even designed elaborate pulley systems and hidden doors! While no leprechauns were caught, a few mysterious footprints were discovered the next morning… 👀🍀

Sensory & Small World Play

Our exploration stations brought even more magic into the classroom!

  • Sensory Bin: A mix of colored rice, shamrocks, and hidden gold coins provided a fun way for students to dig and discover.
  • Rainbow Science Experiment: Using Skittles and water, we watched as the colors swirled together, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect.
  • Dramatic Play: Students created their own Shamrock Shake Cafe

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  • Small World Play: Our tiny Leprechaun Village let students build and imagine what life might be like in a leprechaun’s world.

Leprechaun Celebration Day!

Friday was the grand finale—a Leprechaun Celebration Day! Students were greeted at the door by the mischevious leprechauns who left a big mess for them to clean up that morning. We then checked our leprechaun traps to see if we caught anything overnight. No leprechauns were caught but they did leave some chocolate coins for us. We wrapped up the week with our Leprechaun Bridge Challenge, where students worked together to construct bridges strong enough to hold a pot of gold!

As the day ended, we were left with glitter-covered tables, laughter-filled memories, and a classroom full of budding writers, mathematicians, and engineers. We took this opportunity to say goodbye to the leprechauns in the hopes that they would leave more messes for us to clean up

This week was a perfect example of how play-based, hands-on learning keeps students engaged and excited about exploring new concepts. L is for Leprechaun, but it’s also for Learning, Laughter, and Lots of Fun! 🍀🌈✨

Stay tuned for our next adventure—there’s always more magic to come in kindergarten!

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W is for Water Week: A Splash of Learning in Kindergarten!

NicoleLeave a comment

This week in our kindergarten classroom, we dove into an exciting and interactive W is for Water Week! Water is such an essential part of our world, and we explored its many wonders through hands-on activities, storytelling, science experiments, and math investigations. The students were fully engaged in learning about water’s journey, its importance, and the ways we can use it wisely. Here’s a glimpse into our week of discovery!

Storytelling & Literacy Adventures

Each day, we started with a water-themed story that helped us think more deeply about how water moves and why it matters.

  • Monday: Water is Water by Miranda Paul helped us see the water cycle in action, setting the stage for the week.
  • Tuesday: The Water Princess by Susan Verde opened up discussions on access to clean water and why we should appreciate it.
  • Wednesday: All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon taught us about water’s journey across the globe.
  • Thursday: Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis helped us identify different forms of water all around us.
  • Friday: We celebrated W is for worm with a Letter W craft and storytelling about water’s adventures.
  • Our Water Superhero Storytelling Lesson was a huge hit! Students acted out all the different ways that they could save more water using story workshop materials.

Students also practiced their Letter W Writing by painting with water and brainstorming words that start with W, such as waves, waterfalls, and wetlands. We also wrote creative stories imagining, If I Were a Raindrop…, taking on the perspective of water itself!

Hands-On Math & Science Fun

Our math and science centers flowed seamlessly into our water theme!

  • Counting Water Drops – Using pipettes, we carefully counted how many water droplets we could put onto a water counting page after carefully rolling a dice to see the
  • Estimating Water Amounts – Comparing how much water different containers could hold.
  • Building 3D Shapes with Ice Cubes – A frosty math challenge that reinforced geometric concepts.

Creative Exploration & Play-Based Learning

Throughout the week, students explored water in different ways through our provocations and exploration stations:

  • Water sensory tub – involved tropical fish, blue kinetic sand, and water rocks.
  • Quantity explorations – students investigated different quantities of different sized containers and how much water they could hold.

W is for Water Celebration!

On Friday, we wrapped up the week with a Water Celebration Day!

  • Math Tubs: Measuring Water Volume – Students experimented with different containers to see which held more or less water.
  • ADST: Building a Boat – Using popsicle sticks, tape, pipe cleaners, and some recycled fruit cup containers we explored makings boats and then tested them to see how many elephants they could hold before they sank.

As the week came to an end, our classroom was filled with excitement, discovery, and appreciation for water’s role in our world. Through play, storytelling, science, and creativity, students developed a deep understanding of why water is essential to life!

Next week, we dive into a new adventure, but for now, we’ll remember that every drop counts! 💦🌍

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Community Heroes: Learning About Community Helpers in Kindergarten!

NicoleLeave a comment

In our bustling kindergarten classroom, every week is an adventure, but this week was particularly special as we dove into the fascinating world of community helpers. It was a week filled with exploration, discovery, and plenty of hands-on activities that brought our learning to life.

Monday: Setting the Stage for Exploration We kicked off the week by immersing ourselves in books about community helpers, sparking our curiosity about the different roles people play in our community. Our classroom was transformed into a hub of exploration, with various stations set up to engage our young minds. One of the highlights was our sensory table, filled with baby farm animals like pigs and chicks, setting the stage for the special guests we were expecting later in the week.

Monday brought our usual weekly directed drawing. This week, we have been learning about the digraph ch, so we drew some baby chicks.

We had our usual letter bump game set up with some wooden letter to match with, but this week, we switched it out for a community helpers theme.

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Tuesday: A Surprise Discovery Tuesday brought an unexpected surprise when a bird’s nest fell from a tree on school grounds. We brought the nest into our classroom, and it became a focal point at our science center, sparking discussions about the wonders of nature and the importance of caring for our environment.

Wednesday: A Visit from Science World Mid-week, we were thrilled to welcome a special guest from Science World, who shared with us the wonders of science through engaging experiments. From the excitement of bubbling potions to the awe of watching colors mix and change, our classroom was abuzz with the joy of discovery.

Thursday: Baby Chicks and Crafting Fun Thursday brought another exciting visit, this time from a friend’s mom who brought along some adorable baby chicks. It was a hands-on experience that not only delighted us but also taught us about the care and responsibility involved in looking after animals.

We also honed our fine motor skills with a fun community helpers craft project, where we explored different professions and what they entail. Students were encouraged to pick from the different community helpers projects and there was so much conversation centered around the different professions and what students wanted to be when they grew up.

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Friday: Fostering Friendships and Fitness As the week drew to a close, we continued our regular Friday routines, including Fitness Friday with our big buddies and Forest Friday with the other kindergarten classroom. These activities not only kept us active and healthy but also allowed us to build friendships and connections across classrooms.

Throughout the week, we also focused on developing our writing skills, with one friend inspiring us with a special show-and-tell item called “Rainbow Friends.” This led to some beautiful personal writing pieces that showcased our creativity and growing literacy skills.

As we bid farewell to our week of exploring community helpers, we’re filled with gratitude for the experiences shared and the lessons learned. Each activity was not just a lesson but a doorway to a deeper understanding of the world around us and the people who make our community a better place. Here’s to many more weeks of discovery and learning ahead!

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Kindergarten Green Thumbs: Exploring Growing Things!

NicoleLeave a comment

Over the past two weeks, our classroom has been abuzz with excitement as we delved into the fascinating world of Growing Things and celebrated Earth Day. It’s been a joy to see the children’s curiosity and creativity flourish during this time.

Sensory Bin Fun:
We kicked off the first week with our sensory bins. Last week, we had colored popcorn for a science experiment, and this week, we repurposed the colored popcorn as a base for our flower-themed sensory bin. The children loved digging through the popcorn and pretending to plant flowers.

We had a beautiful growing things alphabet bump to play and explore with, matching the corresponding letters to the letters on the page. I love this activity as so many students gravitate towards it in spare moments during the day giving them some extra letter practice without them even knowing it.

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Color Mixing:
Due to a freezer mishap last week, we had some leftover colored ice cubes. Instead of letting them go to waste, we used them for a fun color mixing activity on Monday morning. The children were fascinated by how the colors blended together to create new ones.

Letter Z:
This week, we’re exploring the letter Z. We read the story “Hello Zebra” and talked about all the different ways we could color our zebras for our weekly drawing project. Some students chose to stick with traditional colors, while others got creative with wild and wacky color schemes.

Friday was a day filled with fun and learning as we celebrated Earth Day with a variety of engaging stations organized by our fantastic PAC parents. The children had a blast exploring and participating in the different activities, all centered around the theme of environmental awareness and conservation.

One of the highlights of the day was the obstacle course, where the children had the opportunity to navigate through various challenges that taught them about the importance of overcoming obstacles in our efforts to protect the Earth.

Another exciting station was the salmon talks, where the children learned about the life cycle of salmon and the importance of protecting their habitat. This hands-on experience helped deepen their understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.

The bridge painting station allowed the children to express their creativity while also learning about the significance of bridges in connecting communities and preserving natural habitats.

The recycling games were not only fun but also educational, teaching the children about the importance of recycling and how it can help reduce waste and protect the environment.

Overall, the Earth Day stations were a huge success, thanks to the dedication and hard work of our PAC parents. It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and appreciation for the planet we call home.

Our second week was dedicated to all things related to growth and plants. We set up a sensory tub filled with various materials related to plants and growth, sparking the children’s interest and imagination. To reinforce our learning, we introduced the alphabet growing things bump game, which added an element of fun and learning to our activities.

“Foxy and Friends” continued to be a favorite among the children, providing them with opportunities for play and exploration.

The seeds provocation table was a hit, with plenty of books about plants and growing cycles to inspire our young minds.

On Monday, we kicked off the week by reading “My Friend Earth.” This beautiful story led to a meaningful discussion about how we can all contribute to taking care of our planet. To demonstrate their understanding, the children created scenes out of playdough, illustrating one way they could help the Earth.

One of the highlights of the week was our directed drawing of the Earth. The children followed a video tutorial, and the results were truly impressive. You can watch the video we followed [here](insert link). We also took a break from our usual routine and enjoyed a change of pace with a fun video.

The day ended on a heartwarming note as each student took a tree home to take home. It was a beautiful way to symbolize our commitment to caring for the Earth and watching it grow, much like the seeds we were learning about.

Despite some interruptions due to our class photo day on Tuesday, we continued our exploration of seeds. We read “The Tiny Seed,” a classic tale that captivated the children’s imagination and taught them about the life cycle of a plant. We finished this off with planting our very own seeds to see what we can grow.

The highlight of the week was creating greenhouses with bean seeds. The children were actively involved in brainstorming all the things their tiny seeds would need to grow, fostering a sense of responsibility and care.

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In our writing lessons with “Froggy,” we continued to emphasize the importance of adding a problem and solution to our imaginative stories. It’s been wonderful to see the children’s storytelling skills develop and evolve over the weeks.

We can’t learn about growing things without opening up the flower shop dramatic center. A fun way to explore plants and their uses and to expand our imaginations.

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We finished the week with a beautiful Earth Day craft. We used Q Tips to carefully dot paint the land areas in green and the oceans in blue. We then cut them out and glued them onto black paper, and added star sequins to finish them off!

As we wrap up our two weeks of Growing Things and Earth Day festivities, we’re filled with gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow together. We look forward to seeing the seeds of knowledge we’ve planted continue to grow in the hearts and minds of our young learners.

Morning Routine · Uncategorized

How I Transformed My Morning in Kindergarten: A Routine Makeover Story

NicoleLeave a comment

With many years of experience teaching across various grades and classrooms, I’ve experimented with countless morning routines. From jumping right into the day to starting with a calendar routine, morning paperwork, and morning tubs, I’ve tried it all. One routine that particularly stood out to me was using morning tubs with rotating numbers through the tables. While I loved this approach for a long time, in recent years, it has evolved into something even more magical.

A few years ago, during my ECE postgraduate diploma specializing in Kindergarten, I came across an article on the magic of learning and how it should be sparked from joy. This concept deeply resonated with me, inspiring me to bring more of that magic into my classroom. I was also drawn to the Reggio Emilia approach, which emphasizes the environment as the third teacher and the importance of intentional and purposeful learning environments.

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I wanted to incorporate more provocations and student interest-sparked learning opportunities into my classroom. I also believe in giving students choices whenever possible, as I think they should be the ones working the hardest. To simplify my routines, I began loading up my morning bins and keeping them organized and fresh every week, thus giving birth to my morning table routine.

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Each morning, at all of the tables in my classroom, I set out play-based materials such as LEGO, Playstix, Starflex, puzzles, Unifix cubes, and story cubes. Additionally, I set up learning experiences at extra tables in my classroom. While each table generally has a theme to simplify planning, there are no hard and fast rules. I typically include a sensory table, a science table, a math table, a language arts table, and alternate between a writing table and an art table, depending on the theme for the week.

One of my favorite changes to the routine is allowing students to wander from table to table, exploring and discovering what catches their interest. It’s incredibly heartwarming to hear their squeals of delight as they explore the room, making for a truly magical start to the day.

This transformation of my morning routine has not only made learning more joyful and engaging for my students but has also reinvigorated my passion for teaching. I believe that by creating a classroom environment that sparks joy and curiosity, we can instill a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Rainbow week · Themes · Uncategorized

Colorful Creations: Exploring Rainbows Activities in Kindergarten!

NicoleLeave a comment

This week in Kindergarten was a colorful and vibrant celebration of rainbows! Our classroom was transformed into a rainbow wonderland, with rainbow activities and materials that sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow.

At the science table, we died popcorn to use in our sensory table next week. We had a great time watching the popcorn over the day to see if it changed color. The students had great time shaking it and exploring it, a great little way to incorporate some science learning into your day. Helpful hint: use lids that seal properly if you are giving students the freedom to look and explore with it.

The literacy table featured Rainbow Bump, a game that combined literacy skills with a rainbow theme. The math table also had Rainbow Bump, providing a fun and engaging way for the children to practice their alphabet skills while exploring the colors of the rainbow.

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One of the highlights of the week was planting the fairy garden with flowers. We are so excited to watch it grow over the coming weeks!

The sensory table was a big hit, filled with rainbow orb beads that shimmered and sparkled as the children played and explored. It was a wonderful sensory experience that engaged their senses and sparked their imagination.

We started the week with our usual introduction to the letter Q, brainstorming words that start with Q. This led to a fun and creative directed drawing of a quail for the letter q. The children showed great enthusiasm and creativity as they brought their quails to life on paper.

The week started with a “The world Made a Rainbow” read aloud. A great way to introduce the colors of the rainbow and to reinforce that rainstorms eventually come to an end.

Our rainbow week in Kindergarten continued to be a colorful and exciting adventure, filled with creativity and learning. We delved deeper into our Froggy books, exploring the elements of a story and learning about problems and resolutions.

We started to talk about how every story has a problem and a resolution, and we practiced putting a problem and resolution into our own stories. It was amazing to see the children’s creativity shine as they came up with their own storylines and solutions through story workshop.

On Wednesday, we had a blast making beautiful water color rainbows. This art activity was a fun exploration into different art mediums, and the children were thrilled to see the vibrant colors come to life on their paper. It was a great way to incorporate our rainbow theme into our art lesson and allow the children to express their creativity.

Throughout the week, the children continued to explore and play with all the rainbow-themed activities in our classroom. The color mixing station at the science table was a popular spot, as was the sensory table with its rainbow orb beads. The literacy and math tables with Rainbow Bump remained favorite activities, providing a fun and educational way for the children to practice their skills.

We also kicked off our Jump Rope for Heart this week with our first assembly and we are so excited to practice our skipping skills before our big event in May!

Overall, it was a week filled with creativity, learning, and fun. The children were fully engaged in all the activities and showed great enthusiasm for exploring the colors of the rainbow. I’m so proud of all their hard work and creativity, and I can’t wait to see what other adventures await us as we continue to explore and learn in Kindergarten!

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Easter Egg-stravaganza: A Week of Fun and Learning in Kindergarten

NicoleLeave a comment

After a relaxing Easter Monday and a two-week break, we jumped right back into learning and fun in kindergarten! Tuesday was our first day back, and the room was set up for exploration and play, welcoming the children with Easter-themed activities with an emphasis on Easter math activities.

Our sensory table was a hit, filled straw and little bunnies and eggs. It was a sensory delight for the children, sparking their curiosity and imagination.

For added excitement, we added another sensory table filled with wheat and little mini carrots and bunnies.

We also introduced some new Easter games at the various tables. The Easter bunny alphabet bump was a hit, helping the children reinforce their alphabet recognition skills in a fun and engaging way.

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At the math table, we had the Easter Bunny Tower & Tumble game, which was a fantastic way to incorporate math skills into our Easter theme. The children had a blast playing and learning at the same time.

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Our day started with our usual routines, including our letter introduction and sharing time. I’ve recently added daily sharing time to our schedule to emphasize oral language development. It’s been wonderful to see the children sharing stories and connecting with each other through their shared experiences.

Our Easter week in Kindergarten continued with our weekly directed drawing, and this time, it was all about drawing Easter bunnies! The children showed their creativity and artistic skills as they brought these adorable bunnies to life on paper.

Tuesday brought a bit of a change to our routine, as we have gym in the middle of the block between recess and lunch. Despite the disruption, our art lesson was still enjoyable and creative. The children embraced the opportunity to get active and burn off some energy in gym class, and they returned to the classroom ready to dive back into their artistic creations.

Our Easter week in Kindergarten was filled with creativity and learning as we dove into our imaginary writing unit. On Tuesday, we began exploring the concept of made-up stories using the beloved Froggy books. We read “Froggy Goes to Hawaii” and discussed the elements of a story, including the setting. The children were excited to start creating their own imaginary stories, and their imaginations ran wild as they began to craft their tales.

Wednesday brought more writing adventures as we practiced printing the letter Y and made Easter baskets to take our Easter eggs home in. We also revisited our friends of 10 skills with an Easter Bunny-themed game, adding a fun twist to our math practice. The highlight of the day was dyeing Easter eggs, which not only brought joy but also provided a hands-on exploration into color mixing and color play.

In addition to our writing and math activities, Wednesday is always big buddy day, and we had a blast learning a new game with our big buddies. The Easter Tower & Tumble game was a hit, challenging the children to practice their subitizing skills and continue to work on number recognition. It was a great way to differentiate instruction easily as it has game boards for the number 0-2 and 0-6 and everything in between as well as numbers in every format to practice number recognition skills though math games!

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Thursday was all about our letter craft for the week, and we created a yak for the letter Y. The children showed off their creativity and fine motor skills as they cut and glued to create their yaks.

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Our Easter week in Kindergarten ended on a high note with a fun and creative exploration into math problem solving through the use of real world problems. We started on Wednesday with learning the song “5 Little Ducks” and then we each got 5 little ducks and practiced figuring out the different combinations of 5. Thursday we moved onto “5 Green and Speckled Frogs” and worked on combinations of frogs on the log and frogs in the water. Finally we ended the week with “5 Little Dinosaurs” and worked on combinations of Dinosaurs and Dinosaur eggs (pom poms).

After all our math adventures in Kindergarten, we ended the week with our usual Forest Friday time, but our lovely PAC parents organized an Easter Egg hunt for the entire school. It was a beautiful day, perfect for exploring the outdoors and looking for Easter eggs.

Overall, it was a week filled with creativity, learning, and Easter math fun. I’m so proud of all the hard work and creativity the children displayed, and I can’t wait to see what other adventures await us in Kindergarten!

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Leprechaun Magic: Kindergarten’s Inquiry Week Unveiling the Charms of Irish Folklore!

NicoleLeave a comment

Leprechaun week is here, and it’s one of my absolute favorite weeks of the year! After spending almost an entire year cleaning up behind our little explorers and reminding them to tidy up, there’s something incredibly satisfying about creating a mess that they’re genuinely excited to clean up.

We kicked off our Leprechaun week just like any other, with tables set up for inquiry and exploration. The sensory table was a treasure trove filled with shamrocks and golden coins, inviting the children to dig in and discover. The literacy table featured a Leprechaun-themed bump game, where students matched alphabet letters to corresponding pictures, enhancing their letter recognition skills in a fun and playful way.

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At the math table, we had a simple yet engaging game of Leprechaun bump set up. This game not only reinforced basic math skills but also added a touch of magic and whimsy to our learning environment.

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We started off our week with some exploration into the letter L for leprechaun. We also kicked off our day with the Heggerty Phonics program, which is always a hit with our little learners. I love how quick, easy, and engaging it is, with no prep required!

We got creative with playdough, shaping the letter L and getting our hands busy with sensory learning.

It was time for our weekly directed drawing, and this week, it was all about leprechauns! The children showed incredible independence and perseverance as they tackled this tricky drawing, and the results were beautiful.

We then enjoyed a fun read-aloud of “3 Ways to Trap a Leprechaun” and had a lively class discussion about whether leprechauns would visit our classroom and play tricks on us. We also worked on our weekly letter craft, creating a lamp for the letter L. The children did an amazing job with some tricky cutting, showing off their fine motor skills.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Crafts-Uppercase-Letter-Crafts-Alphabet-Activities-for-Kindergarten-3347926

The excitement reached a peak as our classroom had two surprise visitors overnight – little leprechauns! They left a mess of green footprints and empty toy bins, sparking excitement and laughter as we cleaned up. We read “How to Catch a Leprechaun” and then set to work designing our very own leprechaun traps using recycled materials. We headed outside for a fun playground circuit, and the day ended with creative building tasks and Forest Friday, although we swapped the forest for the playground due to tick sightings.

It was a week filled with creativity, learning, and fun, and I couldn’t be prouder of how our kindergarten stars embraced each activity with enthusiasm and curiosity. Until next time, keep shining bright!

If you are looking for more resources to use for your leprechaun week check out these resources as well!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Leprechaun-St-Patricks-Day-Alphabet-Sound-Quest-Game-11017054

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Leprechauns-Escape-St-Patricks-Day-Math-Game-10972081

Uncategorized · water week

Diving into Wonder: Kindergarten’s Water Inquiry Week Aquatic Adventure!

NicoleLeave a comment

Water Cycle Week in our kindergarten classroom was an exciting and educational experience, filled with hands-on activities and engaging lessons.

On Monday, we kicked off the week by setting up our classroom with a Water Cycle alphabet bump game, where students had fun matching letters while learning about the water cycle. The math table featured a water cycle math bump game with 10-sided dice, adding a new twist to our math practice.

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https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Water-Cycle-Math-Bump-10921835

Our sensory table was transformed into an aquatic adventure, complete with rocks, water, and fish, promising to be the highlight and messiest part of the week!

To tie in with our theme, we started the day by reading “Drop an Adventure through the Water,” which set the stage for our learning. We then brainstormed all the things we could think of that start with the letter “W,” incorporating literacy into our day. No letter introduction is complete without a kinesthetic learning component, so we made “W’s” out of playdough, reinforcing letter recognition and formation.

Our day continued with a directed drawing of a watermelon, a fun and creative activity that also tied into our theme.

We finished off the day with an investigation into volume using water, exploring different-sized containers and beakers to see what we could learn about capacity.

On Tuesday, we delved deeper into the water cycle by learning about clouds and how they form. After reading a book about clouds, we got creative and made cloud art with shaving cream and glue, adding an artistic element to our science lesson.

Unfortunately, I had to be off for the remainder of the week, but the learning continued with a focus on fairy tales. Students enjoyed fun read-alouds and even created their own fairy tale books at their reading level, participating in the learning with the TOC.

Overall, Water Cycle Week was a fantastic learning experience that combined science, literacy, math, and creativity in a fun and engaging way. The students had a blast while learning about the water cycle and other related topics, making memories that will last a lifetime.

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Eco Explorers: Kindergarten’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Inquiry Week Adventure!

NicoleLeave a comment

Reduce Reuse Recycle Week is an exciting time in our kindergarten classroom, filled with engaging activities and meaningful discussions about caring for our planet. This week, we kicked off the festivities with great enthusiasm, exploring new tables set up just for the occasion.

Our math table featured the Landfill Rescue game, where students used addition or subtraction strategies to help keep the bear out of the landfill. It was a fantastic way to introduce the concept of reducing waste and making mindful choices.

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At our sensory table, we had a special setup with a Reduce Reuse Recycle bear and various materials for sorting into the correct bins. This hands-on activity allowed students to explore the importance of sorting and recycling materials in a fun and interactive way.

For our literacy activity, we put a Reduce Reuse Recycle twist on our alphabet bump game. Instead of using regular alphabet dice, we used wooden alphabet buttons that students had to match to the correct letter on the game board. It was a creative way to reinforce letter recognition while incorporating our theme for the week.

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We started each day by reading “I Choose to Reduce Reuse Recycle” by Elizabeth Estrada, setting the tone for our discussions and activities. Together, we brainstormed ideas to reduce, reuse, and recycle, adding to our list throughout the week as new ideas emerged.

As part of our language arts curriculum, we’ve been exploring the diphthong “ai” this week. To tie it into our Reduce Reuse Recycle theme, we incorporated a directed drawing activity where students had a great time drawing and adding details to their trains, showcasing their creativity and reinforcing the importance of reusing materials.

Tuesday was a highlight of Reduce Reuse Recycle Week in our kindergarten classroom as we transformed recycled materials brought from home into a fun and interactive Grocery Store. The students were actively involved in setting it up, and their creativity and excitement were palpable.

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Throughout the week, the Grocery Store became a focal point of our learning environment, providing endless opportunities for imaginative play and exploration. From stocking shelves to playing cashier, the students thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this hands-on experience.

As Friday approached, it was almost bittersweet to see the end of our Grocery Store adventure. However, the memories and lessons learned about the value of reusing materials will stay with us for a long time to come.

Wednesday was a heartwarming day in our kindergarten as we took a break from our Reduce Reuse Recycle week to celebrate Pink Shirt Day, a day dedicated to kindness and inclusivity. It was a day filled with meaningful activities and reflections that left a lasting impact on all of us.

We began our day with a special read-aloud of “Kindness is Cooler Ms Ruler,” a delightful story that reinforced the importance of kindness in our daily lives. Inspired by the book, we discussed how we could collect 100 acts of kindness, just like the characters did, for a special celebration when we reach our goal. The enthusiasm and eagerness of the children to participate in this kindness project were truly heartwarming.

In preparation for our kindness project, we talked about starting to collect Kindness show & tell items, which would highlight the kind acts they did at home to help out. This initiative not only encouraged kindness but also strengthened the bond between home and school.

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To further reinforce our understanding of numbers, we played the kindness math tower & tumble game, which not only celebrated acts of kindness but also helped us practice subitizing numbers in a fun and engaging way.

On Thursday of Reduce Reuse Recycle Week, we revisited our lists of ways to be kind to our planet Earth. We had a meaningful discussion about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling in our classroom and homes.

To reinforce these concepts, we engaged in a creative activity where students drew pictures of as many ways as they could think of to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Afterwards, we did some balloon stamping to create an Earth in the center of our page, symbolizing our commitment to caring for our planet.

It was a wonderful opportunity to encourage creativity and reinforce the importance of sustainability in a fun and interactive way. The students were engaged and enthusiastic, showcasing their understanding of how small actions can make a big difference.

Friday was the highlight of Reduce Reuse Recycle Week in our kindergarten classroom as we embarked on a creative adventure to create recycled sculptures. Using all the materials that had been brought in for the grocery store, students brainstormed, designed, and constructed unique sculptures that showcased their creativity and environmental awareness.

It was fascinating to see the diverse ideas and designs that emerged from this activity. From robots to animals to abstract structures, each sculpture was a testament to the students’ imagination and ingenuity.

This activity not only allowed students to express their creativity but also reinforced the importance of reusing materials and thinking sustainably. It was a wonderful way to wrap up our week of learning about Reduce Reuse Recycle and to celebrate our commitment to caring for the planet.

Reduce Reuse Recycle Week in our kindergarten classroom was a resounding success, filled with engaging activities and meaningful lessons about caring for our planet. From playing the Landfill Rescue game to setting up a Grocery Store out of recycled materials, students were actively involved in learning about sustainability and making environmentally conscious choices. Through creative projects like drawing pictures of ways to Reduce Reuse Recycle and creating recycled sculptures, students not only learned about the importance of reducing waste but also developed a deeper appreciation for the world around them. It was a week filled with fun, learning, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact on our planet.