Math Mess!

At first sight, this room looks like a "big hot mess", but there are brilliant minds at work here! Our students are using their math tool kits to solve addition and subtraction word problems. They are holding up their cards for me to quickly and easily assess their understanding. 

Wonder: Do You Get Enough Vitamins?

We are focusing on getting healthy in our current health unit. This week, we are answering the question, "Do you get enough vitamins?". We are going to looks at the "ABCs of Vitamins", focusing on Vitamin A, B, C,D, and E. We will research what types of foods we can eat to help us obtain these vitamins and what they do to help keeps us healthy, strong, and growing.

I can't wait to hear how excited your children are to share their knowledge with you. Have fun this week! Who knew eating healthy could be so fun?!?

Week 30 Focus Lessons

Sight Words: will, did, has

Reading- Story elements, focusing on The Three Little Pigs

Writing- Question and Answer books on A Healthy Me

Phonics- decoding words with sound boxes

Health- A Healthy Me- Food Groups

Math- Subtraction using the tens frame and number line

Germ Day!

 

Today we took a closer look at germs and how easily they can spread from one person to the next. 

Check out this picture we found in an informational book:

 

Next, we did an experiment to see how quickly and easily germs can spread.

 

 

 

Finally, we discussed the importance of scrubbing away the germs!

 

 

 

 

What a fun lesson!

Needs and Wants Journals

As promised, here are a few samples from of our Needs and Wants journals! 

Linus the Minus

Look out! Linus the Minus is in town!

The students created their own Linus posters. 

Next, we used our math tool kits to help us solve subtraction word problems. 

 

Pete the Cat lost his groovy buttons in Eric Litwin's fun book, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.

I had the privilege of being Eric's page turner recently at the SCIRA conference in Myrtle Beach!

Wonder: Can Germs Be Good for You?

We are constantly washing our hands and using the famous "hanitizer" in Room 202. Our current unit, Ways to be a Healthy Me!, is making us look deeper into questions, like, can germs be good for you? Before we started our research, the boys and girls voted, yes or no!

We started our research by previewing a video clip about children and ways to keep them healhty during flu season. The children on the left voted yes and the children on the right voted no.

 

 

We have some information that we have learned so far. However, we want your thoughts! Please comment below with your answer to our Wonder of the Week!

 

Week 29 Focus Lessons

Sight Words: Review sight words from the 3rd nine weeks
they, said, went, help, make, take, get, this, here, will, had, that, want, lots, of, what, there, are, where, live, find, why, can't, come

Reading: Identifying the characters and the characters speaking parts in a literary text.

Writing- We are focusing on the question mark and what makes a good question. Students will begin a Q&A book focused on being " A Healthy Me"

Science/Health- We are focusing on our health this week and what things help our bodies grow healthy and strong. Students will explore the importance of good hygene, manners, healthy foods (food pyramid), and physical fitness.

Math- Linus the Minus is in town to teach us about subtraction! Stay tuned, we will have some activities on our blog that will help you review at home.

Have a fabulous week!

Economics Unit- We Work Hard for Our Money!

For the past two weeks, we have learned about economics in our Goods/Services and Needs/Wants unit. During the first week, our wonderful kindergarteners applied for classroom jobs, worked for two weeks, wrote about their experiences in their daily job journals, researched and defined "Goods" and "Services".  The hard workers were paid on Monday of last week. They were immediately disappointed when we took a percentage of their earnings to pay "taxes". For the remainder of the week they paid for their shelter, food, supplies, but luckily they have a little money left over to shop at the classroom store this coming week.

This is always a great unit because the students have a 'real world' experience. This unit provides them with a deeper understanding to why their parents work and how they spend their earnings.

 

Enjoy this great video. I will post samples from their applications and journals this week.



 

 

Wonder: Are All Inventors Scientists?

Here is a thought to ponder this week- Are all Inventors Scientists?
Respond here on the blog or your homework sheet. We will investigate this question and respond with an answer by the end of the week.

 

How do you solve addition equations?

We worked in strategy groups to solve addition problems. 

We can use tens frames. 

We can use objects. 

We can draw the equation. 

We can use a number line. 

We Can Sort Information In Categories

Today we read, Everybody Works. This is an informational book that identifies jobs all around the community. The students used sticky notes marked with "S" for service and "G" for goods to identify if the job provides a good or a service. 

Week 27 Lessons

Sight Words- where, live, find

Reading- classifying information in categories

Phonics- changing the beginning sound to make new words, ABC order

Writing- writers document their thoughts and experiences in journals

Social Studies-"We Work Hard for our Money" goods/services unit

Math- strategies to add numbers to 10.

We will explore a Dr. Seuss wonder of the day this week. 

Save the Penny!

Did you know that pennies are thrown away each day? Some legislators have recommended that the United States stop making pennies!!! Our students made posters to encourage people to save pennies. 

Chek out These Great Readers!

Great job, Brady, Parker, April, Brooks, and Molly!