Sneak Peek!

We’re Getting Close

I can’t believe Great Artist is only three weeks away. I’ll be sending out a food sign up and a begging for help list soon. We’ve been doing lots of measuring activities and had some great, “I wonder…” moments last week. The kids measured how long a tie was using their choice of materials. Some kids grabbed Unifix cubes, stating that they were an inch big. When asked how they knew, we heard, “Because it’s as big as the space between my knuckles.” Some figured out that they could measure one of the stripes and then count the stripes. Kindergarteners can multiply!  We discovered together why it would be important to have a standard unit of measurement when discussing  how to figure out  the size of something over the phone.  The wondering continued on with, “But what if the person is in Africa?”  They kids are under the impression that the unit of measurement is different based upon where they live.   Have they been listening in to the debate of transferring to the metric system?  It might be fun to explore the standard measurement instruments (rulers) of different countries together at home.

We’ve also been making discoveries about U.S. coins. We have begun counting in the morning by pennies and today by quarters. Knowing the names of the coins is a kindergarten standard and ties in nicely with the kid’s dramatic play ice cream shop and bubble gum machine paintings from Wayne Thiebaud.    Did you know there is a piece of his in Balboa Park?  I’m not sure we can squeeze in a field trip before The Finale night but I’d love to arrange one to go and see it as a class very soon!  If you look it up on the website, don’t show the kids.  I’d love to do a graph with what they think they will see.

Thiebaud Gallery in SF

http://www.paulthiebaudgallery.com/

A Series of 6

Wayne Thiebaud

How’s That Made; Gum Ball Machine

Wayne’s Ice Cream Shop

Today marked the grand opening of our ice cream shop.  The class worked on designing menus, deciding on prices, taking a survey of favorite flavors, decided on opening and closing times, and made signs!  Can you tell we’ll be practicing the names of coins, how to tell time to the hour, measuring, and mixing colors and scents into home made playdough?  The kids are very excited, needless to say.

Tomorrow we will be making our own ice cream with ziplock bags, powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, ice, rock salt and a whole lot of kinetic energy.  If your child has a pair of warm gloves they may want to bring them in.  We will be making just enough for a bite or two for each child. They will be bringing home the recipe though!

First Day Back

It was so great to see the kids this morning. We all agreed that the day just flew by. We looked at postcards of Wayne Thiebaud’s art and discussed what we noticed. Cake, steep, and toys were but a few of the “Wayne Words” mentioned. We then talked about the phonetic elements of the student’s observations and the kids practiced these words by writing them in sand and magnet boards.

So far this week we’ve talked about the shadows that we make and found them in the paintings by Wayne, learned about hatching and cross hatching, and completed a few sketches.  We broke out the winter math games one last time.  It’s too fun to build and melt the snowmen or collect and loose snowflakes.

 

Last Post of 2011

There is so much to tell you.  After many many days of searching by the class and myself baby bear has been found!  Jodi, Samuel’s mom found him with ease hiding in the corner of the classroom library.  Was it a scary book that made him hide?  Whatever the reason we’re happy to have him back and he can resume resting with the assistant of the day.

We’ve enjoyed some fantastic fairy tale inspired snacks over the last few weeks.  Thank you to all the parents who eagerly jumped at the chance to integrate our Friday snack with our lessons.  Please let me know via email your thoughts about our Friday community snack.  The new year brings about many changes and would be a perfect time to adjust how we do snack in the afternoon.

It has been so interesting to watch the children read, write and do math inspired by Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, and Cinderella.  The kids have been practicing owning their opinions (not swaying to the popular idea) and standing up for what they believe.  When asked a question about what they believe to be true, they divided on the rug facing those with opposing views.  We placed hands on our hips, leaned forward, listened to our peers, gave our opinions, sited evidence and changed sides if our views were swayed.  It was a great practice in debate. I have to tell you the most interesting debate was to the question, “Who was the hero in Hansel and Gretel?”

All but one child sided with Hansel, can you believe it?  At first I thought maybe it was due to a name confusion. Those are foreign names.  But no,  they had the genders correct.  The student who sided with Gretel gave great arguments and was able to sway the others; all but one.  They had a hard time getting past the idea that the hero could be a girl.  A great lesson that we can have friends with differing views and can argue productively and fairly.  I love these kids!

This week we have been reading Little Red Riding Hood and The Gingerbread Boy. Thank you for lending your home copies for us to explore!  I have had the best time with our fairy tale study and am only comforted by the fact that after break we will start an amazing study on artist Wayne Thiebaud.  I hope you’ll learn along with us!  His last name is pronounced Tea-beau and I believe our own Museum of Contemporary Art in Balboa Park has one of his paintings on display.

I will be asking for some donated items from home for our projects.  We’ll need paper towel tubes and empty baby food jars with lids to start.  I’ll be putting together a collection of video interviews and a slide show over the break.  Enjoy the holidays and time together and we’ll see you in the new year!

Last Post of 2011

     There is so much to tell you.  After many many days of searching by the class and myself baby bear has been found!  Jodi, Samuel’s mom found him with ease hiding in the corner of the classroom library.  Was it a scary book that made him hide?  Whatever the reason we’re happy to have him back and he can resume resting with the assistant of the day.

   We’ve enjoyed some fantastic fairy tale inspired snacks over the last few weeks.  Thank you to all the parents who eagerly jumped at the chance to integrate our Friday snack with our lessons.  Please let me know via email your thoughts about our Friday community snack.  The new year brings about many changes and would be a perfect time to adjust how we do snack in the afternoon.

    It has been so interesting to watch the children read, write and do math inspired by Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, and Cinderella.  The kids have been practicing owning their opinions (not swaying to the popular idea) and standing up for what they believe.  When asked a question about what they believe to be true, they divided on the rug facing those with opposing views.  We placed hands on our hips, leaned forward, listened to our peers, gave our opinions, sited evidence and changed sides if our views were swayed.  It was a great practice in debate. I have to tell you the most interesting debate was to the question, “Who was the hero in Hansel and Gretel?” 

     All but one child sided with Hansel, can you believe it!  At first I thought maybe it was due to a name confusion. Those are foreign names.  But no,  they had the genders correct.  The student who sided with Gretel gave great arguments and was able to sway the others; all but one.  They had a hard time getting past the idea that the hero could be a girl.  A great lesson that we can have friends with differing views and can argue productively and fairly.  I love these kids!

     This week we have been reading Little Red Riding Hood and The Gingerbread Boy. Thank you for lending your home copies for us to explore!  I have had the best time with our fairy tale study and am only comforted by the fact that after break we will start an amazing study on artist Wayne Thiebaud.  I hope you’ll learn along with us!  His last name is pronounced Tea-beau and I believe our own Museum of Contemporary Art in Balboa Park has one of his paintings on display.  

     I will be asking for some donated items from home for our projects.  We’ll need paper towel tubes and empty baby food jars with lids to start.  I’ll be putting together a collection of video interviews and a slide show over the break.  Enjoy the holidays and time together and we’ll see you in the new year!