Martin Luther King, Jr.

Last week the students learned about Martin Luther King, Jr.

We had a wonderful discussion about Martin's dream. It was so great to listen to the children as they shared thoughtful reflections about how they could carry Mr. King's dream on.

Check out their adorable MLK portraits:

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Water and Ponds

In Science, we are getting ready to set up a classroom aquarium.

To prepare for this new addition to our room, the students have learned:

- how important water is to animals, plants, and humans.

- how to locate water on maps and globes.

- about different types of water environments (oceans and ponds).

- which animals live in and around ponds.

- what fish need to survive.

- the parts of a fish and how to label them like a scientist.

- what snails need to survive.

- the parts of a snail.

The students worked in cooperative groups to draw and label pond life. It was such a pleasure to watch them work together - brainstorming, problem solving, and using their new science vocabulary.

Check out their ponds:

The students also drew what they thought should go into our aquarium in their science notebooks.

Check back soon to see what we put into our aquarium!

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Last week the students shared their New Year's traditions and made resolutions for 2011. We discussed the huge celebration held in New York City. One of my kindergarten friends said she "almost... really I ALMOST made it til the midnight drop".

Check out our resolutions:

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We look forward to an exciting 2011, filled with learning and laughter!

Colorful Critters

The students really enjoyed studying colors. We focused on learning about primary colors, reading color words, mixing colors, and noticing the colors that illustrators choose to set the mood of a story. We read several fun color stories. The students' favorites were Mouse Paint and Pete the Cat.

The children also loved Little Blue Truck. I snuck this one in... it's main focus isn't color - but kindness. We have read it a few times as a class and it has quickly become a favorite choice during our Daily 5: Read to Self time.

After reading Mouse Paint the children used primary colored oil pastels to draw mice. It was fun to watch how each child approached the task and to observe their reactions as they mixed the colors to make new ones.

I love being greeted by these colorful critters as I walk to my classroom each morning.

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