Our Class had a blast with this poem during our fall festivities!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Literary Pumpkin Award!
Last week, our class submitted a group of wild pumpkins to represent the Kindergarten Star book, "Where the Wild Things Are". A team of moms, Mrs. Villena, Mrs. Colbert, Mrs. Warren, and Mrs. Kaiser rolled up their sleeves and helped our students to create their little monster pumpkins. Our students had a wonderful time creating their masterpieces. Last Thursday, judges from outside our school awarded the Literacy Pumpkins according to their choice. We won the award for Primary, "Hands Definitely Touched These"! We were so excited that our students' work was recognized because they did a wonderful job! Thank you to everyone that made this possible for our students, what a wonderful Pumpkin Week!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Chet returns from Detroit, Michigan
Dear Mrs. Bridges Class,
What a time I had with Christopher K. and his family on our trip to Michigan!
I got to go on an airplane for the very first time! I was a little nervous, but Christopher was my travel buddy and made me feel at home. He always made sure I had my seat belt on! We visited many incredible landmarks while we were there, The Detroit Zoo, Lake St. Clair, Joe Louis Arena, Tiger Stadium, and many more!
On our way to these amazing travel destinations, we got to take a picture from our car of the The Uniroyal Giant Tire. This tire is 8 stories tall. The Uniroyal® Giant Tire was originally created as a Ferris wheel attraction at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. The wheel held 96 fairgoers and was powered by a 100-horsepower motor. More than two million people rode the Giant Tire Ferris wheel during the fair, including Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, John Jr. and Caroline. We had to hurry if we wanted to take a picture, because you are not allowed to stop your car!
We traveled by car to one of the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair. Out the window, I could spy the change of season, the leaves I saw were yellow, red, and bright orange! It was amazing to see Lake St. Clair. It is a lake that lies between Ontario, Canada, and Michigan in the United States. Even though it is a bit on the small side, it is still considered a Great Lake.
What a view! Next, we traveled about town visiting the The Spirit of Detroit (a city monument), The Joe Louis Arena (Home of the Detroit Redwings), and the tallest building in Michigan, The GM Renaissance Center.
Last on my list to share from my trip was my favorite stop, the Detroit Zoo!
The Detroit Zoo is home to the world's largest polar bear exhibit - Arctic Ring of Life. Visitors can view the polar bears and seals from a 70 foot long underwater tunnel. I love my friends at the Detroit Zoo.
I had a wonderful time in Detroit, Michigan and felt right at home with Christopher K. 's family. I can't wait until my next adventure!
What a time I had with Christopher K. and his family on our trip to Michigan!
I got to go on an airplane for the very first time! I was a little nervous, but Christopher was my travel buddy and made me feel at home. He always made sure I had my seat belt on! We visited many incredible landmarks while we were there, The Detroit Zoo, Lake St. Clair, Joe Louis Arena, Tiger Stadium, and many more!
On our way to these amazing travel destinations, we got to take a picture from our car of the The Uniroyal Giant Tire. This tire is 8 stories tall. The Uniroyal® Giant Tire was originally created as a Ferris wheel attraction at the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. The wheel held 96 fairgoers and was powered by a 100-horsepower motor. More than two million people rode the Giant Tire Ferris wheel during the fair, including Jacqueline Kennedy and her children, John Jr. and Caroline. We had to hurry if we wanted to take a picture, because you are not allowed to stop your car!
We traveled by car to one of the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair. Out the window, I could spy the change of season, the leaves I saw were yellow, red, and bright orange! It was amazing to see Lake St. Clair. It is a lake that lies between Ontario, Canada, and Michigan in the United States. Even though it is a bit on the small side, it is still considered a Great Lake.
What a view! Next, we traveled about town visiting the The Spirit of Detroit (a city monument), The Joe Louis Arena (Home of the Detroit Redwings), and the tallest building in Michigan, The GM Renaissance Center.
Last on my list to share from my trip was my favorite stop, the Detroit Zoo!
The Detroit Zoo is home to the world's largest polar bear exhibit - Arctic Ring of Life. Visitors can view the polar bears and seals from a 70 foot long underwater tunnel. I love my friends at the Detroit Zoo.
I had a wonderful time in Detroit, Michigan and felt right at home with Christopher K. 's family. I can't wait until my next adventure!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Chet and the First Field Trip!
Dear Mrs. Bridges Class,
I loved going on my first field trip with you! I had never been on a bus before! It was a little hot when we left the school, but once the we got going the breeze felt great on our bus. We went over the Hart bridge to our first stop, Kids Kampus! This was such a great way to start a field trip, we played on the playground and then ate a yummy lunch.
After that, it was off to a exciting show at the Florida Theater. It was so big inside, I liked the tall curtains and how the lights were different colors. I couldn't wait for the show to begin. I had to sit very quietly to be a good listener! I sat with my friends as Harry the Dirty Dog was the star of the show. I loved all of the dancing and singing. I can still remember how to call Harry back home, "Harry, Harry, please don't roam, Harry, Harry, please come home!".
I absolutely loved my first field trip and was glad to come home to my school so I could rest up for my next adventure!
I loved going on my first field trip with you! I had never been on a bus before! It was a little hot when we left the school, but once the we got going the breeze felt great on our bus. We went over the Hart bridge to our first stop, Kids Kampus! This was such a great way to start a field trip, we played on the playground and then ate a yummy lunch.
After that, it was off to a exciting show at the Florida Theater. It was so big inside, I liked the tall curtains and how the lights were different colors. I couldn't wait for the show to begin. I had to sit very quietly to be a good listener! I sat with my friends as Harry the Dirty Dog was the star of the show. I loved all of the dancing and singing. I can still remember how to call Harry back home, "Harry, Harry, please don't roam, Harry, Harry, please come home!".
I absolutely loved my first field trip and was glad to come home to my school so I could rest up for my next adventure!
Sink or Float
As we continue our Pumpkin Unit, we have made many predictions as scientists. One of these predictions was whether or not our pumpkins would float if placed into a tub of water.
Students' predictions were charted in our classroom and later that day we took a trip to the Science Lab to test our thinking!
Yesterday was that big day! We went upstairs to the Science Lab to test our predictions and were amazed at the results! When we placed the big pumpkin in the water, it floated (this was the opposite of most our predictions). Next, we wanted to see what would happen with the small pumpkin and it didn't sink or float, it did both! We call that "flinking"! Then the students predicted that the pumpkin slice would sink and it did.
One of our extensions to this activity was to try an object that was not a pumpkin. The students chose a container. When the closed container was placed in the water, it floated. This was just like the big pumpkin! One of our students wanted to try it with the container open, so like good scientists we tested this theory and it sank.
All in all, our students were able to test and/or prove their predictions about pumpkins sinking and floating. A great scientific explanation for why pumpkins float is found by following the link below.
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01166.htm
Also watch our Pumpkin Movie to see our Lab!
Students' predictions were charted in our classroom and later that day we took a trip to the Science Lab to test our thinking!
Yesterday was that big day! We went upstairs to the Science Lab to test our predictions and were amazed at the results! When we placed the big pumpkin in the water, it floated (this was the opposite of most our predictions). Next, we wanted to see what would happen with the small pumpkin and it didn't sink or float, it did both! We call that "flinking"! Then the students predicted that the pumpkin slice would sink and it did.
One of our extensions to this activity was to try an object that was not a pumpkin. The students chose a container. When the closed container was placed in the water, it floated. This was just like the big pumpkin! One of our students wanted to try it with the container open, so like good scientists we tested this theory and it sank.
All in all, our students were able to test and/or prove their predictions about pumpkins sinking and floating. A great scientific explanation for why pumpkins float is found by following the link below.
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01166.htm
Also watch our Pumpkin Movie to see our Lab!
Sound Skills
By this time of the year, our students should be including at least beginning and ending sounds in their writing as well as trying some of our WOW words ( the, me, I). In our Skills Block, we have been working on putting down at least two sounds (beginning and ending) for each word we want to write. You will see examples of this type of work coming home in your student's planner.
For example, students are asked to draw four boxes and place a picture for a particular sound in each box, then they are to label that picture with at least the beginning and ending sounds.
You can see in the example, that the student has taken the next step because she has written middle sounds as well.
We have also done this with picture cards. First, the students sorted the cards by beginning sounds and then used three pictures to label with words.
Another way we are practicing writing down all the sounds that we hear is to finish WOW word sentences. For example, the students were shown the sentence starter: I see a ________. The students were to draw a picture and write the word to complete the sentence.
For example, students are asked to draw four boxes and place a picture for a particular sound in each box, then they are to label that picture with at least the beginning and ending sounds.
You can see in the example, that the student has taken the next step because she has written middle sounds as well.
We have also done this with picture cards. First, the students sorted the cards by beginning sounds and then used three pictures to label with words.
Another way we are practicing writing down all the sounds that we hear is to finish WOW word sentences. For example, the students were shown the sentence starter: I see a ________. The students were to draw a picture and write the word to complete the sentence.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Our Pumpkin Adventure Begins!
Thank you to all the families that have sent in pumpkins for our Pumpkin Unit. We began our unit this week learning that pumpkins are not always orange! What an amazing fact to start the unit. Most of us (including me) were amazed by all the different colors that pumpkins can be! Even blue! This is a picture of a blue pumpkin from our Class State, Massachussetts!
We started learning about pumpkins by listing all of our questions about pumpkins. Most students wanted to know what different types of pumpkins are there?
We have learned that pumpkins are not only different colors, but we can also sort them by size! We used pumpkins in our class to sort by their size and then make pumpkin patterns :). Check out the three part pumpkin pattern created by our
students!
We started learning about pumpkins by listing all of our questions about pumpkins. Most students wanted to know what different types of pumpkins are there?
We have learned that pumpkins are not only different colors, but we can also sort them by size! We used pumpkins in our class to sort by their size and then make pumpkin patterns :). Check out the three part pumpkin pattern created by our
students!
Literacy Stations
Literacy Stations are apart of our everyday Reader's Workshop. We use Literacy Stations as a time for students to engage in different genres such as, Science books, Math books, books by a certain author, etc. It is also a time for students to practice retelling stories with a puppet, listen to stories on tapes, rereading poetry, and retelling stories with felt. Students are paired with a partner or a group of three based on the strategies that they are focusing on.
These stations last for about 15 minutes following the 15 minutes of Individual Reading time.
During this time, students are working on their own in their stations. Sometimes they will be working on a particular strategy with their partner and/or meeting with me for small group work.
These stations last for about 15 minutes following the 15 minutes of Individual Reading time.
During this time, students are working on their own in their stations. Sometimes they will be working on a particular strategy with their partner and/or meeting with me for small group work.
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