We are getting closer and closer to our chick hatch! Every day, the kiddos learn more and more about how the chick develops inside that egg. Last Wednesday, we had the privilege of inviting Karen McCarthy, head of Elementary Science for all of Lexington, to do an egg show for us. Ask your children what they learned!
Math stations:
- Combo Toss – This game provides a visual display of the number combinations that make up each sum from 1 to 10. With a partner, a cherub rolled 2 number cubes and built two stacks of cubes to match the numbers rolled. He/she then placed the two stacks in a column of the game board according to the sum of the numbers rolled.
- Tub Game – At this center, students received practice describing a number by its parts. This week, the students worked with the number 10! This was a challenge, but a fun one, where they had to figure out how many cubes were underneath the tub! They then said the corresponding number sentence. For example, if I put 5 cubes under the tub, they had to discern how many more would equal ten. Lastly, they named the corresponding number sentence!
- Worm to 5 – At this partner game, students worked with numbers to equal either the number 5. The goal was to cover all the spots along the worm. The kiddos had to choose 2 circles to equal the target number. This station was great to work on different number combinations!
- Attribute Spinner Game – We have been talking a lot over the last two weeks in Room #7 about attribute. There are so many attributes (or characteristics) by which one can sort: color, shape, size, thickness, number of sides, etc. Using 2 different spinners, one for thickness and this week, one for color, students spun and then had to find the corresponding shape. This is a great way for kiddos to use their math vocabulary and practice identifying the various attributes.
- Dot – Addition – a new fun game! This center is all about discovering different ways to make numbers! Given various gameboards and Dot Addition Cards, students were required to find cards that combined to make one of the numbers on their gameboards. Next, the players recorded the corresponding number sentences. First one to fill the gameboard won!
- iPad – subtraction! - At this iPad game, students worked to finish subtraction number sentences!
- Snowman Addition – Even though it’s spring, we are still playing with “snow”! Choosing between one or two dice, students added together buttons for their snow people. They then wrote the corresponding number sentence! Fun!
Room #7 has been focusing on their how-to stories. We have read a variety of mentor texts and the students have identified aspects of the texts that they should include in their how-to stories. This is tricky work, but they are rising to the occasion. They created “hooks” to get their readers excited about learning a new skill, warnings, tips, and now diagrams! It’s awesome to see them label, add motion, use arrows, and then write really descriptive words. Moreover, the writers are acting out their stories to ensure that they include all the steps. Remarkable!
The Kindergartners in Room #7 produced the most magnificent self-portraits this month. We went a different route for the month of April! To celebrate all the reading that we have been enjoying, the kiddos created self-portraits that show themselves reading their favorite book! This was a multi-step process that required much planning on their part. The results are nothing short of adorable, fun, and totally original. Pop on in to see your cherub's work of art!
Additionally, the cherubs are learning to solve new words by making connections to words they already know. In class, we’ve been changing the last letter or letters of a word to form a new word, such as: in to if. This understanding is helping the children take words apart as they read and spell as they write. You can do this at home too! Ask your child to change the last letter of a word to form a new word. Here are some examples, but feel free to use words that work for your family: cup, hat, cat, bed, bag, bus, pig, pen, pet, hug. Challenge your kiddo and ask your child to read the word pairs to you!
Have a wonderful weekend!