Learning About Volcanoes

What an amazing Learning Adventure we have been on!  The students decided as a group that they wanted to investigate and learn about volcanoes.  We did some research online, read books, and created our own volcanoes.  We made a list of volcano words - the students came up with some impressive vocabulary after doing research.  Students were even bringing in volcanoes that they had made at home to show their friends! 

Students made volcanoes out of Playdough.

 

Many students chose to deepen their knowledge by looking at books about volcanoes during Activity Time.

We placed flashcards with our Volcano Vocabulary around the room.  We told students that they could complete a "Write the Room" activity where they would look around the room, find the word, and write it down on the Record Sheet.  Every student wanted to participate!! 

 

 

Two students decided they wanted to create their own "Write the Room" Record Sheet!

The highlight of our Volcano Unit was the construction of our volcano.  Miss M made the volcano using a plastic bottle, newspaper, and a cardboard base.  Students glued strips of paper onto the bottle, using a flour and water paste.  The students then painted the volcano and background.  Miss M and the students made a special "potion" that made our volcano erupt.  Look at the joy on the faces of the children!  This is the most rewarding job ever!!

 

A Glimpse into Activity Time

Here is a snapshot of what occurs during our "Activity Time" blocks of play.

Students were busy creating flowers on the light table using various gel shapes.  See their beautiful creations below!

A few students worked on a race track and kept it going for a few days. I just love the design!

After discussing various letters of the alphabet, a few students started making them with different building materials.  This is what Play-Based Learning is all about!!

 

We have also been learning to print letters using the correct formation.  Students have the choice of a chalkboard, whiteboard, coloured paper, or tracing letters in sand or on paint bags.

Students have enjoyed using Ten Frames to compose and decompose numbers to 10.  In this activity, they chose a number and placed the corresponding number of counters on the Ten Frame.  We have also played online Ten Frame games during "screen time".

 

 

We always love to sing action songs in our classroom!

 

My Apologies

My apologies for not updating our blog sooner.  It's been a busy few weeks!!

The Life of Rocks Stars, Sorting Experts, and Radical Readers

Our stage has been a rockin!  The students have really enjoyed putting on a show for their audience.  We have had everything from student created "originals" to a rock and roll version of O Canada!  We have a few future Grammy Award winners.....

Mrs. P came in one day when Miss M and I were away at a workshop and had a very cool Itsy Bitsy Spider prop that she used when singing with the class.  A few students decided to create their own......they had to think about how they were going to do it independently, but did an amazing job.

This week, each student brought in a bag of items that they had sorted at home.  They paired up with a buddy and had to sort their partner's bag before they showed the teachers how they had sorted their own bags.  The students did amazing.  Most were able to sort both bags independently. 

Ask your child to sort for you at home.  You could even get some help sorting the laundry!!

The SK students have been reading with their teachers.  They have their very own Book Bag that includes 2 books at their reading level.  Once they have read a new book with a teacher, this book will go in their book bag for them to practise.  They will have this book and a new one for them to figure out on their own, before they read it to a teacher.  Some of the JK students who are "ready" for this stage will be included in this activity in the coming months. 

 

We are also working on blending sounds together to create words and segmenting sounds to break apart words.  Practising these skills at home can really make a difference!

 

Some of you have been asking about Parent Volunteers in the Classroom. We will post a calendar for Volunteers in December,

after we have completed the JK Observation Days. 

Thanks for your enthusiasm in wanting to come in and lend a helping hand!

We started our "Ticket Work" 2 weeks ago and it's become a big hit with the students!  If the students do a specific task in the Language, Math, Science, Block, and Art Centres, they earn a ticket.  If they get 5 tickets by Friday, they earn a reward.  Many of the students are so motivated and excited to complete their mission.  It's wonderful to see the glow on their faces when they earn a ticket!

In the Math Centre this week, students played a Roll the Dice game.  JK students had to "subitize" or count the dots on the dice and place a sticker on the matching number.  The skills involved in this task are subitizing (or memorizing) the dot patterns, and number recognition.  If students have not memorized the dot patterns, they are practicing their one-to-one counting.  SK students used 2 dice and had to subitize and add the numbers to find the matching number on their pages.  It was a challenge, but they really got the hang of it!

 

In Language, the students came up with a list of Halloween Costumes, and helped to illustrate the different possibilities.  They then completed a "Who do you see?" book.  The JK students coloured the costumes that were pre-printed, and created their own for the last page.  The SK students had to come up with 4 costumes of their own, print the name and create an illustration.  Some students used costumes from our list, others created their own!

In Science, students had the opportunity to carve a pumpkin with Miss Mammarella.  The students separated the seeds from the pulp, came up with a design, and named their pumpkin.  One student from each group printed the name on a label, and their creations were displayed in the front foyer.

In Art, students painted a pumpkin, using a real pumpkin as a "real-life model".  In Blocks, the students had to build a bridge and draw it.

Another busy week in the Early Learning Program!!  We look forward to sharing more of our adventures with you next week.

Apple Inquiry

The class participated in an "Apple Inquiry" this fall where we learned all about different kinds of apples, how they grow, what they look like inside and out, if they float or sink, and if you cut them horizontally there is a star inside. 

We sorted the apples and had an apple taste test, and red apples narrowly beat green and yellow ones. 

We all contributed to making applesauce. Some of the students loved it, some didn't.  It was different from their "regular" applesauce as it was still a little chunky! 

 

We turned our dramatic play area into a "Fruit Stand".  The students helped to make a list of what we would need to make this happen, and helped to organize the area and make signs.

 

 

Mrs. Peters conducted an experiment with the students to see what happened if you placed an apple in different kinds of liquid. Would it still go brown?  Ask your child about the results!

 

Overall, a great time!!  Next up in our Dramatic Play area........the students have decided to create a STAGE!!  Wish us all luck!!!

What's Been Happening in our Classroom?

 

One student painted a picture of a cat and then composed a story about it.

Another example of our creative art and storytelling!

 

 

Some of the students decided to make “TV’s” and turned our couch and chair around to create a viewing area.  Here they are watching the latest hockey game!

 

Friends reading in our Science Centre.

 

Here are some friends exploring the different materials in our Science Centre.

 

 

These students were creating a “Science Party”!

 

 

Two friends are playing Dreambox on our classroom computers.

 

 

Math is happening everyday in our classroom.  Here, two students are rolling a dice and placing the corresponding number of apples on the tree.  They are learning to “subitize” – recognize dots in different configurations without having to count each one.

 

Students enjoyed sorting objects and making patterns out of

different materials.

 

We have some architects on our hands!  Look at the crowd they have attracted to look at their structure.

Reading is always happening in ELP!

Friends helping one another find words on our Word Wall for a writing activity.

 

 

We read the story “Makeup Mess” by Robert Munsch and one of the students suggested we create our own Makeup Mess characters, and away we went……

 

“The Letter Ss”

We painted the letter Ss using Q-Tips, and then traced the letters with our fingers – when the paint dried of course!  Students found and circled the letter Ss and read the poem “S is for Snowman”.

 

One of our favourite activities.  We are doing the “Gummy Bear” dance!  Check out our moves!!