Force & Motion!

Right before break, we spent several weeks as scientists exploring the concepts of force and motion. We conducted many investigations and became familiar with the scientific method of asking questions, making predictions, recording our observations, and drawing conclusions about our observations. The major learning outcomes of this unit included understanding that pushes and pulls make objects move, and friction and gravity both impact the motion of an object. We also examined how bigger or smaller forces impact an object's motion. To conclude this fun unit, families were invited to participate in our "Box Car Derby" by making a shoe box car as a family. My hope was that students would share their learning from this unit as they built their car. I was impressed with the creative and amazing cars that were entered into our race! All cars had some element of weight (so the students obviously learned that a heavier "force" would move an object farther). We had so much fun cheering each other on and watching the cars race. It didn't even matter to the kids who the "winner" was! Please enjoy these pictures from the race and thank you to everyone for supporting your child's learning and this fun project at home!

Our Busy Week!

Wow! Having the hundredth day of school and our Valentine celebration fall during the same week of school certainly makes for an exciting week! We had so much fun celebrating these special events! Please enjoy these pictures of all of the action!

Celebrating 100 Days of School!

We stuffed the administration office with 100 students!

Building a structure with 100 cups.

Stringing necklaces made with 100 Fruit Loops.

Playing "Roll to 100."

We wrote about what we would do if we had $100.

Levi shows off his Fruit Loop necklace.

 100th Day Projects!

Liam's 100 fish.

Harper's 100 buttons.

Theo's 100 flags.

Jos' 100 Cheerios.

Ruby's 100 Cheerios.

Eliza's 100 chocolate chips.

Sawyer's 100 piece puzzle.

Violet's list of 100 fairies. 

Levi's 100 cotton balls.

Rian's 100 stickers.

Allyson's 100 sprinkles.

D'Marcus' 100 M&Ms.

Eli's t-shirt with 100 googly eyes.

Michaela's artwork with 100 beans.

Violet wears her 100th Day glasses!

Celebrating our friendships for Valentine's Day!

We sorted and graphed with conversation hearts.

We practiced our reading strategies with the book, "Valentine, Valentine, What Do You See?"

We played Valentine Bingo and practice tapping and reading words.

We listened to a fun Valentine story at the listening center!

 We had so much fun and practiced important skills at the same time! I am so thankful for the sweetest kindergarten valentines around! Thank you to everyone who helped make our celebration a success with the sweet treat and yummy fruit!

A Sneak Peek at Math Time!

We have just started our next math unit and will spend the next several weeks exploring with two and three dimensional shapes. We will sort, count, compose, and decompose shapes, as well as continue to compare quantities and practice rote counting, number recognition, and number writing skills.

Unit 5 Parent Letter

We've already had lots of fun sorting pattern blocks with our math partners and counting and comparing how many of each shape we had. Take a peek at some of our fun here! All of these pictures are from our math block on Friday, where each partnership received a handful of pattern blocks. After students had a few minutes to explore and build with their shapes, the partners had to decide how to sort the blocks. We then recorded how many of each shape we had and created graphs of this information on our counting mats. It was wonderful to see students so engaged and to hear their impressive math language as we talked about our mathematical observations. Ask your child if he or she can name the six pattern block shapes for you!

 

 

 

Follow this link to an online pattern block game that will support your child's learning throughout this unit. You can also help your child notice two and three dimensional shapes in the world around you as you spend time together. Happy shape hunting!