Upcoming week:
NO SCHOOL Wednesday, November 11 in observation of Veterans' Day.
FIELD TRIP Thursday, November 12 to Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver. Please be sure to send your kindergartener with a healthy, low/no-waste lunch, as we will be off-campus for lunch.
EARLY HEAD'S UP ON A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (if you want to get a fun head start): Kindergarteners have been learning how to make paper airplanes and apply the scientific method. Thursday, when we come back from our field trip, we will have a great paper airplane fly-off competition. Kindergarteners will bring a paper airplane they have made that they believe will win (after much experimentation just like the Wright brothers) in one of these two categories:
- Crazy tricks (loop-the-loops, etc.)
- Greatest distance
If you have the time and inclination this weekend, you are welcome to start experimenting with your kindergartener on an airplane for the competition. Kindergarteners have not heard about this assignment yet, but they will on Monday. Rules: only scissors and regular 8.5" x 11" paper can be used.
Riggs:
We are almost done with our slowed-down review of most of the first 26 phonograms. I am sending home daily phonogram tests so families can see which phonograms should be practiced/reviewed at home. Kindergarteners should be able to perform two important skills with each phonogram we learn:
1. Hear it said, and write it correctly.
2. Read it correctly when it is printed.
Saxon 1 Math:
Important learning that I will fill in when I get back to school tomorrow!
Core Knowledge:
Continued study of the Wright brothers as excellent examples of scientists, as well as learn more about airplanes in preparation for our field trip. Here is a link to a seven-minute YouTube video about the Wright brothers. Here is a link to a shorter film on YouTube that has more footage of their flights.
Life skill:
The shoe tying is looking GREAT! Keep up the practice at home. The kindergarteners are so proud of their increased independence that comes with caring for their own shoes. We will be focusing on zipping up our own jackets this coming week. Right now, I start zips for children, and they finish it, but the only way to get good at something is to practice it, so we will focus on starting zips for friends.
Week in review:
Riggs:
We slowed down and did a week of review to make sure students are really internalizing the phonograms and can swiftly recall and produce phonograms. Thank you for extra practice children are getting at home!
Saxon 1 Math:
It was a week all about the doubles, baby! We are learning a fun "rap" about the doubles, from 0 + 0 = 0 to 10 + 10 = 20. We also experimented with balances/scales to think about equations and relative weight.
Core Knowledge:
We wrapped up our brief study of the Wampanoag tribe and the creation of our village.
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| Kindergarteners can tell you the Wampanoag people used canoes for traveling and carrying things. |
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| Our Wampanoag village had lots of the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash. |
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| The Wampanoag lived in wigwams for part of the year. |
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| The Wampanoag's clothing was traditionally made out of animal hides, which kindergarteners know is the skin of animals. |
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| There were a lot of canoes in our river! |
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| The shoes of the Wampanoag are called moccasins. |
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| In addition to the Wampanoag's cultivation of the Three Sisters, they also fished and hunted. |
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| The lunch room is a great place to experiment with paper airplanes! |
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| Kindergartners followed directions on how to make a basic paper airplane and they did a great job! |
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| We got our fourth grade buddies to help make more paper airplanes! |
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| Decorating paper airplanes. |
Kindergarteners are learning that scientists (and they are scientists, for sure!) possess these character traits:
Curiosity
Carefulness (safe and thorough)
Creativity
Persistence
Sharing-ness and helpfulnessKindergarteners are learning that scientists (including kindergarteners!) use the scientific process to explore and understand the world and solve problems:
Notice and wonder
Learn more (“Research”--we are learning right now about airplanes, and that is called research!)
Guess what will happen (Make a hypothesis)
Do an experiment (Test hypothesis by doing an experiment)
Think and share (Analyze your data; Share your results)
Other:
We went to the library for the first time! We will be having our weekly library time on Wednesdays from 8:45 to 9:15. If you are available to come be a "librarian" and help choose books, check out books, and enjoy books, we would love to have you! Right now my check-out system is taking pictures of students with their books. Students will be keeping their books in the classroom to begin with, until we are sure we can take care of them and keep track of them.
We play and snack outside every day, regardless of weather. Please be sure your kindergartener is bringing a jacket or coat to school each day. Sweaters are great, but jackets are better with the change of the seasons. And PLEASE put name or initials in all items of clothing!
Mud boots are welcome, as long as your child can swiftly change in and out of them into regular school shoes. This is the only way they are allowed to go in the puddles (not that they don't have to be chased out of the puddles in regular shoes anyway).
If your child will be absent, please shoot me an email, and please cc Mrs. Marlatt (d.marlatt@chpcs.org), so she can be sure the attendance records are accurate.
