We are very excited to welcome our Dads tomorrow to share in Donuts With Dad.

9:00 am  in our room

See you in the morning!

Today we spent the morning planting a Vegetable Garden.  The kids worked in pairs, each digging a hole, dropping in the plant and covering it up with dirt.  Selina was the Water Girl, pouring a cup of water into each hole before the plant was planted.  We planted TOMATOES, GREEN PEPPERS, AND CUCUMBERS.  Some of the plants that I bought had small vegetables already on them because I wanted the kids to see what vegetable will come from each blossom.  The kids were excited to show their garden to other teachers.

I heard some great comments as we were planting:

“I’ve never planted anything before.”

“This is so much fun.  Can’t I plant another one?”

“I’m going to come back tonight and watch them grow.”

“I love to dig in the dirt and plant things.”

Thank you to Mrs. Balestrieri, Madilyn’s mom, for the extra pair of hands.  🙂 🙂

Stop by and check out the garden.  I want to add a wooden sign.  I just need to find another piece of wood.  Mr. Elia has a good stake…I’ll find a piece for the cross part.  The I want the kids to paint ‘OUR GARDEN” on it.

Toads, habitats, butterfly hatching and releasing, tadpoles, catching roly-polys, etc…   Lots of things going on in here!  I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Looking ahead…

Friday-Donuts With Dad   The kids are excited about this opportunity.  We look forward to our Dad/Uncle visiting.

Monday-FIELD DAY   Have your child wear gym shoes and we’ll play some games outside.  This is a PTA sponsored event.

Tuesday-CLASS PICNIC  Bring a picnic lunch for your family, a blanket and come enjoy lunch with us.  We’ll eat from 11:00-12:00.

Thursday-Half day  AM only

Mrs. Smith

Last week we became quite interested and attached to our visiting toads. We really wanted them to stay in our room. So, we wrote a proposal to Mrs. Anderson, Jason’s mom, defining our responsibilities, should she accept our proposal.  After over an hour of brainstorming, drafting, and editing, we finally had our proposal ready.  Mrs. Anderson came back to school and we presented Our Toad Proposal to her.

Good news!  She accepted our proposal so we had to get busy preparing the habitats.  Yesterday we spent all morning gathering the sand, dirt, rocks, sticks, leaves, and food (roly-polys) for our new classroom visitors.  We had job assignments and we have our “misters” for each day.  We must remember not to mist too much…otherwise we will make mud!

The 4 habitats are on the tables of each group in the room.  The kids are very excited and interested.  I hope the toads are happy too! 🙂

We had such a busy week last week that I am just now getting around to posting the remaining pictures!

(I may have posted some of these pictures before

Whew, we have been very busy in here!

Miss Sample returned for a book making session.  We sure enjoy our time with her and appreciate her sharing her expertise and ideas with us.

We also have had lots of excitement with some toads and a Swallow Tail Butterfly!  (Perhaps you have already heard about these visitors! 🙂

The butterfly came in her chrysalis on a parsley twig. (Courtesy of Mrs. Anderson-Jason’s mom) We watched it, saw the little thread from which it hung, watched it some more, predicted, and hoped that she would hatch.  Well, 2 days ago she hatched and she is beautiful!  We looked her up online and found out that she is a female because of her blue spots along the bottom of her larger wings.  The students named her “Charlotte Cutie” and have thoroughly enjoyed watching her up close.  Today we will release her back into her habitat so that she can find her butterfly family, lay more eggs, and have more for us to enjoy.  We know she will be happy.

I need to pick up my class from Music so I will finish this post later.

Mrs. Smith

We had fun with this video today.  Check it out (No sound on the video…just watch!)

you tube “Chameleon Camouflages to Sunglasses

I wanted to mention that we had a program this morning called “Animal Magic.”  Here is the website:

www.iwantanimalmagic.com

Thank you PTA!

Another week is upon us!  I will continue with District Assessments.  Math Assessments, Writing and most of Reading Assessments are finished.  Today I started Social Studies.

READING-We will finish our last reading unit…”Let’s Count Down!”  We will read a counting down story about Turtles in a Pond.  Lots of math and science in it.  Today we compared toads (from last week) and worms.  It is amazing how many things they could find in common with toads and worms.

SCIENCE-Speaking of worms, today Jason brought in 6 worms that he and his family found.  They created a great habitat for the worms.  Today I had small groups check out the worms.  We put them on paper towels and dropped a few drops of water on them.  Then we observed how they moved and they recorded their observations in their Science Journal. I hope to finish getting the remaining groups through tomorrow.  We are also making a Pond Life Mural (to compliment our Reading Unit).

WRITING-Lots of writing on every subject!  We are reviewing the words with, my, me, where, has, and look.  We will be making our own count down book (to go along with our reading unit.)

SOCIAL STUDIES-On Thursday I will make a flag with them.

MATH-We will start some number scrolls and play several games.  FUN!!

Today I am sending home an Application for a Dearborn Library Card.  I went to the Centennial Library last week and got the applications.  A parent is needed to accompany the student to the library.  This is a wonderful opportunity for Dearborn residents and the timing is perfect for summer reading!  I hope you take advantage of this opportunity.

Looking ahead…

May 23-26  Memorial Day  No School

June 6  Donuts With Dad 9:00 am

June 9  Field Day for Howard Students   This annual event is sponsored by our PTA.  A day of fun activities for our students. Students will need to wear gym shoes because they’ll be outside on the grass and running, playing games. Nothing needed from parents.  Just wanted to inform you.

June 10  Class Picnic  11:00-12:00  Parents are invited to bring a lunch and enjoy lunch with your child.  Nothing fancy or formal…just enjoy lunch together.

June 12  Last Day for Students-AM ONLY

Looking forward to another busy week in Kindergarten!

Mrs. Smith