Mandalas at Recess

Chalk and beach stones make for creativity!

Children work together to create this mandala.  We talked about what it looked like, a snail, a tornado, or what have you?

Learning to cooperate!

This game builds cooperation and team decision-making!

More Math Theater this time using tens-frames

Journal Writing-Animal Investigations

A student draws a picture of an animal that interests her based on a text.

Children draw about an animal of interest and then write their observations.

We are fortunate to own quite a few informational texts about animals.

Children have the benefit of alphabet strips and the word wall to help them with their writing.

Students look to the word wall to help with the letter/sound connection.

This student drew her picture of a cat, and then wrote about what she noticed.  The writing is top to bottom and evidences prewriting skills.

Early writers are expected to understand that writing conveys meaning.  Benchmarks for children 2.5 to 6.0 years of age from the Connecticut Performance Assessment Framework states that children aged 2.5 scribble, and that typically as students develop, their writing is different from drawing.  Letter-like scribbles may say "kangaroo" for example.  Around 3.5 years of age, students  begin to use some recognizable letters.  The sound may not correspond.  I see children use letters they know from their name.  They may write but not always moving from left to right.  At age 4.5 years of age, typically students begin to write using invented spelling (attaching letters to sounds as they deem appropriate), and writing left to right.  Letters are often reversed and this may continue for a bit.  Letter choice for most words may be random.

New England Cottontail Rabbit Project

The children and I sat down today and discussed what our observations told us about whether or not Cottontail rabbits were evident in the woods at Vinton.  Although we saw tracks that were similar to that of a rabbit, we're not sure it wasn't a squirrel.  But, the coyote tracks and coyote scat told us that there was definitely a coyote close. 
We discussed what the problem(s) was/were and that list is below.  Through shared writing, all ideas were honored.  On the other poster are the responses to our questions from our rabbit expert, Department of Environmental Conservation's Andrea Petrullo.

Scientific Inquiry with today's morning group

These awesome handheld field microscopes were part of the DonorsChoose project that was supported by family and friends as well as corporate sponsors.  We have made good use so far of the compasses and binoculars as well as the ipad, which has taken all of these photographs!  

The

Arrival choices on an early release day

Friends playing with the shadow puppet theaters.

Construction is the theme in the Sand/Water table this week.

Due to the use of real needles, children are learning to sew two at a time.  We're using embroidery thread and felt to create small pillows for the first project.

Play-doh is always a lot of fun!

Morning session-UCONN Ladies take the shots!

Outside in the SNOW!

Social and Emotional Learning-How to Play Fair

Mrs. Heersink and Mrs. Dionne lead a small group (color group) here.  Children role-played with adults and then with a friend on how to share, trade or take turns.

Hand held microscopes-Exploration and commentary

Like the binoculars and compasses, these hand held microscopes were procured from DONORS CHOOSE.  It was amazing to see what the woodland artifacts looked like up so close.

Looking closely at a clump of Reindeer moss.

Selecting woodland artifacts to examine.

Sewing in Prekindergarten

We're venturing into sewing.  Felt and embroidery thread will make for super shape pillows. 

Friday walk in the woods with afternoon group

Ms. Reynolds, a volunteer with Joshua's Trust, taught us how to use a compass.  

We learned about North, East, South and West.

The direction of the trail head will be important to know to determine our bearings.  This will also be necessary when we draw trail maps for the school.

Pointing west means east is behind us.  Look at the shadow.

Compasses were attached to child friendly sized lids and made into necklaces.

Independence is key.

Parent volunteers also helped with using the new binoculars.  We were looking for squirrel dreys up high and rabbit tracks down low.

Children waited their turn for the binoculars.  

Coyote scat.

More scat.

Special thanks to Ms. Reynolds and Mrs. Limberg for their support today!