iFly

Posted on March 23, 2017 by kgenovese

The Lemur News! Week of March 14 – 17

Posted on March 19, 2017 by kgenovese

This week was short but it was full! We welcomed Ms. Ryan to our class as our new assistant teacher. We saw the incredible K-2nd grade musical in the gym, “The Gingerbread Man Meets the…” It was such a great show. We had a creativity explosion in the Lemur Room on Friday as we created homes for our dragon puppets. Thank you so much to the parents who came and helped us…we really put you to work! The Lemurs created beautiful habitats, ready to take home on Monday. We tried to catch ourselves a leprechaun on Saint Patrick’s Day. Although the Lemurs created 3 very clever traps, the leprechaun was able to escape all three. He left us a note and a golden treat and inspiration to create an even better trap next year!

This coming Wednesday is our field trip to iFly. Please be sure to pack a disposable lunch and water bottle.

Small Group Treehouse Activities This Week:

Monday
No School

Tuesday
Simple Machines – We bagan working on our simple machine books, starting with the lever
Science – Corn Planting – Our corn sprouts were tall enough to replant into a larger planter. Students helped to replant the sprouts, water and then journal their observations.
Reading – In anticipation of the K-2nd musical, students researched the characters and settings of all the stories represented in the play…The Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Kittens, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Billy Goats, Chicken Little, Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Wednesday
K-2nd Musical

Thursday
Guided Reading – Students met individually with Ms. Ryan and read books in their book bags, bags were updated. The rest of the group listened to books on RAZ kids.
Construction – Leprechaun Traps – Groups worked together to brainstorm ideas to catch themselves a leprechaun. I was so impressed with the incredible teamwork and inventiveness!
Math -BINGO – Students practiced number recognition with a fun, old fashioned game of BINGO

Friday
Dragon Habitats!

Leprechauns!

Posted on March 19, 2017 by kgenovese

Creating Dragon Habitats

Posted on March 19, 2017 by kgenovese

Jack and the Beanstalk

Posted on March 19, 2017 by kgenovese

The Lemur News! Week of March 6 – March 10

Posted on March 19, 2017 by kgenovese

Small Group Treehouse Activities This Week:

Monday
Book – The Popcorn Dragon – I read the story The Popcorn Dagon by Jane Thayer
Math – Dragon Shopping – Students used their coing knowledge to purchase items for their baby dragons
Math – Symmetry Dragons – Students carefully colored a mirrored dragon picture so that it’s 2 sides were perfectly symmetrical

Tuesday
Math – Dragon Pearl Game – Students earned coins by rolling a die. They then continued trading in coins until they were able to get the coveted dragon’s pearl.
Craft – Dragon Puppets – Students designed sock puppets to look like dragons

Wednesday
Sparky the Popcorn Dragon – Using a popcorn machine disguised as a dragon, we heard the story of a little dragon who let his fire-y breath loose in a corn field, resulting in popcorn for everyone!

Thursday
Sight Word check – Students practiced sight words from their book bags
Writing – Sparky’s Story – Students sequenced the story we heard about Sparky the popcorn dragon and then wrote multiple sentences to retell the story.

Friday
Guided Reading – STudents read individually with teacher and updated book bags
Math- Dragon NUmber Stories – Students rolled dice and created a number problem story. The rest of the group wrote the problem as a number sentence.
Memory Game – Magic Labyrith – Mrs. Kirsh taught students how to play this fabulous memory game, Magic Labyrith

Fun with our new classmate!

Posted on March 18, 2017 by kgenovese

The Tale of the Dragon’s Pearl

Posted on March 18, 2017 by kgenovese

Sparky the Popcorn Dragon

Posted on March 18, 2017 by kgenovese

The Lemur News! Week of Feb. 27 – March 3

Posted on March 4, 2017 by kgenovese

We started a new unit this week: Dragons, Castles and Corn! The children have really enjoyed wearing the many costumes, putting on puppet shows and magic shows, and observing our classroom pet, a bearded dragon. We started construction on our dragon habitat project, beginning with a jewel encrusted dragon egg. If you have not already, please bring in a shoebox for your child by March 17. I am still looking for some volunteers to help on construction day for our dragon homes. Let me know if you are interested…it is a lot of fun!

In your Friday Red Folder you will find a pink “Save the Date” card. I set our Pre-K performance show dates as May 4th 2:30pm & May 5th 9am. We have 2 shows to help accommodate everyone’s busy schedules. Closer to the performance dates I will send home an RSVP. We will begin preparations for the show in the next week or so…the Lemurs put a lot of work into the production, you will not want to miss it!

Small Group Activities This Week:

Monday
Reading: Dagon Colors Book The Lemurs learned about the characteristics of the different colored dragons. Each students colored and read a “Dragon Colors” book that went into their book bags.
Math: Coin Book – The Penny We have begun learning about coins this week. We focused on one coin each day. We used magnifing glasses to look closely at the images and shapes of the coins, today the penny.
Game Strategy – Intro to Chess Mrs. Kirsh brought in her family’s beautiful Chess Board and gave a primer on the game of Chess. For the rest of the year, Mrs. Kirsh makes herself available at Center time to play Chess with any students who are interested.

Tuesday
Project: Dragon Planning – Over the next month students will be creating a dragon puppet, a baby dragon, and an enchanted habitat for them to live. After learning about the attributes of different colored dragons, students planned what type of dragon they would live to create.
Math: Coin Book – The Nickel – Today we focused on the nickel. Lemurs could use change in their “wallet” to purchase food for their baby dragons.
Science/Writing – Planting Corn – We looked closely at popcorn kernels and watched a time lapse video that showed which end the roots grow from and which end the sprout comes from. We then planted kernels with the pointy part facing different directions. We began a journal to keep track of our experiment.

Wednesday
Family Crests – Design and Planning We looked at examples of Family crests and the discussed the meaning behind the symbolism. Students then thought about their own families and began planning their own family crest.

Thursday
Guided Reading/Book Bags – I met with each student and decided which books to put in their book bags to take home this week.
Math: Coin Book – The Dime We focused on the dime today. Students were able to purchase little toys for their baby dragons.
Family Crest Animal – Students composed their family crest with 3 sections…the first letter of their last name, the lemur badge that their family most values (compassion, patience, industry, responsibility, or respect), and an animal that symbolizes their family attributes.

Friday
Reading: White Board Letters/Writing Assessment – Students practiced letter formation on white boards. Then we completed a writing assessment for upcoming progress reports.
Math: Coin Book – The Quarter – We focused on the quarter
Project – Dragon Egg Construction – Mrs. Kirsh helped students to create a beautiful, jewel encrusted dragon egg to house their baby dragon.