Election Day in the Cub Cadets Today

The Cub Cadets and Kinderstars have voted. We held a primary in our classroom. It was a close Republican race with Marco Rubio getting the most votes. Bernie Sanders received most of the votes for the Democrats. We are excited to see if our votes match the real primary tomorrow. 

The Desert February 29-March(No School Tuesday for Election Day)

Weekly Question and Vocabulary Related to book:

(lizard, cowboy, herd, spider, sniff, burrow)

Unit Book: The Gingerbread Cowboy

What are desert animals like?

Literacy Small Groups

Handwriting- We will be focusing on magic C letters, we will practice writing the letters C and O  We will be working on our own letter formation books that will come home when our uppercase letter formations are complete.   

Letters and Sounds- We will work to match sounds with their corresponding letters.  We will be using words from our unit.

Handwriting- We will be focusing on magic C letters, we will practice writing the letters G and Q. We will be working on our own letter formation books that will come home when our uppercase letter formations are complete.  

Compare and Contrast- We will discuss animals from the jungle and animals from the desert. We will look in books to see how they are the same or different. Then we will create a chart in small groups.

Math Small Groups

Waxy Numbers- We will practice identifying and naming numerals to 10.  Using wax sticks, we will practice making each number while others in the group guess the number made.  We will trace our guesses on our recording sheet.

Pattern review- We will create our own desert patterns.  Using desert cutouts and a pattern grid, we will create our own patterns.  We must be sure that they repeat to be a pattern.

Sandy Numerals -We will practice forming  numerals through 10.  Using sand trays, we will practice writing numerals with our finger.  We will then trace numbers on our papers with glue and sprinkle them with sand to make sandy desert numbers.  Ask your child to trace these numbers with his/her finger when dry while naming each one.

Numeral Book- We will continue our practice recognizing and understanding numerals to 10.  Using a number book, we will find the numbers our teacher says.  Then we will stamp that many dots on each number to practice matching quantities 1 to 10.

Centers

Art Table-Animal art to add to our mural (catcus hand prints, camel hand prints)

Block Area- Animals and blocks

Sensory Table- Water and sponges (absorb concept)
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Desert Words
Dramatic Play-Gingerbread Bake Shop
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives-Big Pool filled with sand and letters to explore
Science - Sponges and water to explore  how water absorbs
Rug- Building shelter from the sun in the desert

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
- Sink or Swim
-Desert Animals Video
-What is a numeral?
-Compare and contrast desert animals to jungle animals

Preschool Life Skills 

- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right away"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Animals in the Desert Song

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behaviors. 

Letter Safari Video

The Cub Cadets and Kinderstars went on a Letter Safari.  

Enjoy the video above.  If you cannot view it on my blog here is the link:

http://youtu.be/Kt35uJiBVvI

Desert Unit Week 1 February 22-26

Weekly Question and Vocabulary Related to book:

(sand, desert, coyote, howl, absorb, cactus)

Unit Book:Two Cool Coyotes

What is a desert?

Literacy Small Groups

Handwriting- We will begin a quick review of uppercase letter formations.  Focusing on straight line letters, we will practice writing the letters E and H  We will be working on our own letter formation books that will come home when our uppercase letter formations are complete.   

Initial Sounds Bingo- We will learn how to match initial sounds.  PLaying a bingo game children will listen for words that sound with the same initial letter sound to earn a point on their boards.  Practice this skill at home in car or at the dinner table! Try to produce words that begin with the same sound.  

Deleting the onsets- We will practice deleting the onset from words.  The onset is the beginning sound/s of a word and the rime is  all the sounds that follow it.  For example, in the word “bell” /b/ is the onset and /ell/ is the rime.  We will use picture cards to take physically take away the onset of the word to discover what the word is with just the rime left.  If we take away the /b/ in bell, we are left with /ell./

Handwriting- We will continue practicing straight line letters.  We will review and practice the formation for the letters U in our letter books.

Journals-We will write in our journals about animals that live in the desert.  We will add lots of detail to our illustrations and carefully sound out our words to write what we hear.

Handwriting/Letter Groups

We have begun formalized uppercase letter formations next week.  We will begin with straight line letters.  Please reinforce with your child that "we always start our letters at the top." This is an important skill in formations.

Math Small Groups

Patterned Snakes- Desert snakes have patterns all over them.   We will use paper links to make a pattern by alternating colors to make our own desert snakes.  We will be sure to check to see that our pattern repeats!  

Playdough Numbers- We will use number mats and playdough to mold numbers 1-10.  We will also count out the corresponding number of playdough dots to practice matching quantities to written numerals.

Playdough Pattern Snakes- We will use playdough to practice patterning.  Using beads, paper clips and buttons we will create and repeat our own patterns on our playdough snake.  Patterns can be made with almost anything at all- have fun patterning at home too!

Pattern/ Not a Pattern Sort- We will cut out a variety of pictures and determine whether or not they are patterns.  We will sort them into two categories: “ Yes”, it is a pattern and “No”, it is not a pattern. We will need to look closely at the pictures to see if they repeat as that is the key to patterns!

Pattern Trains- We will be using unifix cubes to create “pattern trains”.  Each child will be given a card with a pattern on it.  Then they will place their hand in a bag and choose a unifix cube.  If they need that color for their pattern, they will keep the cube.  If they do not need it, they will give the cube to a friend that needs it to complete their pattern. The goal of the game is for everyone to complete a pattern of 10 cubes.  

Centers

Art Table-Animal art to add to our mural (catcus hand prints, camel hand prints)

Block Area- Animals and blocks

Sensory Table-Sand (Animals, rocks, caves....)
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Zookeeper Lists
Dramatic Play-Desert Burrows and Caves: Creating underground animal homes
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- Counting cactus activity
Science - Sponges and water to explore  how water absorbs
Rug- Safari jeeps, animals, and people

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-What is a desert?
-How do animals live in a desert
-Aborbing Sponges/Sponges cut into catcus to show how water absorbs
-Compare and contrast jungle and desert animals

Preschool Life Skills 

- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right away"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Animals in the Desert Song

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behaviors. 

Jungle Unit Week 2 February 8-12

-Reminder: We will be passing our Valentines to our friends on Friday, February 12th.  
Weekly Question and Vocabulary Related to book:

  Unit Book: Chameleon's Colors

Wha are jungle animals like?
(parrot, complain, splash,chase, collect, pattern )
Literacy Small Groups

Handwriting- We will begin a quick review of uppercase letter formations.  Focusing on straight line letters, we will practice writing the letters L and F.  We will be working on our own letter formation books that will come home when our uppercase letter formations are complete.

Letter Sounds- We will practice letter-sound correspondence with another fun qr code activity.  Using a qr code on our iPads, we will scan codes around our room to reveal a mystery picture and word.  We will match the beginning sound the letter that makes that sound and color the letter on our recording sheets.

Handwriting- We will continue practicing straight line letters.  We will review and practice the formations for the letters E and H in our letter books.

Journal- We will continue our journal writing and work to add spaces between our words.  We will use our senses to write about what we see, hear, touch, taste or smell in the jungle. We will have to use our imaginations and what we have learned about the jungle.

Handwriting/Letter Groups

We have begun formalized uppercase letter formations next week.  We will begin with straight line letters.  Please reinforce with your child that "we always start our letters at the top." This is an important skill in formations.

Math Small Groups

Pattern Binoculars- We will practice our patterning skills by making our own safari binoculars.  Using paper strips we will decorate our binoculars like patterned jungle animals.  We will be sure to have our pattern repeat and will use these binoculars on a special safari around our school. 

Patterns- We will use the story Chameleon’s colors to create our own patterned chameleons.  Using colored cubes we will make our own colorful chameleon by repeating an ABC pattern.  We will then use colored tissue squares to craft our chameleon and make it into another  fun class book.

Jungle Animal Roll & Write- We will use dot dice to roll and find numbers on our sheet. We will name and trace each number we find and try to trace them all!

Patterns- We will use legos to create a variety of pattterns. We will then record our patterns by coloring on a recording sheet. We will compare our patterns with our friends to see how they are the same or different.

Centers

Art Table-Animal prints to add to our mural

Block Area- Zoo animals with labels for children to create zoo cages

Sensory Table-Jungle Habitats (Animals, rocks, caves....)
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Zookeeper Lists
Dramatic Play-Zookeeper Vet(Taking Care of Jungle Animals)
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- Playdough Mats to feed the giraffes according to the numbers on the mats.
Science - We are preparing to have a special visitor from the Science Center.
Rug- Safari jeeps, animals, and people

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-What is a pattern?
-How jungle animals camouflage in different environments
-What living things need
-Canopy, understory, and forest floor review.

Preschool Life Skills 

- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right away"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Down in the Jungle
-Five Little Monkeys
-Rhyming Time Song
-Jungle Movement

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behaviors.