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April Pattern

Shark, Seal & Whale Picture Problems

We have been exploring picture problems, first by acting out a few problems, and then by solving problems presented in picture form on individual white boards. We successfully drew diagrams, counted one by one to arrive at answers, and even wrote number sentences to support our work. Here are some of the skills we practiced over the last few days:

Listening for key elements of word problems
Acting out word problems
Solving word problems
Interpreting visual information
Counting quantities to 10
Reading and writing numerals to 10
Exploring the processes of addition and subtraction
Learning to represent one's thinking with pictures and numbers
Sharing strategies and solutions with classmates

P.E. With Mr. Gove

April Number Corner

Number Corner

Our April calendar markers are pictures of different measurement tools. They are providing us with the opportunity to identify some of the tools commonly used to measure time, weight, temperature, and length. Each day we add a calendar marker, record the number of school days for the month and year, and talk about the days of the week. Each day we are practicing the following skills & concepts:

 

• Identify the appropriate instruments to measure time, weight, temperature and length
• Describe and extend simple repeating patterns
• Read aloud numerals from 0 to 31
• Identify ordinal positions through the 31^st

  ^To keep track of the days of school in April we are conducting a probability experiment. We are using a spinner that is ¼ dog and ¾ cat. Each day we spin and put a picture of whatever we spin (dog or cat), then record the result on a graph and finally write a number sentence reflecting the spin. So far the cats are way ahead of the dogs! We have talked a lot about how the chances are better for the cats because they occupy more space on the spinner than the dogs. 

"Small Moments" in Writing Workshop

We are learning about writing Personal Narratives by writing about "small moments" from our lives in ways that make that moment seem big. We have used teacher writing and published texts (picture books) to understand how authors stretch out a sequence of actions across several pages to make the moment exciting. Some of our favorites include A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Yesterday we created a poster listing questions we can ask ourselves or a partner to check our work to see if it is a "small moment."
Today, we worked with a partner and looked at our own work. It was great to re-read our own work. Students are really beginning to see themselves as authors and it is so exciting!

Where I Live

This project is an integration of art and geography as kindergartners compare locations of places to understand the size correlation between house, street, city, and state. To complete we used a 12" x 18" piece of construction paper and folded it in half three times to make a little book. On the top each student drew a picture of his/her house. Opening once reveals a picture of his/her street. The next time South Hero, and finally Vermont!

Writing Workshop

Exploring My World

We are exploring our place in the world. We used this activity to understand our location. We used our addresses to talk about where we live. For example, "------- lives in South Hero. South Hero is in Vermont. Vermont is in the United States. The United States is on the earth"

One Last Look At March

Today we took one last look at March, and In the process, reviewed odd and even numbers, practiced counting by 2's to 30 (yes 30!!!), and named the days of the week. Happy April!