An Anouncement

Check out the Destination Nature Facebook page for the official announcement.  Click here.

The Latest Journal Pages

"I love my stuffed animals!"  Wow!  He really sounded out animals!

"Snowy Owls and Great Gray Owls are feeding!"

"I like birds!"

"I like penguins and dump trucks."

"I like football players."

"Last night I watched Jaws."

"I like to play Hungry Shark!  This is Megladon."

"I like to build snow piles with Grant!"

Reading and Writing

Second semester is when we have a big push on reading and writing as well as math.  Here the kids are working at learning centers while I work with a small group.  The children have gotten much better at working together in small group.  

We review the rules each time:

• everyone needs to work
• be kind to one another
• be helpful without telling the answer
• stay focused
• help clean up

Putting the numbers in order is not easy for a 5 year old.

They are able to read books now!

Here they are matching pictures to words with "a" chunks like: -an, -at, -ap

Snowman Art

This project focused on using the basic shapes to make things in our environment.  I cut a triangle, square, rectangle and circle out of a potato.  They stamped the potato shape into white paint to create a snow scene.  The next day they used Q-tips to add colorful details.  It makes me feel cold just looking at them!

Freddie Frog's Fantastic Flapjacks

I really enjoy doing fun projects with the kindergartners that incorporate many standards.  In this way children are learning while having fun. 

Today I taught them a bit about cooking and how you have to have the correct ingredients and the correct amount for the recipe to turn out.  I had them follow a recipe and make their own flapjack/pancake in a cup.  They enjoyed flipping their flapjack too. They thought that their flapjack was delicious and that they were a pretty good cook!  I think they really enjoyed it!

First they add ingredients to make the batter in a cup.

It is safer for me to put the batter on the griddle, but 
they get to flip their own flapjack.

I enjoy watching them get their flapjack ready to eat.  
They take it so seriously.

Some kids use a little syrup and some use enough for 
five flapjacks.

Here is the recipe - although I now substitute all-purpose flour.

We discussed many things during this lesson:

• how to read a recipe
• cooking "tools" - tablespoon, teaspoon, etc.
• electricity and how to safely plug in a cord {for the griddle}
• being safe around hot things
• following directions was really emphasized
• some foods come from animals: milk, eggs and honey were used today
• all about wheat and how it is grown
• how wheat is changed into flour
• what other foods are made from flour
• what steam is - that was rising from the pancake
• I read the "Little Red Hen" book and we saw how she raised wheat

As you can see...many small lessons and standards can be covered with one project! 

Common Core Standards

The Common Core Standards are the skills that your child will be taught during the school year.  Here is a link to the many skills that we will work on in Reading and Math during the year.  You can help by looking them over and reinforcing these skills at home.  

I chose the standards that are written in "kid-friendly" language, so that you can discuss it with your child.  It is amazing all that they learn during their kindergarten school year!  Click on the link below:

Common Core Standards for Kindergarten 

A Merlin on the Playground

When I arrived at school on Monday, I noticed a Merlin up in the tree above the playground equipment. A Merlin is a small falcon that is a bit larger than the American Kestrel.  The Merlin is a powerful flier that preys on songbirds and shorebirds.  I have seen the Merlin on the playground during the last two winters, so I was happy to see one was back.  I imagine it is trying to capture the European Starlings that frequent the playground.  If you would like to read more about Merlins, check out the "All About Bird" site by clicking here.

The young birders viewed the bird through the classroom binoculars for a closer look.  Several of them shouted out, "Life bird!"  That means it is the first time that they've seen it in their life.  What was your last life bird?

We sure get a lot of use out of our binoculars!

This bird is a small falcon called a Merlin. I took this photo 
at the local lake in town back in December.  It may 
be the same one.