After a successful first week of Alphabet Theme Days, I was more than excited to get going on week 2, which would be a full 5 days of activities! Thankfully, and most importantly, the kids shared that excitement with me.
This week, we were exploring the letters V, U, T, S, and R. (Fun Fact: I taught myself the ABCs backwards in 3rd grade...I'm thinking that by the end of this, my Kinder Crew might have a decent handle on that useless skill, too!) Here is a fun photo recap of the last 5 days of our Alphabet Countdown!
This week, we were exploring the letters V, U, T, S, and R. (Fun Fact: I taught myself the ABCs backwards in 3rd grade...I'm thinking that by the end of this, my Kinder Crew might have a decent handle on that useless skill, too!) Here is a fun photo recap of the last 5 days of our Alphabet Countdown!
V is for Volcano Day!
V day came at a perfect time for us, academically! In math, we were learning to measure and compare both length, height, and weight, but also capacity. While the kids would have (apparently) been perfectly content with simply "erupting" our volcanoes all day, the lesson on capacity lent itself incredibly well to this demonstration.
To begin, I had several containers filled with a mixture of baking soda, food coloring, and dish soap (for some extra foaminess!) Each of these containers varied in size. We worked together to put them in order from least to greatest capacity, and made predictions on whether or not the largest containers (which were holding the most materials) would make the biggest eruption.
Then, I added the vinegar and we got to see if our predictions were correct...in a very fun way!
To begin, I had several containers filled with a mixture of baking soda, food coloring, and dish soap (for some extra foaminess!) Each of these containers varied in size. We worked together to put them in order from least to greatest capacity, and made predictions on whether or not the largest containers (which were holding the most materials) would make the biggest eruption.
Then, I added the vinegar and we got to see if our predictions were correct...in a very fun way!
As you can see by those faces, the experiment did NOT disappoint!
After a few rounds of vinegar in each container and discussing our predictions, it was time for the kiddos to get in on the fun!
After a few rounds of vinegar in each container and discussing our predictions, it was time for the kiddos to get in on the fun!
Everybody got a chance to make our volcanoes erupt, but no matter how many times it happened, there were always excited reactions coming from the rest of the group. I'll call Volcano Day a success!
U is for U.S.A. Day!
U.S.A. Day was on the mellow side, with only a few activities thrown in here and there. As this countdown progresses, I'm finding that the parts of the day that most lend themselves to the activities is Word Work in Daily 5, and the game center in Math. Nothing that I plan for those times becomes a "stretch" to make it fit the theme or the academic goals, and they end up being fun and hands-on for the kiddos.
In this case, Word Work had the kids working on some sight words from way in the past! The kiddos were given American Flags, which I had written sight words on in white crayons. It was up to the kiddos to color the flag with markers to reveal all of the sight words! Then, they recorded each of the words they found and read them to themselves.
In this case, Word Work had the kids working on some sight words from way in the past! The kiddos were given American Flags, which I had written sight words on in white crayons. It was up to the kiddos to color the flag with markers to reveal all of the sight words! Then, they recorded each of the words they found and read them to themselves.
In writing, the kids were given the task of imagining that they held the most powerful job in the world: the Presidency! We brainstormed all of the things they could do if they had that job, and they got to work writing their answers and drawing accompanying pictures. We talked about ending homelessness, teaching people to read, and providing food for the hungry...but if you read the end results, the opinions about video game play-time and ice cream consumption were much stronger.
T is for Tornado Day!
What a whirlwind this day was! (Puns...)
But really, so much happened for Tornado Day! While there is only photo documentation of the Tornado Bottle we made, there were lots of discussions about tornadoes.
I had the pleasure of spending a summer working in Kansas a few years ago. While I was lucky enough that I was never in any danger of being remotely close to a tornado, my roommate did think I was nuts on several occasions when I freaked out about the tell-tale green or purple colored sky! While these stormy and eerie days did make me nervous, I also always found them strangely beautiful! And for that reason, I thought it was very important to show the kids some photos of pre-tornado skies. They were in awe about as much as I was!
But really, so much happened for Tornado Day! While there is only photo documentation of the Tornado Bottle we made, there were lots of discussions about tornadoes.
I had the pleasure of spending a summer working in Kansas a few years ago. While I was lucky enough that I was never in any danger of being remotely close to a tornado, my roommate did think I was nuts on several occasions when I freaked out about the tell-tale green or purple colored sky! While these stormy and eerie days did make me nervous, I also always found them strangely beautiful! And for that reason, I thought it was very important to show the kids some photos of pre-tornado skies. They were in awe about as much as I was!
None of those photos are ones that I took, but I certainly saw skies those colors! God uses his color pallet pretty amazingly, no?
We also ready the book Otis and the Tornado. We used the story to talk about where tornadoes generally take place, how they're formed, what the weather is like before and during the storm, and how to stay safe during them. There was a pretty green sky in the book, too! We also learned that it is not officially called a "tornado" until it touches down to the ground.
To wrap things up, we used a Tornado Bottle to replicate the motions of a tornado. We also noticed that if you held the bottle low enough, you could see down into the tornado, which is like the calm, empty eye of the storm!
We also ready the book Otis and the Tornado. We used the story to talk about where tornadoes generally take place, how they're formed, what the weather is like before and during the storm, and how to stay safe during them. There was a pretty green sky in the book, too! We also learned that it is not officially called a "tornado" until it touches down to the ground.
To wrap things up, we used a Tornado Bottle to replicate the motions of a tornado. We also noticed that if you held the bottle low enough, you could see down into the tornado, which is like the calm, empty eye of the storm!
S is for Sports Day!
Sports Day was a blast! We spent so much of our day talking about the Olympics! Just think, the last time the Summer Games took place, these kids were 1 year old. So, there was a lot to teach! We learned that there are summer and winter Olympics, and each take place every 4 years (but the Olympics take place every 2 years, which is super confusing, but I think they got it?) We also brainstormed lots of sports that we thought might fall into the summer or winter category.
The most beautiful and creative part of the day was when we learned about the Olympic Flag. Do you know why the flag has a white background? Do you know why the rings are red, black, blue, yellow, and green? I didn't until researching for Sports Day! Well, in 1913, the Olympic Committee chose the 6 colors of the flag because, at that time, every single nation who competed in the Games had at least 1 or more of those colors in their flag. Choosing those colors was the Committee's way of representing and uniting the individual nations in one unifying symbol. How beautiful is that?!
So our kiddos, after learning this tidbit, used their new knowledge to reinterpret the Olympic Flag with acrylic paint and toilet paper rolls (a humble interpretation, sure, but they turned out really cool!)
The most beautiful and creative part of the day was when we learned about the Olympic Flag. Do you know why the flag has a white background? Do you know why the rings are red, black, blue, yellow, and green? I didn't until researching for Sports Day! Well, in 1913, the Olympic Committee chose the 6 colors of the flag because, at that time, every single nation who competed in the Games had at least 1 or more of those colors in their flag. Choosing those colors was the Committee's way of representing and uniting the individual nations in one unifying symbol. How beautiful is that?!
So our kiddos, after learning this tidbit, used their new knowledge to reinterpret the Olympic Flag with acrylic paint and toilet paper rolls (a humble interpretation, sure, but they turned out really cool!)
During Daily 5, the kids paired up for Word Work (very rare in D5!) and practiced their basketball skills. There was a series of cups set up in front of each pair, and each cup was labeled with some sight words. They had to shoot a die into the cups, and write down the words on the cups that they scored in.
It had been a while since we had had any fun time with our Big Buddies, but on this day, we were lucky enough to all have flexible schedules! We flip-flopped our usual Thursday afternoon with our Friday afternoon/free choice time and headed outside with the 5th graders for some relay races!
I have to give major props to our Big Buddies. Earlier in the week, I mentioned to Mrs. Gillis that it would be so fun if her kiddos could plan our relay races and sports, and let me off the hook. She loved the idea, and presented it to her kids. In the end, they planned us a truly stellar and incredibly well organized afternoon of games. There were crab walks, wheel barrow races, "dress a 5th grader" competitions, and so much more! All of the kiddos let their competitive flags fly high, but were also so amazing at cheering on their classmates and buddies, no matter which team they were on.
So, go Mrs. Gillis and our amazing 5th graders...we appreciate SO much! (Especially me, who got to completely give over control and have the Sports Day sports planned entirely for me!!!!)
Check out all the fun we had!
I have to give major props to our Big Buddies. Earlier in the week, I mentioned to Mrs. Gillis that it would be so fun if her kiddos could plan our relay races and sports, and let me off the hook. She loved the idea, and presented it to her kids. In the end, they planned us a truly stellar and incredibly well organized afternoon of games. There were crab walks, wheel barrow races, "dress a 5th grader" competitions, and so much more! All of the kiddos let their competitive flags fly high, but were also so amazing at cheering on their classmates and buddies, no matter which team they were on.
So, go Mrs. Gillis and our amazing 5th graders...we appreciate SO much! (Especially me, who got to completely give over control and have the Sports Day sports planned entirely for me!!!!)
Check out all the fun we had!
R is for Recycle Day!
On Recycle Day, we learned all kids of things about trash, recycling, compost, and even upcycling!
To begin, we completed a cut-and-sort activities together. Here, the kids cut out different images and we worked as a class to discuss and sort them into their correct pile: trash or recycling! This led us into the discussion of compost, and how if possible, food products shouldn't necessarily head to the garbage bin!
And then I took a page out of Mr. Lasher's book and had the kids paint the inside of plastic water bottles. These will each be cut in a spiral, hooked together, and wired with lights to be a new jellyfish chandelier for the classroom! I love when projects can get the kids' creative juices flowing, help us learn about new-to-us concepts (upcycling, for instance), and help update the classroom's nautical theme. This beauty will soon be hanging over the space that will become next year's reading nook! It'll be so nice to have an incredible work of art created by these kiddos in my classroom for years to come!
Stay tuned for a finished look at their Recycle Day Masterpiece!
To begin, we completed a cut-and-sort activities together. Here, the kids cut out different images and we worked as a class to discuss and sort them into their correct pile: trash or recycling! This led us into the discussion of compost, and how if possible, food products shouldn't necessarily head to the garbage bin!
And then I took a page out of Mr. Lasher's book and had the kids paint the inside of plastic water bottles. These will each be cut in a spiral, hooked together, and wired with lights to be a new jellyfish chandelier for the classroom! I love when projects can get the kids' creative juices flowing, help us learn about new-to-us concepts (upcycling, for instance), and help update the classroom's nautical theme. This beauty will soon be hanging over the space that will become next year's reading nook! It'll be so nice to have an incredible work of art created by these kiddos in my classroom for years to come!
Stay tuned for a finished look at their Recycle Day Masterpiece!
Finally, shortly before the dismissal bell, we headed into the sun to clean up the hill and playground areas! *Shout out to Chase for bringing in his garbage hand! :) *
And that about does it for Week 2, folks! I hope you're enjoying our 26 Day Countdown as much as we are! We're already shoulders deep into Week 3, and I can't wait to share all of the fun it brings with you. Stay tuned for lots more good stuff coming your way!
________________________________
Oh, and P.S.
Shameless plug for the CKS Instagram account comin' atcha! If you follow "cksvt" on Instagram, you can not only keep track of the Kinder Crew's daily adventures in real time, you can ALSO keep track of the rest of the classes and community goings-on! So, go follow our page and stay up to date on all of the excitement and learning that takes place at our amazing school!
________________________________
Oh, and P.S.
Shameless plug for the CKS Instagram account comin' atcha! If you follow "cksvt" on Instagram, you can not only keep track of the Kinder Crew's daily adventures in real time, you can ALSO keep track of the rest of the classes and community goings-on! So, go follow our page and stay up to date on all of the excitement and learning that takes place at our amazing school!