A New Unit of Inquiry

Last week we finished our Unit of Inquiry on the senses. To wrap things up we went on a "sense-ational journey" around the school, keeping track of the various ways we use our senses as we move throughout the day. We recorded data like scientists and used it in the classroom to lead a discussion about how important our senses are. We concluded by popping and eating popcorn, realizing that in doing so we were using all of our five senses!

We have now started a new Unit that focuses on plants. The central idea of this Unit is:

By providing us with many things we need, plants help sustain life on earth.

We will explore this idea more deeply through the following lines of inquiry:

• The properties of plants
• What plants provide for us and other living things
• Learning to care for and nurture plants

At this point in the Unit we are sharing our current knowledge and are beginning to share our "wonders". We will work as scientist to prove and disprove statements throughout the next several weeks and will learn how our math focuses of patterns and measurement can provide lots of important information to help us appropriately nurture plants.

The Language of Plants

Patterns All Around!

As part of our study on patterns I have asked each child to search around his house for patterns to share with our class. Please encourage your child to find 3 or 4 objects with patterns and bring them into the classroom. We will display these on our "Pattern Board". Of course the items will be returned when finished; please simply put a piece of masking tape on each item labeled with your child's name. Thanks in advance for extending our learning at home!

We Love Our Animal Friends!

Our class is full of readers and writers! We have had such a great time meeting our "animal friends" and using them to help us; they continue to encourage us as we develop our skills. Many students are realizing that often our "friends" say more than one thing, which has led to some great discussions about the English language. We will learn more about this throughout the year through a program called Structured Word Inquiry.

Writer's Workshop has been a big hit as we tell about 'small moments' from our own lives through our pictures and words. We are being such risk-takers as we try our best to write the sounds we hear in order to add text. We have even begun learning simple words that we see regularly in print (sight words) and are inserting those in our writing. Praise your child for the great work he/she is doing!

Cadyn and Mikail as authors.

Iris illustrating her story.

Sandeep and Sahan sharing their stories.

Shanza sharing her writing with Ashman.

Last week we also began something very important: our growth portfolios! This year we will be using the iPads as a means of capturing our learning -- providing an opportunity for the students to have ownership over their work. We will continually reflect on our work and the progress we've made throughout our time in kindergarten.

Imran and Sandeep working on their portfolios. 

Aly helping Aylin with her e-portfolio.

Pattern Walk

KG-M went on a hunt last week in search of patterns. We found so many and realized that patterns are all around us! The students used iPads to take photos and document their learning.

Check out all the patterns we found!: