Measurement Activities

We recently started a study on measurement for math.  We started with capacity.  We have already completed a mitten capacity investigation. On our second day of capacity, I had my cuties predict how many cubes would fit into this bowl.

 

After they recorded their predictions on this chart, we completed the investigation and learned the capacity was 57 cubes.

Then we measured the capacity in cubes for some cups.  I called it Cupfuls of Capacity.  For the Cupfuls of Capacity, I provided each group with three different sized cups.  Each cup had a different colored star taped to it.  

Each little cutie made predictions about how many cubes each cup would hold, then performed their investigation.   

My kinders used this recording paper to complete the investigation.

After we completed our capacity study, we moved on to weight.  I did not get photos of all our activities, but during our learning, I overheard one little cutie say "big things are always heavier".  Hmmm... SO the very next day we completed a little investigation.  I filled one balloon with air and one balloon with some water.  We predicted which balloon was heavier and recorded it on this chart.

 

Then we completed the investigation and learned that the smaller balloon with water was heavier!  Some of these little guys were in awe with the results.

While we did the investigation, my cuties used this recording paper.

Black History Month

I enjoy teaching my cuties about diversity this time of year.  It ties in so well with understanding Black History Month

We started our study this week by reading The Colors of Us.

This precious book is about a little girl's journey to create different shades of paint so she can paint her friends and family.  She names each shade she creates a different name, such as cinnamon, toast, and honey.

Then we created paint that matched our skin color.  We mixed bits of yellow, peach, white, black, brown, and red on the back of our hands until we found the correct color.

 

We mixed the colors in a Dixie cup.

 Once the paint was mixed, my kinders painted a portrait and wrote at the bottom "I am ___________."  In the blank, they named their skin color like in the book.

Don't you have green hair?  Ha ha ha! 

I was so proud of my cuties' understanding that no one's skin is really black and that all of our skin is different from each other.

Love these little ones so much!

Mitten Capacity

We started a measurement unit recently.  Today I introduced measuring capacity.  We started by reading Room for Ripley.

I just love Stuart J. Murphy's Math Start books!  Then we completed a mitten capacity exploration.  My cuties made predictions about the capacity of different mittens if they filled them with cotton balls.  Then they found the actual capacity.

Click here to print the mitten capacity exploration activity.

Wow! I won an award!

I cannot believe it!  Angela at The Daily Alphabet presented me with the Liebster Blog Award!  Wow!  Sprinkles to me!  Thank you oodles, Angela! 

  

Here are the rules for accepting this award:
    

• Thank the presenter and post a link back to their   blog
• Put the award on my blog
• Pick 5 blogs with less than 200 followers and notify them of the award, and encourage them to pass it on

I am nominating the following blogs:

Mrs. Plant's Press

Kindergarten Kel

Loving and Learning in Pre-K  

Hangin with Mrs. Cooper

Golden Gang Kindergarten

You should definitely check out these ladies' blogs! 

Have a blessed Sunday!

So excited!

I received a package in the mail today from Heidi Songs with these two little goodies inside

I am super excited to perform this play with my cuties this year.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE doing performances with my students.  My husband is an actor here in Austin, TX, so he loves that I incorporate theatre as well.  

When I taught second grade, we would perform reader's theatre from this book.  I love this book because it comes with a sound effects CD for each play.

Here are some pictures of some of my second graders' performances last year of Little Red Hiding Hood and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

 

We also performed at the talent show last year.  Click here to see their performance of Interjections! by School House Rock.

I cannot wait to perform with my kinder cuties this year!

Groundhog's Day Fun

We had a fabulous day yesterday for Groundhog's Day!  Here are some pictures of our day.

We made groundhog predictions.  This idea came from Vickie Plant's Groundhog's Day Unit.  We played tons of her games in this unit as well for math and reading groups.

We created an organizer to show our thinking.

We used Gail Gibbon's book Groundhog's Day to help us learn new things about this holiday.

Then we explored our own shadows outside and observed what type of weather helps us see shadows. 

When we returned to our classroom we created shadow pictures of objects we viewed outside.

 

Thank you Hadar for this fabulous shadow idea!

The we created groundhog bananas while we watched the news clip from Pennsylvania about Punxsutawney Phil.

To make the groundhog, we stuck almonds for ears and chocolate chips for eyes into a banana.

American Symbols

It's February!  This is my first post in a new month.  Every post I have had so far has been in the same month!!!  Sprinkles to blogging! I do enjoy it A LOT.

In my buzzing room, we have been studying Symbols of America for the past few days.  Here are some pictures of our learning.

These ideas came from Deanna Jump's America Unit.  (Isn't she FABULOUS!) 

U.S. Flag

 

Bald Eagle 

Here are some of our American Symbols journal entries.  These cuties are SMART!  You can also find this journal in Deanna Jump's America Unit.

 

 

 We also tuned ourselves into the Statue of Liberty.  This idea came from Kim Adsit's American Symbols Unit.

The Liberty Bell was one of my own creations.  We used torn paper to create the crack in the bell.

We also organized our thinking with this bubble map.  The pictures can be printed from Deanna Jump's American Unit, too.  I created the title in the middle of the bubble map.  Click on the picture below to download it.

 

We played a review game that I found in Rachel Smith's American Symbols Unit.  I called a student up to my special chair and placed a crown on their head.  Then I taped a picture of a symbol on the crown and other students provided clues about the symbol.  Then the kiddo wearing the crown guessed what symbol was on the crown.