In January, kindergartners visited the Birdcraft Museum to learn more about tracking. A track is the print of an animal’s foot, and the shape, size and number of toes help identify it. Kindergartners learned that there are patterns to tracks which identify them as straight walkers, hoppers, waddlers and bounders. They enjoyed moving like skunks, deer, squirrels and other forest animals. Students were given track pattern cards to take outside, and with Colleen Noyse’s assistance, identified many deer tracks along the trail. Kindergartners brought back their new knowledge to help them identify animals visiting the Unquowa tracking station.

We have been studying the diverse and fascinating animal group, mammals! We learned that mammals can be found everywhere and made a beautiful mural to show the diversity of their habitats. We studied mammals that live in the sea such the largest animal to ever live, the blue whale. We measured the length of a blue whale using our arm spans to give the students a real visual example of how big a blue whale really is. While studying primates we learned the importance of the opposable thumb and students tried doing common activities like writing and picking things up without using their thumbs.  We also conducted an experiment to see how well fur keeps animals from getting cold. We put two bottles of warm water into the refrigerator, one covered with “fur” and one not.  Our predictions were correct that the fur covered bottle maintained its heat better.

Kindergarten students have been busy learning about fruit in Spanish class.  Their Amigotes (Big Buddies) have helped them to master fruit vocabulary via various learning stations.  Equipped with their new knowledge, kindergarten students helped me to paint a beautiful picture of a fruit basket on the Smart Board. Each student came up to the board, identified a fruit and its color, and painted it accordingly.  Job well done!

Most of us associate spring time with planting and fall with harvesting but this year I wanted our young scientists to see that growth is not that cut and dry. We planted bulbs in mid- November. I began by handing each child a bulb and asking if they thought it was living or nonliving, which led to a discussion on dormancy. Next, we headed out and planted our bulbs right along the main walkway to school. I cannot wait to see their excitement when the first tulips pop up this spring!

In December, we visited Sport Hill Farm and learned what farmers do during the winter months. There was still a lot to be harvested both inside and outside the greenhouses. Patty Popp showed us the plastic they put over the beds to protect the plants from the early frosts and she explained how our unexpected October snowstorm actually helped her crops because it acted like a blanket over the plastic and insulated them! We also discussed how farmers spend the non-growing seasons planning for the coming year. When a student asked Patty what she does in the winter, she replied, “Paperwork!”

After our trip to the farm, we visited Chef Peter in the kitchen and made some bread with Swiss Chard. Everybody enjoyed rolling the dough and trying some of the delicious bread! Everybody knows eating is something fun to do in all seasons.

November was an exciting time in Kindergarten. As a school we collected food for the Connecticut Food Bank . On the Friday before Thanksgiving the kindergarten and the fourth grade delivered the food to the food bank. The students helped to unload the food and to see where the food is stored until it is delivered to families in need. The kindergarten students also dressed up as Native Americans for our school Thanksgiving Feast. Lastly, Mr. Sullivan came to read a story about Thanksgiving to the class and the students made Thanksgiving place mats.

Students have been working with rain sticks!  These are fantastic instruments that really allow students to imagine we are singing in the rain!  Students have been learning all sorts of songs that have to do with rainy weather while playing the rain stick at the same time!

Just could not let the day pass without celebrating this once in a hundred years date! First we made the number 11 with two bodies, then I had a challenge. Could we come up with eleven different ways to make eleven? Each student made a group of eleven manipulatives and then broke that group into two parts, to make seven addition facts that make eleven. Then we used words, numerals, tallies and even pictures to represent eleven!

Recently, the big buddies visited both of the kindergarten classes to instruct them on twenty, common classroom objects. Sitting with their buddies, the kindergarteners observed a student drawing of the classroom and the various objects in the room. Then, each set of buddies was responsible for seeking out two objects in the classroom and labeling them correctly. Once all twenty labels were up, we were able to practice the pronunciation and location of the objects altogether with a fun, interactive activity.

Our Kindergarten scientists just took an exciting trip to the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport to learn about sound. We studied how sound travels in waves and felt our voice box vibrating as we made sounds. We were even able to make water move from sound vibrations by using a spouting bowl. Down in in the lab, students tested their sense of hearing by trying to match sounds with the objects that made them. Next each student was able to make their own sound machine to take home!

The kindergartners used their senses of sight, smell and touch to make keen observations in the Unquowa garden. Each student was given a sprig of thyme, lemon balm or chocolate mint to carefully examine and then challenged to locate in a bed of herbs. Many of the kindergartners identified the scents of lemon and mint as they rubbed the leaves gently between their fingers while searching for their herbs. Kindergartners also sighted a beautiful butterfly and recognized the symmetrical pattern on its wings, a connection to a recent math lesson. After students identified their herbs, they recorded observations by drawing detailed pictures of the leaves. Kindergartners did a great job making connections and honing their observation skills in the garden!