Evergreen Study

We spent time learning about evergreen trees for the past week.
We learned that there are many different varieties of evergreens, 
and the reason they got that name is because 
the needles stay green all year round.
We created some new sensory bottles using 
evergreens and shiny glitter. 

This is a simple project you can do at home.

Next, we each painted our own evergreen tree at the easel.


It was fun painting the pointy needles.


 We thought it would be fun to assemble our own evergreen tree for the classroom. These little engineers will take on any challenge:)

First, we sorted the branches according to length.

Next, starting with the longest branches, we figured out 
how to get the end into the little hole. 

The tricky part was wiggly it down just right until we heard a click!

We quickly learned that working together made the job easier.

 Isn't collaboration great?!

 It looked a little strange when we were finished and then someone said: 'We have to fluff it up!'

We are excited to have our own little evergreen in 

our classroom and added a few lights to make it twinkle.

Before stringing the lights on the tree, we stretched them 
across BOTH our classrooms!!

Ta-Daaaaaaa!

Pine Cone Science

We had a fun time playing with pine cones in a tub of water and experimenting whether or not they sink or float. 

Ask your child what happened or give it a try at home.

 The children were thrilled to learn that pine cones float. 

 The water tubs sat idle for about 15 minutes.

The pine cones closed up tight! 

HOW did this happen and 

WHY?

This lead us to a simple pine cone science 

inquiry over the next few days to figure out 

what makes the pine cones open and close. 

We discovered that the pine cones that 

were shut tight were VERY wet.

We set the pine cones on the window ledge and let them dry out for a day and low and behold they opened up again. 

Hmmm... what happened?! 

We learned that the pine cones hold the tiny seeds.

We also noticed that the seeds were similar to 

maple seeds in that they have little wings 

and float like a helicopter when tossed into the air. 

This is how they are dispersed with the help of the wind.

We compared different types of pine cones. 

The thick, fatter cones took longer to close and dry out.

We guessed that the pine cone could 

protect the seeds by closing up tight.

 This is a wonderful example of adaptation.

If you're looking for a fun little experiment, go find a few pinecones and toss them into a bowl of water. 

Watch. Wait. Be amazed:)

Gingerbread Fun!

What a fun week of gingerbread stories and activities!

The children listened to many different 

versions of The Gingerbread Man stories.
Here are a few...

 

 

We continued with a compare/contrast study and  

learned that the characters changed in the different versions of

the story; into to a baby, a girl, and a boy,  and even friends,

but the chant remained the same...

Run, run, 

as fast as you can.

You can't catch me,

 I'm the gingerbread man.
Several of the stories were written by the author Jan Brett.
We will continue an author study in January
 using many of her winter stories.

We created our own Gingerbread houses on 

National Gingerbread day!

Mmmm... they look yummy enough to eat.
Making our own gingerbread characters was so fun too!

So many collage choices.

 

Ta-daaaaaaa!

The children engaged in many gingerbread math activities as well.
Counting cookies on the tray and finding 
the corresponding number.

 Adding gumdrops to gingerbread houses.

 Gingerbread playdough ten-frames.

We enjoyed the gingerbread activities so 
much that we didn't get to finish all of them. 
Maybe more to come next week:)

Little Red Hed Study

The prekindergartners engaged in a week long 

compare/contrast study of the folktale, 

The Little Red Hen.

We read many different versions.

 

We found some elements were the same, 

like the general storyline and moral of the story.

Other things were different; characters, what the Red Hen planted and what she baked and even where the setting took place.

This was a basic introduction to story elements which we will go into further in the next few months.

We learned that authors can retell the stories of others and create their own original illustrations to go along with their version.

The culminating activity of course was to bake our own bread.

We decided to prepare cornbread.

Add a little cornmeal.

 Add some milk.

Crack an egg.

 Wonder a bit how THIS will turn into bread?!?

  Then, stir,

  and stir,

 and stir some more.

We decided our thanksgiving celebration 

was the perfect time to share the bread.

Who will help me set this table?

"We will!"

Who will help me eat this bread?

 "We will!"

The great life lesson we learned...

hard work reaps rewards and satisfaction

while laziness comes with consequences.

Hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Gobble, Gobble!!

Cheers!

Thank you to all parents who helped 

make our celebration a big success!!