New Skills, New Friends and Forrest Fun!

This post is really like a "visual follow-up" to Curriculum night.  Below you'll be able to see a dice rolling math game in action.  As I circulated amongst the children I asked questions about which number had the most or the least, and which they thought may come in first, second, or third.  You can also get a look and the fantastic focus the children brought to practicing writing their names like a kindergarten teacher!  (AKA first letter uppercase and all the rest lower!).  

This group has really taken to making mandalas with the pattern blocks.  For added inspiration, I was able to show them some photos of pattern block mandalas made by my former students.  There are some cool ways to do this virtually that you can find by following the links to online math activities on Math Coach, Kathy Lampheir's page on the Orchard Website.

We had lots of fun painting our book boxes and below you can see the concentration that went in to making the first book that will be stored inside for re-reading.

There's so much I could share about Forest Fridays- but as a Kindergarten Teaching Team we are inspired and committed to taking the children into the beautiful woods behind the school for exploration, discovery and environmental learning.  Since we don't have a Special on Fridays, we'll often venture out in the afternoon.  This week Mr. Kaulius joined us as we noticed wood pecker holes, marveled at possible fairy homes under the roots of a tree and added to a lean-to made of branches.