Kindergarten Capers
October 4, 2010
Happy October Kindergarten Families! We have an exciting month filled with birthdays, Mr. Phil, our fearless leader 10/7, Aidin and Miss Ruby 10/13, Ms Diana 10/14 and Trey 10/17. We also have a fun and educational trip planned for 10/21 to Bates Nut Farm and Pumpkin Patch. The fire fighters are going to be talking to us about fire safety this month and we have a spook-tacular celebration planned for the end of the month!
In math for the month of October the students will investigate and experiment with the shapes in their environments they relate to geometric models. It is important for children to become familiar with the characteristics of geometric figures and use language that accurately describes those figures. Visualizing, drawing and comparing shapes in various positions develops spatial sense. Using both geometric shapes and everyday shapes to create patterns helps young children to see relationships, find connections, and learn how to make predictions.
In this chapter children will explore common plane (2 dimensional) and solid (3-dimensional) figures, both as abstract shapes and in real life. Children will predict what shape or real life object is likely to come next in patterns involving color, shape and size. They will also transfer patterns from one form to another, such as transferring a color pattern to one using letters. Ultimately, they will use what they have learned about patterns to make patterns of their own.
In reading and language arts our focus will be on the sound and the letter “Pp”. We will continue with our phonemic awareness activities, oral blending and segmentation, rhyming words, and identification of sounds. The poem this week is called Pumpkin, Pumpkin.
The students are really stepping up to the poem challenge! Thank you so much to all of the parents for your ongoing support.
In social studies we are going to take a closer look at the most important type of community, our very own family. I am asking that each student please bring in a family picture/pictures to class by Wednesday. We are going to be describing what a family is and it would be nice to see and hear about all of ours.
In Spanish we will be learning thematic vocabulary. The following is a list of some words that we will be working on: la calabaza, pumpkin, la bruja, the witch, el fantasma, the ghost, el caramelo, the candy, la noche, the night, el murcielago, the bat.
In science we will take a look at the life cycle of a pumpkin and we will be prepared for our exciting field trip on October 21.
Enclosed is the permission slip for our trip. Please sign and return to school with $7.50 (cash only please) by Friday, 10/8, if able to chaperone, please fill out the attached form as well.
Our first Shining Star is Taj Curto!
Have a great week!
Diana de la Peña
