Solar System Research

One of the 5th grade science units is also the solar system.  We had some in-house experts!  On Friday, our buddies came to our room and helped us with our research.  First, a few of the 5th graders presented their projects. 

Then, the students paired up, kindergartner and 5th grader, to do some research on the different planets.  We used a note taking technique called coding.  In coding, the students read a section of text and then mark their thinking with symbols. 

+ I already knew...

- I learned...

? I wonder...

!  Wow! 

The buddy teams went around the room to different planet research stations.  At the station, they read an article or book about that planet, then talked about the facts in the text.  They recorded one of the codes on the piece of paper at the station.  At the end of the rotations, we had many facts recorded about each planet.  The buddy teams worked very hard and learned many interesting things about the solar system.

Buddy Research on PhotoPeach

Moon Matter of Facts

 

The study of the solar system is giving us many opportunities to read and write informational text.  The Connected Kinders are quite the researchers.  This week we learned about the moon.  One way we gathered information was using Eagle Cliff's subscription to World Book Online.  

World Book online gives students a safe way to search and learn about interesting topics.  The articles in World Book kids and World Book student include kid friendly text, videos, diagrams, and photographs.  From a computer, students can click on the text and the computer will read it to them.  When students login to World Book kids, they also have access to "Early World of Learning" which is full of educational games, videos, and books.  Students can access World Book online from home!  Here is the link and login information.  You can also access the link from the top button bar on the blog. Please check it out!

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/products?ed=all&gr=Welcome+Eagle+Cliffs+Elementary+School%21

Log-In ID School: eagleciffs
Password:  eaglesLog-In ID Home: eagleciffshome
Password:  eagles

 After our in class research, we again did some informational writing.  We also created a moon painting.  We made craters on the moon by using white glue and letting it dry.  Then we used our watercolors to paint over the dried glue.  

Our Favorite Star

This week we began to study the solar system in science. We started our study with the biggest object in our solar system: the sun. We read a couple nonfiction texts about our closest star and watched a couple interesting video clips. Amazing! As we collected information, we made notes about our learning. This process hit several important kindergarten standard including:

Next, the students had to use the notes we made to write some facts about the sun. We will be working hard on nonfiction reading and writing through out this solor system study.

The final products turned out very well. The Connected Kinders are so smart. There are a variety of different facts that the children chose to write. Also, the kids made a crayon resist illustration to go with the writing. These projects are displayed in our hallway if you get a chance to come take a look.

Addition Strategies ~ Doubles

Doubles, doubles, we can add doubles! Knowing doubles facts is a great strategy for becoming fluent with addition facts. Doubles are not only easy to memorize but they can help students with other related facts. For example, students that know 5+5 can easily figure out that 5+6 would be one more, 11. Practice those double facts! Here is an easy game to play at home. Take one die and roll it. Have your kinder say the double of the number rolled. For instance, if a two is rolled, the student would say, "Four."

 

Since we are learning so many addition strategies like counting on, ten facts, and doubles...we have been playing many addition partner games to practice using these strategies.  In fact, this week, the kids had to practice addition before they could eat their snack!  Each student got a number strip from 2-12.  They put one snack on each number and then rolled two dice.  The children added the dice and got to eat the snack on the sum.

 

Addition Strategies ~ Counting On

We have spent several weeks building a strong foundation for addition.  The Connected Kinders built a "number wall" to show different ways to represent numbers.  Now, the children are working on moving addition facts to fluency and solving addition word problems.  We have talked about some important addition strategies.  One strategy we worked on this week is counting on.  To count on, if students are given the problem 5+3, they would start at 5 and count 3 more, 6, 7, 8.  To introduce counting on we read the book Mouse Count.

In Mouse Count, the snake counts on to count the mice.  After reading, we played a partner game to practice counting on.  Everyday, I see that the students are getting more efficient with addition.  So smart!

Favorite Math Videos

We continue to practice the 10 facts weekly.  We practice in many different ways so those very important facts become automatic.  This video is one of the Connected Kinders' favorite ways to practice making 10.



The children love math videos. We use different songs and videos daily to review and practice math skills. In fact, the children asked for our class math videos to be linked to the blog. How can I say no to that? On the top button bar, you will see a link to math videos. When you click on math videos, it will take you to a group of icons that represent different math videos. Enjoy!

Guest Teacher/ Guest Blogger

Just before spring break, we had a guest teacher.  I was at a technology training.  At the training, I got a notification on my ipad that photos were added to my photostream.  Naturally, I checked the photos to see what was added.  To my delight, I found that one of the Connected Kinders had documented in photographs the art project I left for the class.  How fun!  So, here are the photos by our Connected Kinder guest blogger:

Peep Results

Just before spring break, we met with our fifth grade buddies to write up the results of our Peep experiment. Over the course of six days, we were observing Peeps in five different liquids to see if the Peeps would dissolve. Each kindergartner and each 5th graders made an hypothesis and on Wednesday we checked.

The scientists found that the Peep in the vinegar dissolved the most.  The Pepsi Peep was the second most dissolved.  The Peep in the laundry detergent and the Peep in the water hardly dissolved at all.