Kindergarten Learners

Current Unit: Zoom In

Summary of Unit: We will begin the module, Zoom In. Over the next several weeks, our class will find out what we can learn when we take a closer look. We will read books that “zoom in” on ordinary experiences and objects. We will learn about Jane Goodall, who made a career out of studying chimpanzees, and we will look at the world from an ant’s perspective. Writing will get creative as we make up stories and look closely at nature to write poems. As a class, we will observe the world around us and work together to present posters about our five senses.

Reading: As we read a variety of texts in this module, some skills we will work on include: ask and answer questions, listening comprehension, academic vocabulary, retell a story, describe setting, describe connections, author’s purpose, make inferences, compare and contrast texts, opinions and reasons.   

Here are some ways you can support your child’s learning of these important reading skills during this module:

Use these prompts to encourage your child to add details when talking about a favorite topic or answering questions. • Tell me more about ___  • What happened next? • I wonder why____.  

Also, you can make a special time and place to read with your child every day. You can use the books from our class lending library, books you have at home or books from Raz-Kids. When you read, ask your child to make connections: • Who does this character remind you of? • Where have you been that is similar? • Have you ever felt this way? • This part makes me think about another book. 

In addition, you can reinforce these important topic words when you are reading or talking with your child: watch, wonder, world. 

Finally, encourage your child to use the five senses to describe experiences and objects. What do you see/hear? How does it smell/feel/taste?

Wilson: Students will continue to use their knowledge of letter sounds to read, segment and write CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words. There are charts and videos posted to our Google Classrooms to help with this at home. It is important that your child uses the sound each letter makes so they can begin to read and write independently. It is time to apply what we have learned these past few months. 

Additionally, we will continue to learn about digraphs. Digraphs are two letters joined together which make one sound. In kindergarten, students learn to read and write words with the digraphs: sh, ch, wh, th, and ck. Next, we will learn about one of the many jobs of silent e. Students will learn to read and write CVCe words. These are words such as: time, lake, hope, and huge. In these words, the silent e changes the vowel sound to its long vowel sound (the vowel says its name). Finally, we will move on to learning vowel teams. Vowel teams are two vowels that make one sound. Students will be expected to use these new sounds in reading and writing words. 

This is the time of year where students are expected to be reading and writing words independently using the skills and knowledge they have been taught. 

At home, we encourage you to use the resources on Google Classroom to continue to help your child master these skills. In addition, you can encourage your child to sound out or tap out words to read or write rather than you telling them or spelling for them.

Writing:  We will revisit narrative writing, which we had previously participated in, in the fall. We will be writing short stories about animals. Students will be able to pick a different animal each week to write about. Students will be exposed to different groups of animals, based on where the animals live. Students will be creative in coming up with their animal story. They will tell who the story is about (naming their animal), where the animal is, and what the animal is doing. They will also add a feeling sentence. Students will be challenged to write 5 sentences: a WHO sentence, a WHERE sentence, 3 details (using sequencing words: first, next, last), and a feeling sentence about their animal. In addition, we will continue to look at parts of grammar such as, adjectives in terms of size, shape, color, quantity and number, as well as adding an -s to words, prepositions “in, out, on, off, by,” and when to use punctuation (exclamation marks). We will also be using sensory words.  Sensory words are 

words that tell about our five senses—what we smell, see, hear, feel, or taste. Words like sweet, sour, and bitter help to describe taste.  Words like shining, big, and round, help to describe what we see.  Words like low, loud, and silent help describe what we hear.  Words like cold, wet, and soft, help describe what we feel.  Words like yummy and stinky can help describe what we smell. Encourage your child to use their senses to describe things.Throughout the module we will reinforce how to be brave spellers (using letter sounds we hear to write unknown words), correct letter formation, the U.P.S checklist  (uppercase, period, space) for conventions of writing. Students will give each other peer feedback, as well self-assess using an editing checklist and the Rainbow Rating tool. Students will be assessed on their writing with an narrative writing rubric. 

You can help at home by exposing your child to various animals, helping them understand where the animal lives, and what the animal does. As the weather gets warmer, a trip to the zoo can be a fun way to bring the animals to life for them! In addition, you can inspire them to write fun stories by reading fiction books with your child. You can also help by encouraging them to label their drawing, motivate them to be brave spellers (use letter sounds to write unknown words), reinforce correct letter formation and re-reading, as well as using the U.P.S checklist. This will help them to be able to write sentences independently.

Math: Students are learning to count numbers to 100. Students will learn to count to 100 by ones, such as 1, 2, 3… and by tens, such as 10, 20, 30… Students will use a hundred chart to help them count and identify missing numbers to 100. They will also learn that a hundred chart helps them to quickly identify a number ten more than a given number by looking at the number directly underneath it. 

Furthermore, students will continue to work on building their addition and subtraction fact fluency within 10. As students continue to work on these problems, they will be able to quickly recall the answers and will no longer need to use their fingers or drawings to solve. Finally, students will identify, analyze, and compare 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes, including circles, rectangles, shapes, triangles, cubes, spheres, cones, and cylinders.

At home you can practice adding and subtracting groups of objects to 10 (or higher) with your child. Encourage your child to see patterns when adding and subtracting. For example, we can make 5 with 0 and 5, 1 and 4, or 2 and 3. They should also recall ways to make 10 quickly. Have your child practice writing addition equations to represent teen numbers. For example, 10+6=16. Finally, have your child practice counting aloud to 100 both by ones and tens.

Science: In science, we are learning about the basic needs of plants and animals. Students are learning that all living things need certain things to live and grow. We are discussing how animals need food, water, air, and a safe place to live, and how plants need sunlight, water, air, and soil. Through stories, discussions, and hands-on activities, students are exploring how plants and animals grow and stay healthy. We are also talking about how we can take care of living things in our environment. 

You can support this learning at home by observing plants and animals together and talking about what they need to grow. Ask questions like, “What does this plant need?” or “Where do animals find food and water?” You can also care for living things by watering plants, helping feed pets, or planting seeds. Reading books about plants and animals and discussing how they survive helps reinforce what we are learning in class.

Social Studies: In social studies we are finishing up learning about American symbols and moving on to  learning about the people who lead our government such as the president and vice president. We will  be learning about where the president lives, how the president is elected and who can vote. This will be followed by learning the three branches of government and the responsibilities of a citizen in a community. 

You can support your child’s learning at home by talking about American symbols like the Statue of Liberty and the flag, looking at pictures of the White House, and discussing leaders like the President of the United States and Vice President of the United States. You can also practice voting at home and talk about helping others and following rules to be a good citizen.Vocabulary: elect, vote, preside

Music: Students in Kindergarten music are continuing to practice and identify steady beat in a variety of songs, and match their movements and instrument playing accordingly. The students will be expanding their knowledge to identify the rhythm in songs, learning that “rhythm is the way that the words go.” To tie to their learnings in HMH, the students will be hearing the story/song “Over in the Meadow” by John Langstaff. The students will be identifying the different scenes of nature, and drawing connections to their five senses as they learn the song. 

Lotus Music and Dance Company Residency: Students will be working with teaching artists from the Lotus Dance Company to learn about creative movement and Bollywood dance. They will be doing three sessions with teaching artists from the theater to learn about telling stories with their bodies

Art: Kindergarten artists will be exploring the world of 3D art. Students are working on mastering fine motor skills as they pinch, pull and press their clay to make a sculpture. Moving from 2D to 3D is a cognitive leap for our little learners but they will problem solve, navigate and adapt by either starting over or turning any “mistakes” into new features.

Physical Education:

Spring is almost here, and we are excited to be moving and playing in Physical Education! This month, kindergarten students will be learning fun spring games that help them practice running, jumping, balancing, patience, cooperation, turn taking and working together as a team. We will also be learning about our senses during movement games and activities. Students will use their sight, hearing, and touch to explore how their bodies move and react during games. For example, they might listen for a signal to start running, use their eyes to follow a ball, or feel different equipment during activities. We are really looking forward to the nicer weather and hope to get back outside to our playgrounds!

Parent Voice

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