Squishy, mushy pumpkins!

This week we finished learning about pumpkins with a focus on the outside and inside of a real pumpkin. The Kindergarten Kids were introduced to adjectives (describing words to a noun) and used adjectives to describe the outside of a pumpkin.  Then we cut the pumpkin open, and each K-Kid had a chance to touch and describe the inside of the pumpkin.  After we cleaned out the pumpkin, Ms. Mira (our wonderful Roycemore chef) cooked the pumpkin seeds.  Most of the kids really liked the salty treat and asked for seconds!

Sharing stories!

During Writer's Workshop, the K-Kids listened to stories highlighting fictional characters.  A discussion about fiction versus non-fiction took place, and the kids practiced drawing pictures of fictional characters and describing the characters in words.  Kindergarteners tend to draw pictures and tell stories about things they know - family, friends, animals.  Introducing fictional characters adds a different element to their story telling and will lead to more interesting, creative, and detailed stories!

We focused on money this week in math.  The K-Kids practiced sorting coins and identifying the differentiating parts of a nickel and a dime.  They played a fun game where they rolled a money dice and filled a piggy bank with the coins they rolled.  Some K-Kids were even able to begin adding nickels and reinforcing skip counting by 5s.  We also practiced writing numbers this week, and I was able to collect student work samples  to share with you at conferences in November.

Literacy corners focused on WOW words and sequencing stories.  The K-Kids worked with magnet letters to create WOW words on cookie sheets and used letter cubes to snap together WOW words.  I read the story, The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything.  The K-Kids recreated the pumpkin head scarecrow from the book, and then cut out and sequenced sentence strips from the book to retell the story.  Retelling stories is great for comprehension and to help kindergarteners think about story structure.

Pumpkin Carving was a huge success and one of the last Kindergarten events that will take place in our beautiful, old Roycemore gym.  Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, and I hope your family enjoys the glowing pumpkin through the week!