Mrs. Billups' Kindergarten Blog: September 2012

Monday, September 17, 2012

Crazy 3-D Sculpture Hats

I LOVE the Crazy 3-D Sculpture Hats the kids make in Art class with Mrs. Hovey!

We enjoyed Dot Day! Mr. Cayton read the book to us and we enjoyed many lesson/activities with dots! Our Jolly Phonics sound was /b/ so we went outside to blow bubbles and see the different colors in the bubbles. We then used "dots" and turned them into colorful bubbles to display! On Thursday we enjoyed working together with Math Tubs while we took turns painting our "dot shirts!" The book, The Dot is about a little girl that thinks she can't draw. Her art teacher encourages her to make a simple mark and then she has her sign it and when the girl returns to art class the following day, much to her surprise her "dot" is framed and hanging on the wall. This small encouragement went a long way and the girl continued to gain confidence in herself and make many dots! A lesson for us all!

Math Tubs

Dot Shirts

Mr. Cayton Reads The Dot

The Dot

Blowing Bubbles

Painting Dot Bubbles

Making Dot Cupcakes

Dot Day

Yummy Dot Cupcakes

Dot Day Gallery Walk

Yummy Dot Cupcakes

Friday, September 7, 2012

GREAT Start To The Day!

I had a GREAT start to my day this morning!! KE is participating with the Kalona & Washington Township Optimist in collecting coins for Miles Of Pennies. Money collected will be used to help find a cure for cancer amongst children! This morning many children once again brought in coins to add to our jar. I watched as the children worked together to unwrap the rolls of pennies and place in the collection jar. I also listened to the conversations the children were having about how this will help boys and girls when they have cancer (and one child added that maybe it will help them so they don't throw up)! There was a loud cheer from our room when the jar was filled! Much to our surprise another child came through the door with a large container filled to the top with coins! Children ask how the money was going to get to the children AND what they were going to do with the money. We had a class discussion and discussed how the doctor gives us medicine when we get ear infection or strep throat and it makes us feel better...I explained that this money would help scientist find a medicine that would help children with cancer feel better too! I encouraged the children to ask mom, dad, grandpa or grandma if they had any "jobs" they could do to earn pennies for our coin jar. As educators we often have discussions about what our children are learning in the classroom, but I often fail to share what I LEARN from my students....I am reminded that every little bit helps....it's effort that counts.....helping/giving to others feels SOOO good and last but not least ....never take for granted what I have....be thankful for all the little things in life!! THANKS to "my children" for reminding me of the important things in life!
** We will continue to collect coins the entire month of September!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

SNAKES!

YES, we had REAL, LIVE snakes in our room today!! Ms. Pam, Washington County Naturalist comes and brings her outside classroom, inside to our room! Today she brought two snakes with her and we had an opportunity to touch them! One of the two snakes had just shed his skin last night so we felt how soft a snakes skin is when it sheds! We also examined a snake skeleton, snake eggs and snake skins! The children love to learn with Ms. Pam!