Weaving a Web of Understanding

Our kindergarten and first grade students are learning about responding to literature.  We have learned about story elements such as; characters, setting, and main events and now we are learning to look for differences and similarities between texts. Each week, we read a story from our reading series, a leveled reader, a phonics reader, and a nursery rhyme or fairy tale.  When we read fairy tales, we read multiple versions and discuss how they are alike and different.  We have also started learning how to compare and contrast with familiar stories that do not have the same characters or adventures. 

This week, our first graders read the story, A Big Circle, which was a fictional story about dinosaurs.  Then, in guided reading they read another book about dinosaurs.  With prompting and support, they were able to compare and contrast the two stories they read.  We talked and charted the comparisons on what we call the "top hat" graphic organizer.  The titles are listed at the top of the hat, then there are two columns where we list the differences in each story.  The brim of the hat is how the two stories were alike.  Below are the charts our first graders filled with ideas.  They were great thinkers!

In shared reading this week, our kindergarteners listened to the story, Bear Snores On.  Then, later in the week we read, The Very Cranky Bear.  These two stories are very similar, because they both talk about a bear in a cave sleeping while other animals come in and do other things to disturb the bear.  After reading the second book, students were asked to draw a picture of how the characters in the story had different experiences.  They had to draw one picture of characters from Bear Snores On and another from The Very Cranky Bear.  Then, we came together as a group and had a discussion of how the characters had different experiences in the two stories.  We charted ideas on a top hat graphic organizer and labeled our writer's notebook activity.  Our kindergarteners were able to pick up on some great ways the two stories were alike and different, based on the characters' experiences.  Check out their graphic organizer below.

When our 4th grade reading buddies came on Friday afternoon to work with the kindergarten students, the children had a book talk. The older children asked our kindergarteners questions about setting, characters, and main events in the story.  Then, together the children wrote these literary elements on the body of the spiders we made from our Itsy-Bitsy Spider craft.  Check out our literacy "web of understanding" on our hallway bulletin board. 

Boyd's Orchard

Students had a wonderful time at Boyd's Orchard.  They picked pumpkins, went on a hay ride, listened to a speaker talk about what kinds of things they grow at the orchard, petted animals at the petting zoo, and played on the big playground.  It was a lot of fun and a day that students will always remember.  



picking the perfect pumpkin



Students listened to what they do at the orchard and one of our
students got to dress up in some of the gear a beekeeper wears.



enjoying the petting zoo



the hayride was fun



the big slide





Pumpkin Predictions

In our K/1 classroom, we are always learning.  On this day, we were learning how to make observations based on our five senses.  Our subject was a pumpkin. 


Our subject.

Each student made predictions as to how big around the pumpkin would be.  Each student cut off a piece of yarn to represent how big around the pumpkin was and then we displayed our predictions on a strip of paper to compare.  Then, we took the yarn and measured the pumpkin around the middle to see what the actual measurement was and who was the closest. 


Students made predictions about how big
around they thought the pumpkin would be.

Next, students made observations by feeling the pumpkin's outside and looking at the pumpkin to use descriptive words and tell what they felt and saw.  We began a list of descriptive words on a chart.  Then, we opened the pumpkin to continue observations.  Students used their sense of smell to smell the pumpkin and describe what it smelled like.  We added those words to our list. 

Students smelled the inside of the pumpkin. 

Next, we got to look at the insides and describe what we saw.  Students then felt the insides of the pumpkin with their hands and described what they felt. 

Here students got to feel the insides of the
pumpkin and describe what they felt.

Each student pulled out a seed and
described how the seed felt and looked.

While making their observations, students did a tremendous job using descriptive language.  Check out their long list of descriptive words below.    

Our list of descriptive words during our observations.

Fire Station Fun

Our field trip to the fire station today was tremendous.  We had a beautiful day to walk to the fire station and we learned a lot listening to the firemen.  They reminded the children to call 911 in case of an emergency and to stop, drop, and roll if their clothes catch on fire.  One of the firemen also dressed in his gear, as he talked about what the pieces did for the firemen and not to be afraid.  

After today, our students will not forget what to do in case they see a fireman during a fire.  The firemen also told children what the equipment was used for and came around with the tools to show the children what they felt like.  Students even walked through the station and got to sit up in the truck.  Today was an experience they won't forget. 

The fireman tried on his gear and talked about what
each piece was for while telling the children there
was no reason to be afraid of a fireman.

He walked around and let the children touch his gear
and talked to them about what to do if your house is
on fire and you see a fireman coming in the room.



One of the fireman brought around some of the
tools and equipment they use when fighting a fire.



The children got to climb into a fire truck, sit in the
seats, and check out what was inside. 



Fun at Evan's Apple Orchard

Our field trip to Evan's Apple Orchard was wonderful!  Our kindergarteners and first graders had a great time.  Thank you to the parents that were able to come along and help chaperone.  This will be a day that the children will always remember.  Check out some of the fun things we did. . .

Students enjoyed a tractor ride around the orchard.

They sampled delicious apple cider.

They fed the animals at the petting zoo and learned about different kinds of animals.

They had fun playing on the playground.

The large slide was a blast!

Our class after a fun-filled day at Evan's Orchard.