Our Building Materials

This morning we had screws, bolts, nuts and washers at the table. The kids sorted them by long and short, fat and skinny, and pointy end and flat end. They practiced tightening and loosening the bolts and nuts. At the end they used their fingers to put them into a water bottle. During morning circle we reviewed things we learned about construction this week. We identified more words that started with the letter V.

 Ms. Abby was inside today because it was too wet in the courtyard. We worked on throwing and catching. First we made a big circle and practiced throwing the ball to a friend. Then the kids each had a partner and threw the ball back and forth to each other. Ms. Abby also brought her parachute...and the kids loved it! We moved the parachute slow and then fast. Then we added balls to the parachute so we could pop popcorn. For the last activity the kids lined up in a straight line. They passed the ball over their head to the next friend until they reached the end of the line. The first time was a little tricky but they did great the second time!

 

Our story today was "The Construction Crew" by  Lynn Meltzer. The construction crew is tearing down an old building and laying the foundation for a new home. Workers use all kinds of trucks and tools to get the job done. And just in time for a family to move in. After reading the story we talked about different kinds of building materials. We can build with rocks, wood, metal and cement.

For science we compared different building materials from the 3 Little Pigs to explain which one would be the best. We gave the kids hay, sticks and a brick. We had them explore the materials and answer three questions. Can you bend it? Can you blow it away? Is it heavy? We made a chart of all the answers to our questions. Then the class voted to decide which materials was the strongest and the best choice to build a house...the brick won!

After lunch we talked about going on our construction walk tomorrow and things we are going to find. We ended the day singing songs about construction trucks and the construction crew.

My Construction Tool Belt

Today we talked about tools we need to build. This morning, during morning circle, we counted to see how many days of school are left until summer...only 17! This year has flown by so fast! The kids identified words that start with the letter v. Violin, vase, vine, volcano and van all start with the /v/ sound.

The kids worked very hard with Ms. Michelle today. She had a hard obstacle course set up. The kids had to crab walk, crawl, and crawl backwards through a tunnel. In the tunnel they picked up a secret treasure to carry to the bucket at the end of the course. After the tunnel they moved over big boxes and tubes to reach the bucket. Ms. Michelle brought one of her favorite finger fun activities today...sands alive. We could build with the sand, make sand castles or use the roller to make the sand flat. It also felt great to squeeze in our hands.

 

 Our story today was "Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site" by Sherri Rinker. As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play. After reading the story we brainstormed the different tools needed to build. The kids listed the tools and described what they do. When building you need a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, saw, drill, pliers, measuring tape, nails and screws.

For art today the kids made their own tool belt. First we colored our hammer, wrench and saw different colors. Once they were colored the kids cut them out with scissors. They had to be very careful and follow the line around each tool. After the tools were cut out, the kids glued the tools onto their black work belt. The kids put on their tool belts and talked about things they wanted to build.

After eating lunch we learned two new construction songs. Tomorrow we will focus on the best materials to use when building.

Road Builders

This week we are learning about construction. We started the morning by finishing the April pattern and identifying numbers 1-50. The kids reviewed Sounds Around Town and the vowels. We read words that started with si-. We blended sit, sis, sill, sip, sick and then made it a little harder with slip and skip.

Our story today was "Road Builders" by B.G. Hennessy. The story described all the steps needed to build a road. We learned that sidewalks are made of cement and roads are made of asphalt. After reading the story we made a list of things that can be built....houses, apartments, schools, restaurants, stores and roads. Then we labeled different construction vehicles and identified their jobs. Some of the vehicles were a backhoe, dump truck, bulldozer, power shovel, power roller and cement mixer.

For art we used air dry clay to make a road. First the kids used their muscles to push the clay into a flat rectangular shape. We made sure it was smooth on top. Next we mixed black and white together to make gray. The kids painted the road gray and then added a yellow line to make two lanes. Once the road dries they can drive their cars on it at home.

The kids loved our first day talking about construction...can't wait to see what we learn tomorrow!

School Bus

Today we are talking about school buses! This morning the kids painted the milk cartons yellow to start making their school buses. During morning circle the kids continued the April pattern, skip counted and identified numbers 1-40. The kids reviewed the Sound Around Town and practiced the vowel circle and sliders. We read words that started with bu-. We blended bug, bus, but, bud, bun, and buz.

Our story today was "I'm Your Bus" by Marilyn Singer. Welcome to a day in the life of a school bus and his road buddies. Morning, noon, and nighttime, too, that golden four–wheeled friend is at your service. Ready to drive you to and from school safely. 'Cause he's your bus. And in between those pick–up and drop–off moments, your bus spends time with his friends, other vehicles who drive around town doing what they do best. Sweeping, zipping, parking, creeping. After reading the story we talked about what school buses have and what they can do. Buses are yellow and they have windows, a bus driver, doors and a stop sign.

For art today we continued making our school bus.  We needed to add 4 wheels to the bottom of the bus. The kids wrote the word "school" on a black strip of paper and glued it to both sides of the bus. Then we needed to add kids to the bus. The kids added all their friends in class!

For writing today the kids practiced writing lowercase "x." In their journals they wrote about something the learned about things that go on the road. While the kids waited for their turn they played "Pop the Pig" and "Zingo."

Everyone enjoy the beautiful weekend. Look around and see if you can find any construction...we will be learning about that next week!

Trains

Today we learned all about trains! This morning in morning circle the kids reviewed the letter "r" and thought of words that started with the /r/ sound. We also categorized things that go in the air, on the road and in the water. The kids were given pictures and had to selected the correct category.

Our story today was "Terrific Trains" by Tony Mitton. The story talked about the parts of trains and the purpose for each. We learned what trains can carry and where they can go. After reading the story we discussed new train vocabulary. We also labeled the parts of trains. There is an engine, freight car, passenger car and caboose. The engineer or conductor drives the train on the tracks.

For art the kids make a geometric train. They were given an outline of a shape train. First they had to find all the colored shapes to match the outlines on their papers. After they found all the shapes to make the train, they glued them down onto the paper.  Once the art was completed the kids described the shapes needed to make the train...triangle, circle, square, rectangle and rhombus. They also shared where their train was going to go and what it would carry.

After we finished lunch we sang transportation songs. Tomorrow we will finish things that go on the road by learning about buses!