Magnetic letters in the garden!

Today was the last day of Ms. Ellen's favorite theme.....In the Garden! It was tough narrowing down the final activities, as there is so much learning happening in the garden.  We could do this theme for weeks!

We began by using magnetic letters to spell our name and the parts of plants.  The kids loved it....see?

On Mondays and Fridays, when our whole group is smaller, we work very hard on walking in a line without a rope to prepare for next year's larger classes.  Staying in a straight line.....even a relatively straight line.... has been quite a challenge!  Down the main halls, to the bathroom, outside, and back again.....we work and work!  Today was the best by far- it seems holding hands behind our hands helps.  Just wanted to let you know we are making progress on this important school-readiness skill!

During circle, we focused on math concepts using our favorite songs.  We've posted links here before, but I am reposting them since the kids LOVE them....you can sing them at home, too.



After returning from playing with DUMC friends on this beautiful day, we read a beautiful story:  Max's Magical Seeds.  This kids listened intently and answered inference questions.  After reading non-fiction books all week, it was refreshing to read a non-fiction story.

Max thinks school is boring, and his uncle Bill's idea of livening things up doesn't sound too exciting either. He gives Max a big bag of seeds for his birthday. At first Max is skeptical, but he follows his uncle's instructions and scatters the seeds on his way to school. From that moment on, unusual things begin to happen, and the changes are simply magical. Wildflowers begin to grow throughout the city, where they've never been before. Suddenly Max becomes the most popular kid in school as his class gets to pick the flowers, draw them, and study them. This was the best gift, after all. Here is a lovely story about how small actions can make a big difference in your own life, and the life of an entire community.

During lunch, we watched the Magic School Bus Goes to Seed, above.  They love movies! 

After lunch, we completed a following directions activity to cut out and make our our mini-book:  How a Seed Grows.  Here's a link if you want extra copies.

Have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you on Monday!