Caterpillars to Butterflies

***I'm so sorry, I meant to get this post published much sooner than now! Thank you so much to Angie and Kate for sharing this awesome experience with the class!!!***

Kate and her mom, Angie, were nice enough to share a chrysalis with our class and then we were able to keep it to release the butterfly once it emerged.

Here is a quick time-lapsed video to help understand the process the caterpillar goes through to become a Monarch butterfly.


September 9th:
Angie came in to talk with our class about the chrysalis and the life cycle of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly. She also brought in milkweed to show the class the type of plant that caterpillars and butterflies eat.

Friday, September 11th:
We were expecting the butterfly to emerge from the chrysalis, but this butterfly was on his own schedule and had his own plan. :-)...... I was worried he would emerge over the weekend and knew he had to be released to eat within 24 hours of doing so, so I took the chrysalis home.

Saturday, September 12th:
In the evening, the chrysalis turned a dark black color, something was about to happen......

Sunday, September 13th: 

We awoke to find a butterfly in the box!!

We took the Monarch Butterfly outside to release him, thinking he would be hungry, but he decided he wanted to stick around for awhile. He stayed sitting on the plant outside by the door for over two hours, then he decided to fly away. 

A Few Routines of Our Day

Check-In for the day

Morning Meeting/Circle Time

Reading the morning message

Chart Reader reads the jobs for the day......

If you need to go to the bathroom.... use the bathroom pass!

Graphing the weather!

Calendar Helper.... "What is today?"

"What is the date?"

"How many days have we been in school?" 

Whole Group Read Aloud!....

Now, let's turn and talk about the book....

Cosmic Kids Yoga!.... get those wiggles out. 

Schedule for the Week of September 28 - October 2

Language Arts:

Mini-Lessons for the First 30 Days (Rituals, Routines, Responsibilities of Daily 5/Readers Workshop)

Mini-lessons are short (5-15 minutes) and laser-focused. These particular lessons are like stepping stones and will help us become ready to confidently dive into more vigorous reading and writing instruction. These will be revisited throughout the year

• Reading Logs (we will talk about the idea/process/purpose more than anything....maybe in the spring we will actually try some)
• explain what a reading log is
• model where to store a reading log
• model how to use a reading log
• Introduction to Fiction and Nonfiction
• understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction
• Fiction Literary Elements: Character
• identify characters in a fictional story
• Fiction Literary Elements: Setting
• identify the setting in a fictional story
• Fiction Literary Elements: Problem/Solution
• identify the problem and solution in a fictional story
• Review of Literary Elements
• review previous lessons

• Continue with read to self

• Continue to build stamina (4-6 minutes of reading to self!)
• Review expectations and practice (read the whole time, start right away, read quietly, find a comfy, quiet spot, ignore distractions, build stamina)
• why do we read to self? (to become better readers and to have fun!)
• Journals/writers workshop: write/draw a basic entry every day, write as a whole group too
• how do we choose what to write about? (retell a familiar story, think of a memory, etc...)
• how do we respond to stories?
• why do we do them? (to become better writers and have fun!)
• practice sharing/turn and talk
• understand expectations of writers workshop (start write away, work quietly, stay in one spot, write the whole time, build writing stamina, share your work)
• Read Alouds: a lot of stories will be read to model and add rich discussion to the mini lessons mentioned above.

Math:

• Unit 1: Understand Numbers 1-10
• 1.13: Exploration of Shapes
• Objectives: recognize shapes and identify them by name; write the numeral 3 and identify groups of 3
• Vocabulary: triangle, rectangle, circle, square, corners, sides, length
• 1.14: Objects and Numbers Through 10: Square-Inch Tiles
• Objectives: Identify and order numbers 1 through 10; count 1 through 10 objects; graph to compare two numbers; develop spatial concepts
• Vocabulary: behind, in front of, next to
• 1.15: Number of Objects in a Group
• Objectives: Distinguish between different-sized groups; count and represent groups of 1 through 10
• Vocabulary: group, 5-group
• 1.16:  2- and 3-Dimensional Shapes: Circle and Ball (Sphere)
• Objectives: Identify and order numbers 1 through 10; count 1 through 10 objects; graph to compare two numbers; make and compare circles and squares; understand differences between round and square and between small and large
• Vocabulary: circle, ball, sphere, cylinder, cone, square, round, small, large
• 1.17: More Numbers of Objects in a Group
• Objectives: Count 1 through 5 shapes, write numeral 4, identify groups of 4
• Vocabulary: same, alike, different

• Math Homework: (will come home in green homework folders)
• Monday: 
• Tuesday:  
• Wednesday: 1.15
• Thursday: 
• Friday: 1.17
• Challenge Homework (optional, will only be digitally available unless requested otherwise)
• Monday:
• Tuesday: 1.14 challenge
• Wednesday: 1.15 challenge
• Thursday: 1.16 challenge
• Friday: 1.17 challenge

Science:

• Continuing to observe trees
• We will observe a specific tree and discuss/draw changes we notice in the fall
• Continue to discuss parts of a tree and their functions
• Explore why leaves change color/why trees lose their leaves
• Tree Breath Experiment: We will observe how much water a group of leaves on a tree "breaths out" during a day.

• LEGO Engineering
• We will start our first engineering project and discuss the Engineering Design Process and look at jobs that use this process.

SPECIALS: (September 28-October 2)

Monday:  Art/Music (Day 3)

Tuesday:   P.E./Media (Day 4)

Wednesday:  Music/Art (Day 5)

Thursday:  Media/P.E. (Day 6)

Friday:   Music/Art (Day 1)

MEDIA (Library): check out/return books every Day 6! 

COMPUTER: Every Tuesday @ 10am

Other News:

• We are heading to Deardorff Apple Orchard on Wednesday, September 30th from 10-12:30 .  Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather and has comfortable walking shoes. Here's a link the the website: http://www.deardorfforchards.com/ Remember, any parents are more than welcome to meet us there! (Be there at 10:15ish if interested) Also, no need to pack a lunch, as we will be back in time to eat.
• If you plan on meeting us there, PLEASE make sure you have filled out a volunteer form and returned it to the office. Thanks! Call the office with any questions on this

Schedule for the Week of September 21-25

September 21-25

Language Arts:

Mini-Lessons for the First 30 Days (Rituals, Routines, Responsibilities of Daily 5/Readers Workshop)

Mini-lessons are short (5-15 minutes) and laser-focused. These particular lessons are like stepping stones and will help us become ready to confidently dive into more vigorous reading and writing instruction. These will be revisited throughout the year.

• Book Talks
• understand what happens during a book talk
• create a class list of books to read
• Abandoning Books
• understand that sometimes we don’t make a good choice in our book selection
• understand reasons why you may have to choose a different book

• Introduction to Response Journals
• introduction to reading response journal
• explain where journals are stored, how to get them, how to put them away
• model how to use a journal
• Using Response Journals
• model the use of a reading response journal
• review where they are stored, how to get them, how to put them away
• Review of Response Journals
• review previous lessons

• Continue with read to self

• Continue to build stamina (3-5 minutes of reading to self!)
• Review expectations and practice (read the whole time, start right away, read quietly, find a comfy, quiet spot, ignore distractions, build stamina)
• why do we read to self? (to become better readers and to have fun!)
• Journals/writers workshop: write/draw a basic entry every day, write as a whole group too
• how do we choose what to write about?
• why do we do them? (to become better writers and have fun!)
• practice sharing/turn and talk
• understand expectations of writers workshop (start write away, work quietly, stay in one spot, write the whole time, build writing stamina, share your work)

Math:

• Unit 1: Understand Numbers 1-10
• 1.8:  Scenes of 2, 3, and 4
• Objectives: See how many objects without counting, Count from 1 through 10, write numerals 1 and 2, Differentiate between quantities of 1 and 2
• Vocabulary: pair
• 1.9: Introduction to Graphing
• Objectives: Identify and order numbers 1 through 5, graph to compare two numbers, develop spatial concepts, count 1 through 5 objects, draw 1 through 5 objects
• Vocabulary: graph, vertical, horizontal, taller, more, shorter, less, longer, before, after

• 1.10: Scenes of 2,3,4, and 5
• Objectives: Identify groups of 2 through 5 things, Identify objects that are alike/different
• Vocabulary: same, alike, different, first, second, third
• 1.11: Count from 1 to 10
• Objectives: Identify and order numbers 1 through 10, Count 1 through 10 objects, Identify numbers 1 through 10 from the number word, Graph to compare two numbers
• Vocabulary: graph, vertical, horizontal, more, fewer
• 1.12:  Same and Different
• Objectives: Identify objects that are alike/different, make and compare circles and squares, understand differences between round and square and between small and large, count from 1 through 5
• same, different, alike, circle, round, cylinder, cone, square, big, little
• Math Homework: (will come home in green homework folders. Please return in green folders when finished)
• Monday: 
• Tuesday: 
• Wednesday: 
• Thursday: 1.11
• Friday: 

Science:

• Introducing tree journals
• We will observe a specific tree and discuss/draw changes we notice in the fall
• Discuss parts of a tree and their functions
• Discuss things found in nature versus manmade 
• Discuss living versus nonliving (find examples on nature walk)

Social Studies:

• Learning about how to make new friends, role playing how to ask friends to play
• Learning and practicing being a great listener

SPECIALS: (September 21-25)

Monday: P.E./Media (Day 4)

Tuesday:  Music/Art (Day 5)

Wednesday: Media/P.E. (Day 6)

Thursday: Music/Art (Day 1)

Friday:  Media/P.E. (Day 2)

MEDIA (Library): check out/return books every Day 6! 

COMPUTER: Every Tuesday @ 10am

Other:

• Monday, September 21 (8-8:45) : Curriculum Morning
• Curriculum morning is a chance for parents to gain a better understanding of the kindergarten schedule, along with the various curriculums that are used
• Do not worry if you cannot attend, as all materials are available below (although the presentation is still missing a few items...it will be completed by Monday)
• Presentation Link
• Language Arts Daily 5 Letter Link, Math Homework Letter Link,Math Unit 1 Overview Link

• Wednesday, September 30 (10-12:30): Field Trip to Deardorff Apple Orchard
• Any parents are welcome to meet us at the orchard, but please make sure you have completed a volunteer background check and have let me know as well
• Every child will get to pick their own bag of apples!
• Deardorff website: http://www.deardorfforchards.com/ 

SPIRIT WEAR Fridays!!

"Spirit Wear Fridays" 

If you are not familiar with this, every Friday Mr. Eidsness will call about 10 student names (from various grade levels) over the loudspeaker during morning announcements. If the student is wearing Spirit Wear (aka: Westonka, White Hawks or Shirley Hills gear or a combination of red and black) then they will get to go down to the office to get a prize. ​(We already had two students picked from our classroom this past Friday! YAY!!) 

Great opportunity to show our Westonka Pride!! Go Hawks! Please help remind your child to wear SPIRIT WEAR EVERY FRIDAY!!!!

Schedule for the Week of September 14-18

Language Arts:

Mini-Lessons for the First 30 Days (Rituals, Routines, Responsibilities of Daily 5/Readers Workshop)

Mini-lessons are short (5-15 minutes) and laser-focused. These particular lessons are like stepping stones and will help us become ready to confidently dive into more vigorous reading and writing instruction. These will be revisited throughout the year.

• Turn and Talk
• introduction to this collaborative learning strategy
• Sharing: When and How
• explore the idea of when and how students may be asked to share about reading
• Sharing: Responses to Questions
• responses and questions when sharing with a partner and whole group
• create a chart listing these responses and questions
• “Just Right” Books
• importance of choosing a “just right” book
• explain difference between easy, “just right,” and challenging book
• Taking Care of Books
• reinforce the idea that books need special care
• Managing Classroom Library
• practice good library manners
• introduce ways to keep classroom library neat
• know where different types of books are stored and how to return them
• Continue with read to self

• Continue to build stamina (2-3 minutes of reading to self!)
• Review expectations and practice (read the whole time, start right away, read quietly, find a comfy, quiet spot, ignore distractions, build stamina)
• Journals/writers workshop: write/draw a basic entry every day, write as a whole group too
• how do we choose what to write about?
• why do we do them? (to become better writers and have fun!)
• practice sharing/turn and talk

Math:

• Unit 1: Understand Numbers 1-10
• 1.3: Draw Scenes of 2
• Objectives: develop the language to discuss numbers and number relationships, draw 2 objects, develop spatial concepts
• Vocabulary: group, right, left
• 1.4: More Scenes of 2
• Objectives: identify and order numbers 1 through 5, count 1 through 5 objects, Identify numbers 1-5 from the number word
• 1.5: Relate Shapes and Numbers Through 5
• Objectives: Identify and order numbers 1-5, Count 1-5 objects, Identify numbers 1-5 from the number word, Draw 3 objects
• Vocabulary: hexagon, trapezoid
• 1.6: Scenes of 2 and 3: Practice Visual Imagery
• Objectives: Count and visualize two or three objects, Draw 1-5 objects, develop spacial concepts
• Vocabulary: up, over, under, down, apart
• 1.7: More Practice: Relate Objects and Numbers Through 5
• Objectives: Identify and order numbers 1 through 5, Count 1 through 5 objects, Identify numbers 1 through 5 from a number word, Draw 1 through 5 objects
• Vocabulary: hexagon, trapezoid, visualize, partners

• Math Homework: (starts next week!)
• Monday: 
• Tuesday: 
• Wednesday: 
• Thursday: 
• Friday: 

Science:

• Discussing and exploring different types of trees in Minnesota
• Identifying different parts of trees and learning about their function
• Exploring the four seasons

Social Studies:

• Learning about how to make new friends
• Learning and practicing being a great listener

SPECIALS: (September 14-18)

Monday: Music/Art (Day 5)

Tuesday:  Media/P.E. (Day 6) - Picture Retake Day!

Wednesday: Music/Art (Day 1)

Thursday: Media/P.E. (Day 2)

Friday:  Art/Music (Day 3)

MEDIA (Library): check out/return books every Day 6! 

COMPUTER: Every Tuesday @ 10am

First Week of Kindergarten! Great Success!