Week 9

The talk in class continues to be focused on animals and the characteristics that help classify them. After observing animals during the zoo trip and a looking at several non fiction books and photographs, we are moving toward animal tales. This will help to make a nice transition into character traits. 

The Story of Turtles Race with Beaver by Joseph Burchac is a Tale of a kind turtle who, after a long winter's sleep, finds a beaver has now changed his pond and claims it for himself. The turle offers to try to share the pond but beaver challenges him to a race. The turtle agrees to the race and cleaverly uses the beaver's tail to get him to the finish line. Turtle cheats, but wins the race. All of the animals in the woods are chearing for the turtle and he offers to once again share the pond with Beaver. Beaver is so embarrassed that he leaves the pond behind to find a new home. Beaver finds a great new home and is excited to share it with other animals. 

This Tale like many others teach the reader a lesson. We will repeatedly ask...
What can we learn from a tale that can help us with "real life"? (or friendship)

We read the classic tale of Peter Rabbit and will also talk about the lessons we can learn from The Boy Who Cried Wolf. 

Reading Comprehension: 
Story Retelling in sequence including character names
Character traits
Understanding that Tales can teach lessons

Writing: 
Students are completing their independent narrative. Surprisingly, or not, most of the class chose to write about Halloween. Stories of costumes and free candy overshadow those of the toothfairy and zoo field trips.  Features of a good Kindergarten narrative are: 
Includes a beginning, middle and end
Stays on topic
Illustrations match words.

Phonics: letter identification and writing for : t,b,f,n,m,c,o,a,g,d,s
Thank you for reading and rereading the letter poems at home. It has been difficult to reread them in class. We are so busy!!!

Phonological Awareness: We are still alliterating with sounds. Ask your child to sing Willaby Wallaby using the initial sounds for, d and s. We are going to begin isolationg the initial sound from simple rhymes. 

Science: Explored the characteristics of reptiles and how they live in different environments.

Social Studies: Our student were introduced to Native American culture and stories. We will be reading about the Native tradition of giving thanks to mother earth. This will help to lauch a comparison of Thanksgiving then and now. Good luck disguising the turkey. 

Math: Unit 4 Comparing Number to 10
We are comparing numbers to ten using the same vocabulary: fewer, less, greater, more and the same as. The students have been listening to math stories that involve comparative questioning. Ask your child about our Halloween candy graph. You can help by asking what comes before or after a specific number. 

Guiding Questions: 
Tell me the story of Turtle and Beaver?
Which character in _____ did you like best? Why?
Describe, (a character from a familiar story)?
How many more _____ then ______ do you have? How can you tell?
How can you tell an animal is a reptile?
What are some things around the house that start with...?


Reminders: 
No school Tuesday, November 10th PD
No School Wednesday, Vereren's Day
Please return your families "Disguised Turkey" by Friday Novenver 13th.