All About Weather

This week we had our first unit in science and the students learned all about what scientists do! We had so much fun exploring various concepts of weather and the water cycle.

First, the scientists learned about CLOUDS and how they are made. We use a humidifier to learn about evaporation and "make" our own cloud. Next we learned that, when clouds get too full with water, they burst and RAIN comes out. Then we made our own sunny and rainy weather clouds and watched as the rain came through the cloud.

Next up was the SUN. We learned that the sun helps water to evaporate into the sky in order to make clouds. We went outside to see evaporation in action by dumping some water on the ground and, when we came back later, it was all gone!

Finally we explored the wind and how it affects the things outside. We had our first STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) lesson where we had to create something that would sustain the wind. We were able to choose from a variety of supplies, but only could use 10 things. Then the "big bad fan" came and tried to blow our structures down! We learned that heavier things can weigh down our structures to help them stay strong against the wind.

It was a great week having fun with science and I think we are ALL water cycle experts!

Number Writing

Today the students learned how to write numbers "The Kindergarten Way". Here is our number writing song by Dr. Jean that helped us learn the correct formation of numbers. This is a great way for your kindergartener to practice writing their numbers at home, too!

Mouse and Keyboard Skills

I am excited to be taking the class to the computer lab every other week to help grow their technology education. In the lab we will be working on computer skills and doing projects to help enhance our curriculum. Today we worked on our mouse and keyboard skills. With touchscreen everything, this is the first experience for many of the students to use a mouse or type on a keyboard. Below is a link to a "Symbaloo", which provides multiple links to various mouse and keyboard practice games. Click on any icon to take you to various games. These are all great practice and will help the students in the classroom! Enjoy!

Symbaloo: Keyboard and Mouse Skills

Classroom Wish List

We are always in need of special things in our classroom, and donations from amazing parents like you are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you so much to everyone who was able to take an apple from our giving tree at back to school night. However, for some of our bigger items, the Fallsmead PTA has created a teacher "wish list". We currently have 2 items on the wish list for Mrs. Grant's class- 2 sets of foam mats for our classroom library, and 10 small rugs for "personal space spots" to use during math centers.  If you are able to make a small donation to make these wishes come true, it would be wonderful!! Please check out the link below to help grant our wishes!Any donation will help!!

Mrs. Grant's Wishes

Fine Motor Activties

In the days of tablets and smartphones, it is very rare that we need to pick up a pencil to write a note or make a list. Because of this, we have noticed that our students are struggling with some basic fine motor skills that allow them to properly hold a pencil or cut with scissors. These are very important skills that we will work on throughout our time in kindergarten, but in order to build the fine motor muscles in their hands that are needed to do these skills, we need your help!!

Below you will find a list of websites and activities that are simple and easy to do at home with your kindergartener. Each website gives ideas that will help your child build up the muscles in their fingers and hands- which will ultimately allow them to better grip and write with a pencil or cut with a pair of scissors. These activities often involve things that you already have at home- arts and craft supplies, stickers, paper and scissors. We encourage you to do a few activities throughout the week (they are FUN and won't seem like extra work for your kiddo), in order to help us better prepare for writing and cutting in the classroom!!

Pencil Grip Video: This is a quick video that shows a simple way to hold a pencil.

**Other tricks that I have seen for holding a pencil- have them grip a pom pom with his other fingers to occupy them, while the thumb and index finger are holding a pencil. 

Great websites for fine motor activities:

Fine Motor Centers: Many of these involve chopsticks or tweezers- both are good for developing fine motor muscles. Most involve products that you can find at home- beads, pom poms, paper strips, pipe cleaners, etc. These would all be simple to set up for your kinder to do on his own. 

Fine Motor/Scissor Skills: More ideas for developing fine motor skills- particularly related to cutting. 

Fine Motor Activities: LOTS of great, and super simple, fine motor activities! This was the best site that I found!

Name Game/Fine Motor: This is a simple activity involving stickers and name practice. You could do this with letters of the alphabet or word wall words!

Fine Motor Activities: Another great site with lots of simple activities involving household objects.

OT Tools: A great list of tools that you can buy (or even may already have) that help with fine motor, straight from an occupational therapist!

More Fine Motor Activities: A list of 40 simple activities to do at home.

Websites for cutting activities:

Cutting Practice: These are good ideas for working on cutting skills. I would start on bigger paper and gradually move to smaller paper.

Scissors and Straws: Ideas for how to use scissors to cut straws and paper to build cutting skills.

5 Simple Cutting Activities

Play-Doh Cutting: A great idea for improving cutting skills by cutting play-doh!

Cutting Skills Worksheets: Links to several cutting worksheets that have a variety of patterns that will help students practice cutting on a line.

More Worksheets: More printables with cutting activities for young students.

Mrs. Grant's Kindergarten Friends

I am so excited to have these 21 friends in my class for the 2017-2018 school year. We've had a few days together as "Mrs. Grant's Class" and we are getting to know our new friends more each day! I'm looking forward to building a great classroom community and growing together throughout the year. Check out all of our friends at the link below!

Class Pictures

Welcome to Mrs. Grant's Class

Hello fabulous Kindergarten Falcons and welcome to a new Kindergarten year! I am so excited to kick off the 2017-2018 school year with you all at Fallsmead! We are going to have a fantastic adventure, filled with learning, excitement, and fun. I can't wait to meet all of you and share this fantastic year with you. Our class blog will be a place to share information and news about what is happening in our classroom. We will post news, videos, and pictures about all of the fun adventures that we have throughout the year in kindergarten. Make sure you check back often so that you can keep up-to-date about what we are doing in Mrs. Grant's class!