Writing in Kindergarten

Here are some recent examples of our Kindergarten students engaged in various writing activities.  Writing in Kindergarten involves experimenting with a variety of tools and making notes, lists, cards and recording stories for a variety of purposes.

Creating with 2D shapes & 3D solids

During our study of 2D shapes and 3D solids the students have engaged in many different building and design activities.  We have learned about different characteristics of 3D solids (such as stack, slide and roll) and real world application for these characteristics.

Our ROM visit

Our ROM visit was a big success!  Many thanks to the parent volunteers who made this trip possible (and a big thank you to everyone who volunteered, even if you weren't able to join us).

Special Helper Measurement Project

For this cycle of our special helpers we are asking families to work on a measurement project for your child to bring in on their special helper day.

We will send home a strip of paper as tall as your child.

Please choose a familiar object like a duplo block, a spoon or a toy car and help your child repeatedly trace it on their strip of paper.  We will compare our measurement tools in class!

Here is an example to help you get started:

Thank you!

Our new pets are arriving soon....

We have aquariums all set up and ready to go!  Even just the empty aquariums have generated a lot of talk, questions and curiosities.  We've begun talking about the types of fish we will have in our aquariums and how to care for them.

Room 104

Room 129

Our first fish will be platys.  They are a friendly tropical fish that gives live birth so we hope to have baby fish in our tanks soon!

Here's how to tell the males from females:

These are 2 breeds of platys:

                    Red Fin                                                                                    Mickey Mouse

This what a pregnant platy looks like:

And here is a baby platy!

Outdoor Inquiry

We continued our inquiry about snow and its properties outside now that the weather is co-operating!

January Newsletter

Inquiry Projects

This month both classes are exploring the properties of snow by bringing snow into the classroom and investigating it outside!  We will experiment with melting snow and ice and mixing snow with other materials.

Our other area of interest is winter and arctic animals!  The students were excited to see photos of the new baby polar bear at the Toronto Zoo!

Math

This month we will focus on measurement.  The children will explore non-standard (for example, measuring with hands or paper clips) and standard units of measurement (for example, measuring with a thermometer or ruler).  To support this unit at home, try making snow angels outside and measuring the length and width using footprints.  Try it with each family member!  Inviting your child to cook or bake with you is another wonderful opportunity for hands on learning about mathematics!

Important Dates

January 17^th – Trip to Forest Valley

January 24^th – PA Day (no school)

February 17^th – Family Day (no school)

February 20^th – Trip to the ROM (information will be sent home soon!)

February 21^st – Jump Rope for Heart

Trip to Forest Valley

January 17^th – all day!

We are traveling to Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre via school bus!  Please make sure your child is dressed for a day of outdoor fun!  Layers and warm clothes are required.

ALL students (including daycare children) need a waste free lunch and a water bottle.

Parent volunteers are welcome to join us!  Please speak to your classroom teacher or ECE if you are available for the day.

February Report Cards

This term only JK students will receive report cards in February.  As always, you are welcome to contact us at any time for an update on your child’s progress.

Class Pet

We will be welcoming fish into our classrooms this month as our new class pets!  Our first fish will be platys, which are a friendly breed of fish that give live birth!  We look forward to learning about pet care with the children and seeing where their curiosities lead us.