What's Inside?
3/30/2019
Kids learn best when they’re involved in the learning. This means getting to ask questions and have discussions. Children need their senses engaged. At PNA hands-on science activities let children do just that, giving the kids a chance to engage multiple senses. Critical thinking skills are enhanced during such science activities. Kids can ask the why, how, and what questions. Even better, they can help answer the questions themselves. They are able to learn the scientific process along the way. In the Beginners class this week we continued our study of balls. We learned which balls bounce and which do not. The experiment brought on the question why do some balls bounce higher than others? One beginner said because, “They have air inside of them.” That led to wondering if all balls have air in them. We took the time to look at the insides of several balls. The students were able to use most of their senses to observe each ball. Earlier in the week we put water beads in our sensory table. This was a great experiment in itself. We had to grow the beads with water and each student was able to help with this process. We watched the beads grow in size all day then added them to the sensory table. At the sensory table I’ve see a lot of learning happening. I have also seen kids taking care of their learning environment. The water beads break from use so the kids have been taking the time to sort the broken pieces out so we can use them in the sensory table for longer. Along with science we have also continued with our early math skill of sorting. We sorted our ball collection and then we graphed our results. One of the reasons that I like graphing is that it gives the Beginners a real-life, relevant reason to use math concepts. Once we graph something, it only makes sense to count elements from the graph, as well as to compare and contrast them. We used stickers for our graph. Stickers are great, they provide opportunity to refine fine motor skills, pincer exercises and some logical thought patterns on how to get those tricky stickers off the sheets they come on. Here are a few more pictures of the Beginners using the classroom to feed their curiosity.
Popcorn Balls and Goodbyes
3/24/2019
Welcome back from spring break. The students were excited to get back to their friends and familiar routines after a break from school. We have started a new study on ramps and balls. This week we asked each student to bring in a ball to add to our ball collection. Students brought in all sorts of balls. Students did a lot of sorting this week. Sorting is really all about observing, comparing and contrasting objects. As our students become familiar with this early math skill, they will begin to sort objects naturally, setting themselves up for all sorts of success in math in the future. Here at PNA we offer all of our students a wide variety of Specialist Programs including Performing Arts, Studio Arts, Spanish, and Physical Education. Our specialist teachers were able to incorporate our ball study into their lessons. In Spanish we talked about “igual” and “diferente”. Also in PE we got to bounce, roll and throw the many balls from our collection and some other balls that Ms. Molly has in her collection. We read a book called Carrot and Pea. The book helped us to learn to celebrate similarities and differences. The book also reminded us that there are many foods that are round and spheres like the balls we have been studying. We decided it would be fun to make our own round food, so we made some yummy popcorn balls. The kids enjoyed watching the marshmallows change their shape once they were heated on the stove and shaping their own popcorn balls. Our week wrapped up by saying goodbye to a very special person to the PNA community. Our students are the youngest at PNA and for some, this is their first time in school away from home. Because of this our students sometimes need a smile or extra attention while they settle into their day. Many times Ms. Tabitha has been that smiling face or that person that reassures them they will be ok. We will miss Ms. Tabitha and all of her smiles.
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Annalee JohnsonEK Teacher Archives
January 2021
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