Groundhog & Shadows

We started off the week talking about it being Groundhog's day. We talked about its a fun game to see if the groundhog sees his shadow and if he does it is 6 more weeks of winter and if he does not sprint is on its way. Students did a early reader that is repetitious in words about groundhogs day.  These books came home.  

We then made a prediction on what we thought he saw.  We then looked it up and found out that he did see his shadow and we have more winter.  We used big words like prediction (guess) and then tested our results.

We then played around with tracing shadows of things Mrs. Gloudemans put on her desk or taped to the window.  If the white light was around it, then we layed down our chalk and rubbed it to show light.  

On Wednesday, we started the day off by cutting out two shapes at the same time.  We learned that shadows are going to look exactly the same as the first thing because shadows are blocked light.  

During our circle time, we talked about how a shadow is made when light cannot get through.  If you cant see through me light cant get through me.  We tried this out with a couple objects in our room.  It is always looked the same but black.  Then we got the idea to try out our drop bucket.  Since we could see through it some people thought the light could get through it too.  We made another prediction. Students helped me write our prediction by helping me with the initial sound in the words.  We then did a scientific test.

We discovered that it left a little shadow, but lights still got through some parts.  Both groups were right!

.  For an art project, students tracked the shadow of their capital letter in their name.  First, they had to find their capital letter from the foam letters on the floor under our tree house.




Next. they had to trace their letter Mrs. Drummond was holding onto their black paper with a white piece of chalk.

Another project we did was match the groundhogs to their shadows.  we talked about how if the groundhog is wearing glasses that wont show in a shadow because they light cant get through their heads.  They have to look what the light would go around.  Students did very well with this match. They like that they could lift the flaps and see their shadows as well.

The letter of the week was Bb. We learned the sign language for a letter, the literacy link sound symbols, the letter sound, and looking at and writing it in both capital letters and lower case letters.  Click here to view the many ways we learn the letter of the week!

Each week we watch letter videos from "Have Fun Teaching" and the students are really picking up the names of letters, formations, and the sounds of letters.  Check out these videos with you child!  Click HERE.

The Tuesday project of letter of the week is to decorate a letter with something that starts with the letter. This week we decorated the letter Bb with  blowing blue bubbles.  On Thursday, our letter of the week project was to read a page from our alphabet book, B is for Bumblebee.

Upcoming Events:

• Reading with the Stars Letters and RSVP came home electronically.  Please let us know if electronically does not work for your family.  Reading with the Stars is Monday February 9, 2015 5:30-6:30 in our room.  It is Valentine's themed, but not a "program" like our December one.
• VALENTINES DAY
• Valentine buckets: for your child's valentine buckets we would like you to please send a cleaned out gallon jug (for milk or OJ). We will decorate these and have a nice handled container.
• Valentine distribution: our school takes an "all or nothing" policy with valentines. You can bring valentines for 1) the whole school 2) the whole class 3) nobody. This way there is no picking or choosing or hurt feelings.  **for the 4k program, we recommend you let YOUR CHILD sign their name on their valentines, but then leave the "TO" blank.  This way, your child gets practice writing their name but can simply go down the line of valentine buckets distribute valentines.** We have 19 students in our class.
• Valentine Party: we will be having valentine themed centers on Thursday February 12. Centers will include: art, valentine distribution, valentine game, and free choice.

• Conferences Watch for sign up to come in email.  Conferences for HASD families and students who only stay in the AM will be Monday February 16 3:00-5:45.  Families that stay with Mrs. Zajicek will be Thursday Feb 19 3:00-5:45
• Swim Night at the YMCA-Look for RSVP that came home yesterday (Thursday).  Family night of no charge swimming at the Fox West YMCA.  Open to all 4k sites in the district. Saturday February 21, 2015.  Please bring the RSVP to me so I can send in a count and make sure to bring the back page with you when you go.
• Sledding at Jennerjon Park.  More information coming soon.  Open to all 4k Sites in the district. Friday February 27, 2015

Important Notes:

•  Dress for the weather.  Please send your child dressed for the weather as we go outside as long as it is not raining or below 0*(students are more than welcome to bring layers daily or to leave in their lockers)  It may also be time to change out the change of clothes to make sure they are weather appropriate.  If you send a new change of clothes, we will send the warm weather clothes in their backpacks.
• Folders. Please be checking your child's daily folder each night.  We put notes on the notebook pages in their folders as well as any notes we may have for you.  Artwork is also sent home this way. As we start letter of the week, we will also start sending home homework to help reinforce the letter concept and identification.  Please work on this with you child to help the students make the connection between home and school. 
• Also, Please check the student's Wednesday Folders.  Please try to take info out and return the folder and any forms/info/payments in those folders a day or two after receiving. 
• Literacy Bags come home every three weeks.  Students will have a week to complete the project inside and can then return the bag with completed sheets in it on TUESDAYS.
• Library Books come every week.  We go to library on Monday and student have the opportunity to check out a book and keep it for a week. It can be kept in their back packs or at home, but please remember to bring it on Mondays. 
• Book Order due Feb 27.  Please click on the link for scholastic at the top of this page.  When you buy books for your child, it helps buy books and supplies for our classrooms.
• Please Pass this on to anyone and everyone you know with 4 year olds!  Click HERE for the full document

Next Week:
Theme: Valentine's Day
Letter of the Week: Ff
Snack: Sonetti