Pumpkin Patch

One escaped hen, opportunity for a close up look!

400 hens=300 eggs per day

chickens do fly!

Hens like kale leaves!

apple picking

digging potatoes

finding the perfect pumpkin

hayride

We had perfect fall weather for our trip to the pumpkin patch.  We waded through oozy mud, fed chickens and goats, saw turkeys, had a hayride, picked apples, dug potatoes and finally, found the best pumpkin in the field.  It was an excellent field trip to a working farm.

iPads as a learning tool (just wait until you see what we can do with these!)

a  new kind of dough

we tried it out with Mrs. Wollum

We love it when Ms. Suzanne comes to sing

In science this week we compared and contrasted 3 different types of seed pods. 

Sometimes you just need pictures of our really cute kids!

This week we introduced the iPads as a tool for recording data.  We practiced taking pictures as a member of a group and getting comfortable with the camera icon and finding interesting things to take pictures of.   Then the kids had the opportunity to present their pictures to the group.  The purpose of this exercise was two-fold.  We wanted the kids to work as part of a team and to practice describing their photos.  This is in preparation for a project we'll be starting next week (plus these are skills that they'll use over and over again).

Fall leaves and fire safety

 This week we investigated fall leaves.  The children are getting very proficient  making observations and recording what they see.

We visited our neighborhood fire station this week.  The children had a wonderful time exploring the fire truck and the aid car.  They even had a turn spraying the fire hose!   They learned about fire safety and how fire fighters do their jobs. This was a wonderful, hands on experience for the kids.   Before our visit, we asked the children what they already knew about the fire station (prior knowledge, "I think . . .").  We followed that with asking what they would like to know (inquiry, "I wonder. . .").   After our visit, we reviewed the "I think" and and the "I wonder" charts; now we recorded the their new observations, "I discovered. . .".  This is one way of reinforcing and documenting learning in our class.

STEM in the Ladybugs

The kids asked for a little extra French and our teacher obliged.

Learning the bus rules before our first field trip

A little science

Introduction to our iPads

Math-sorting, graphing and counting M&Ms

In a typical day in the Ladybug class you will see many elements of a STEM classroom.  "S", science is a major part of what we do every day.  Besides doing science experiments and observations, science is frequently a part of an art activity.  Here we were mixing primary colors to make secondary colors.  "T", technology is present in the form of iPads that we use for math activities or drawing.  We also use the smart board.  "E", engineering, happens every day in the classroom.  We build with blocks, Legos and other building materials.  The marble maze is our latest addition to our engineering section of the room.   "M", math is an integral part of our day.  We love math!  We explore patterns all over the room, use manipulatives to solve equations and do oral math problems.  Hard to believe we can pack all this into a day!