Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas Around the World Trip!

Each day during the month of December, we learned about a different country and their holiday traditions. To culminate our unit, we got to "travel the world" on Friday, December 18. We traveled with our suitcases and passports to 7 different countries. At each country, we got our passports stamped, reviewed that country's traditions, and then made a craft, played a game, or prepared a snack. We had so much fun! Thank you to all the parents, aunts, and grandparents who volunteered their time. We would not have been able to do this without your help! Jayden enjoys his Japanese Christmas cake that he iced with whipped cream and topped with strawberries. Yum!
Jayden, Jordan, and Louis show off their poinsettias in Mexico!

Mitchell, Josh, and Donavin also display their beautiful flowers.


Mrs. Weyrauch shows Alexis and Aaliyah a pickle ornament in Germany. There is a German tradition where a pickle is hidden on the family's Christmas tree. The first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning wins a prize!


Donavin shows off his reindeer that he made. Great job, Donavin!



Cam'ron, Izaac, and Logan in Mexico!


Cam'ron carefully creates his poinsettia.



Logan adds the finishing touch.


Audrey is in Sweden with her suitcase and passport.



Brandi, Ericka, Kennedy, and Alyssa learn how to play with a dreidel in Israel. I think Ericka was the winner from this group.


Alexis and Aaliyah lace together their stockings in Greece. The tradition of hanging stockings came from a Greek legend.


Mitchell smiles for the camera as he makes a reindeer in the United States.



Logan and Izaac are working hard on their poinsettias in Mexico.


Jay, Dylan, and Malachi ice their Japanese Christmas Cakes.



Mrs. Vibbert leads a group of girls in Sweden. They made the wreaths that girls wear on their heads in Sweden on St. Lucia day.


Kennedy's dad teaches Alexis and Aaliyah how to play with a dreidel in Israel.


Brandi's Aunt Sheila shows some boys how to lace together a stocking in Greece.


Jayden's mom helps a group of boys make a Christmas tree ornament. The tradition of decorating Christmas trees came from Germany.


Donavin's mom gets some girls ready to make a Japanese Christmas cake.


Audrey's mom helps some boys make reindeer in the United States. We learned that not every country is visited by Santa Claus and reindeer. For example, in Sweden, the gift giver is a small gnome-like man who is pulled in a sleigh by goats. In Italy, the gift giver is an old lady who flies from house to house on a broom. Sinterklaas comes to the Netherlands on a steamboat with his white horse. So, reindeer and Santa Claus are only special to the United States and some other countries.

Polar Express!

On Thursday, Dec. 17 we learned all about the book the Polar Express. We read the book, did several Polar Express activities, and we even got to watch the movie!
Jay stirring his hot chocolate while we watch the movie.

Malachi and Logan enjoying the movie.

Kennedy sipping her hot chocolate.


Mitchell and Donavin enjoying the movie and hot cocoa.


Dylan watching the movie on our Interwrite board.


We even got to take a trip on the Polar Express!
The Kindergarten teachers lined up our chairs in the hallway while we weren't looking. While we were in our room working on sequencing the things that happened in the story, we heard train whistle all of a sudden! Next we heard a man yell, "All Aboard!". We were so excited. We grabbed our Polar Express train tickets and boarded the train! (The lights were even off in the hallway so it seemed like nighttime, just like in the book.) Once aboard, the conductor (Mr. Muhlenkamp) punched our tickets so we could ride the Polar Express. Then the conductor read the book to us!
Here are some pictures of the conductor (Mr. Muhlenkamp) read the story to us aboard the Polar Express and punching our train tickets...
















Donavin's Birthday

Donavin's birthday is on Dec. 31 and we celebrated before leaving for Christmas break. I think he forgot to wipe his mouth before I took the picture. :O)

Christmas Program

Mrs. Taylor (Highland's music teacher) led the Kindergarten classes in a very cute Christmas music program on Thursday, December 17. The kindergarteners did an outstanding job!
Showing off their antlers at the end of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

The Kindergartners singing beautifully!

Jay


Alexis, Koral, Modesty, and Brandi



Logan, Jayden, and Kennedy

Louis, Mitchell, and Izaac



Kennedy, Koral, Modesty, Alexis, and Audrey

Friday, December 11, 2009

Dec. 13-19 Newsletter

Mrs. Morgan’s Newsletter
Week of December 13-19
These are the skills we will be focusing on this week:
*We will be reading the story Seeds together and will focus on the comprehension skill of drawing conclusions.
*We will focus on the letter: Ff
*We will be able to read and spell the high-frequency words: they, you, of (These are attached to the newsletter. Please add these to your child’s word ring.)
*Our Amazing Words this week: seeds, pod, roots, stem, pit, sprouts
*We will continue our Christmas Around the World unit! This week we will learn about Christmas in Japan, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa. Our Christmas Around the World Trip will be Friday, December 18!
*Math: We will finish sorting and graphing unit. We will be taking our post-test over sorting and graphing on Wednesday. Please remember to review your sorting and graphing “I Can” statements.

News & Reminders:
*Winter Break: Deb. 21-Jan. 1 (Return to school Monday, Jan. 4.)
*Kindergarten-2nd grade Christmas Music Program: Thursday, Dec. 17 at 6:30pm. Students need to be in the cafeteria no late than 6:10pm. This will last about an hour.
*Kindergarten Winter Parties will be held Thursday, Dec. 17 from 1pm-2pm. We will be watching the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
*Polar Express! On Thursday, Dec. 17, we will be reading the story and watching the movie The Polar Express. We will even take a ride on the Polar Express! (Our chairs will be lined up in the hallway, like a train. We will board the train and have our tickets punched by the conductor! Then the conductor will read the Polar Express to us!) Please wear your pajamas to school that day, just like the children in the book.
*Classroom Christmas Wish List – If you are able to donate any of the following items, it would be very much appreciated: yellow #2 pencils, small pink erasers that go on the ends of pencils, dry erase markers, small pieces of individually-wrapped candies. Thank you!

Have a great week,
Mrs. Morgan amy.morgan@glasgow.kyschools.us
Class Blog: http://highlandkindergarten.blogspot.com

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Highland's Thanksgiving Meal

Highland had a school-wide Thanksgiving meal the week prior to Thanksgiving. The students' family members were invited. We dined on turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, and dessert. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who attended.


Jayden's Birthday


We celebrated Jayden's birthday with cupcakes and his mom led us in a game of BINGO!

Thanksgiving Feast

We had a special Thanksgiving Feast in our classroom on Tuesday, November 24. Each child dressed as either a pilgrim or a Native American. They also each brought in a can of vegetables for us to cook. Mrs. Morgan made the turkey and Mrs. Vibbert made the dressing. Our parents and grandparents were invited to attend. Check out some pictures from our big day:
Jayden's family:

Modesty's family:


Audrey and Cam'ron:


Alyssa's family:

Koral and her mom:
Logan and Grandma:
Modesty's family, Jay, and Aaliyah:
Donavin and his mom:
Kennedy, Louis, and Alexis: