It's a Zoo!

Weekly Message from Mrs. Bennett-Jervis (click on the link)



What do lions, tigers and bears have in common?  That's right, they live at the zoo!  We have been working so hard, I think we need to go on a virtual field trip to start building our schema about the zoo.  When we were at school, we decided that we should build a zoo, so that is exactly what we will do over the course of the next few weeks.  This week, we will focus on gathering information and sharpening our math skills.  The Toronto Zoo is currently closed but every day at 1 p.m. they’ll bring the zoo to you through Facebook Live sessions with staff, keepers and– of course, the animals.  You can also look for daily updates on some of your favourite critters on the zoo’s Twitter and Instagram pages. If you do not have social media, not to worry, you can simply you can check out National Geographic Kids for information on zoo animals. 

Literacy and Math Behaviours

"Going to the Zoo" https://www.getepic.com/app/read/47545

Jack Hartmann:  Animal Alphabet  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG44px1LfHc


Syllables in words video with Mrs. Bennett (Bear, Lion, Elephant, Rhinocerous).  Now you can play this game at home by clapping the parts of family members names.  Zoo Animal Syllables  (Click on the link to watch the video.)

Please pick one of these literacy options that best suits your child's ability and/or interest:

Make a list of 5-10 animals that you think you would find at the zoo.

Draw pictures of 5 zoo animals.  Write the first sound you hear when you say the animal's name.

Patterns are everywhere, especially on animals.  Take a look at these pictures of animals.  Can you identify which animal this pattern belongs to? 

 


Please pick one of these numeracy options that best suits your child's ability and/or interest:

Watch the videos of Mrs. Bennett and the bears.  

SK Bears in a cave, how many are in the cave?  Write a number sentence to show your learning.  Bears in a Cave  (Click on the link to watch the video.)

JK  What comes next in my pattern sequence?  Bear Patterns  (Click on the link to watch the video.)

Belonging and Contributing

Zoo keepers work together as a team to keep the animals safe and the zoo tidy.  Do a chore around your house that would help your family.  It will make you feel good because you were helpful and I bet it will make your parents happy too!

Create your own hand print zoo animal or another art activity of your choice.



Self-Regulation and Well-Being

Listen to the song "Going to the Zoo"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR0CM73X0uk, if you wish, play it again and sing along.

Get outside and move like animals- Run as fast as a cheetah, lumber slowly on all four like a bear,  crawl like a turtle, swing your trunk like an elephant.  


Problem Solving and Innovating

Did you know that every time you do a puzzle, you are working on your problem solving skills?  This week, do a puzzle of any kind.  It could be a jigsaw puzzle, a letter or word find, a dot to dot, jokes or clues.

 Zoo Riddles (Click on the link to watch the video.)

Try something new like helping your parents with a new chore, riding a bike, singing a song, try a new dance.  The sky is the limit.  Take a picture of make a video of you demonstrating your new skill.



Please remember to keep up with your daily "Should Do's" like reading, journals or other drawing and writing, counting, and number writing.  You can also visit our learning apps and websites whenever it is convenient for you.

Happy Earth Day

Hi KA!

Earth Day has been cooler than I had hoped, so I won't be spending as much time outdoors as I would like, but I was able to make a couple of quick videos about two types of living things.  One is an animal and the other is a plant.  I will attach these videos as well as a link to a song sung by children.  It is one of my most favourite songs.  I hope you enjoy it and take a moment to think about the amazing world we live in, with so many wonders around us and show gratitude for the little things in the days ahead.

Mrs. Bennett-Jervis

Baby Chick

Planting a Seed

What a Wonderful World

The R's of Remote Learning: Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic, Rhyming, Recycling, and Resilience

Please click on this link to listen to my message to the kids. Weekly Wish April 20, 2020

Literacy and Math Behaviours

Please watch this video to learn more about living and non-living things.

"Living Things and Non-Living Things:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEz7RPvQCAI

Make a chart for Living Versus Non-Living Things.  In the first column draw or write the names of things that are living.  In the second column draw or write the names of things that are non-living.  This can also be done by gathering collections and taking pictures of each type of thing.

I need you to think back to January, when we returned from Winter Break, we received a package.  Do you remember what it was?  It was a very happy moment for us all.  We received a message from the North Pole.  There was a letter and a package of flowers.  On your spring scavenger hunt last week, many of you might have noticed that flowers are starting to pop up.  The spring is a perfect time to start planting seeds.  I am going to plant the seeds and send you a video of the process.  Planting, like writing is a process and it takes time for us to grow.  Daily drawing and writing is very important.  Here is my challenge for you this week.  Each day, pick someone special in your life and draw a picture and write them a short letter.  You will be planting seeds of happiness in someone's life!

We have one last single letter to work on.  You guessed it, the letter Xx.  Here are a couple of quick videos that you can listen and dance to for help learning about the letter x:

Have Fun Learning the Letter X:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj4nyH2aWVc

Jolly Phonics Letter X:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaxDYgrpSBE

After you have listened to these videos, write some letter X's (both upper and lower case are the same, except for the size).  For those looking for a challenge, try to find as many words as you can that have "x" in them.

If you want to make a craft, take two popsicle sticks and glue them together to form an X.  Wait for it to dry and then decorate it with markers, stickers or whatever craft items you have available to you at home.  You can play a game called find the X by hiding it around your house and giving someone clues to find it.  

Please pick one of these literacy options that best suits your child's ability and/or interest:

Sing and Dance to one of our favourite songs:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP9AujV8N1A

Play along with Mrs. Bennett-Jervis' video "If I say.. You say.. Rhyming

If I Say, You Say- A Rhyming Game

Write all the words that you can think of that end in "ap", "ay", and "at".

Messy Math:  Let's get outside and have some fun learning.  Practice writing your numbers using side walk chalk.  Now, let's get our bodies moving.  Find objects to represent each number.  For example:  find one rock and place it under the 1.  Find two sticks and place them under the 2.  Take a picture of your "Messy Math" creation.  If you do not have sidewalk chalk, this activity could be done in a sandbox.

Please pick one of these numeracy options that best suits your child's ability and/or interest:

Gather a collection of rocks and 2 dice.  Roll the dice, add the sum of the dice and represent your number sentence with rocks.  If you want to take it one step further, you can use a marker board or piece of paper to record your answers.

Find an old flower pot or container.  Collect a bunch of rocks and use them as manipulatives to count.  Use one to one correspondence and count as high as you can go!


Belonging and Contributing

It is important that children develop an attitude of environmental stewardship and learn that they can do simple things to help our Earth.  I have assigned a few books and videos in "Epic" that can be used to assist the children in learning more about recycling and taking care of our earth.  

"Let's Recycle"  https://www.getepic.com/app/read/59524

"Recycling" https://www.getepic.com/app/read/25863

"The Three Little Recyclers"  https://www.getepic.com/app/read/11113

I found a new song that you might like to dance to at home.  Remember to make up actions to go along with the instructions you are listening for.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ZK5pntyNg

Please visit the following Starfall link to practice sorting recyclables.  https://www.starfall.com/h/holiday/earthday/?sn=main

Draw a picture of something that you can do to help the earth stay healthy and clean.


Self-Regulation and Well-Being

"Ishi"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpt0s2JHVT4

Find a special rock and create your own "Ishi"rock.  You can paint it or use markers to design a rock that is special for you.  Carry it with you to help remind you that all feelings are temporary and that happiness is a choice.  Take pictures of you and your rock throughout the week and send them to me with a message about the special moments you have encountered during the week.

Take some time doing something that you love.  It could be singing a song, dancing, painting a picture or doing a craft, doing a magic trick, gardening, just to give you a few ideas.  I cannot wait to see what you are doing.

Problem Solving and Innovating

Listen to the story: "We Can Reuse it!" https://www.getepic.com/app/read/47564 

Building Challenge

When you look at things through the lens of imagination, things that once looked like garbage or recyclables can turn into something spectacular.

Make a creation out of recyclable materials.  You could use plastic containers, paper towel rolls, aluminum cans or pans.  Your imagination is your only limit!  When you are done, take a picture or make a video.  Please be sure that you can answer the following questions:  What is it?  What is the purpose of your creation?  Does it have any special features?


Reminders:  Reading (which includes RAZ kids, read alouds and books your child reads to you, letter and word recognition, and counting) should be done daily to keep skills sharp.  

All of the websites can be used as you see fit.

Skittles Experiment

Click on the link to finally see what happens to the Skittles when we added warm water!

KA Skittles Experiment

KA students, please send me an email and let me know what you observed.

After Every Rain, There is a Rainbow

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you are staying healthy and happy!  I really enjoyed the responses that you have been sending me, and I feel like each week that we are learning in this way, we will become more comfortable and will be able to add new ways to connect and opportunities for learning.  With that being said, for Literacy and Math, I will be sending a whole group activity and options for individual learning.  As time goes on, you will find a routine that work best for your family.  Some of you have been asking for a schedule and I will be glad to help.  The guidelines set out by the Ministry of Education are 5 hours of learning per week for Kindergarten.  Please keep in mind that every interaction you have with your child is an opportunity for learning.  An ideal schedule would be for you to read with your child daily, spend 10 minutes working on the games I sent out for counting and letters or words, and selecting one or two activities from this list provided.  The games and apps that I have sent can be done as much or as little as you want.  I want to reinforce that these learning opportunities and schedules are merely suggestions and to provide guidance.  I understand that these are different times and I know that every parent is doing their very best for their children.  

Please click on this link to view my message to the kids: Weekly Message April 13, 2020

Literacy and Math Behaviours

Draw a picture of a rainbow. Create your own survey question about favourite colours.  Write your colour options below your rainbow and ask each member of your family "What is your favourite colour?"  If you do not have many people in your house hold, this would be a perfect opportunity to phone relatives and practice conversational skills and phone etiquette.  Record your answers using tally marks.  What did you learn from this survey?  Which colour had the most tally marks?  Which colour had the least tally marks?  BONUS:  Create a concrete bar graph using your lego to represent your data.  Hint, this is just like your "bully beans" and "Smartie" graphing.

Please visit "Epic" and find the book:  "I See Rainbows" and listen as the story is read aloud to you.  Tell someone what you learned about rainbows.

Begin a journal to document what you have learned each week.  For this week's entry, consider the following questions:  What did I learn?  What did I like about this week's activities?  Do you have any "wonders" about rainbows or questions to further your learning about rainbows?

Please pick one of these literacy options that best suits your child's ability and/or interest:

Write the letters of the alphabet using all the colours of the rainbow.

SK- Write all the words you know how to spell, using a different colour for each letter.


Please pick one of these numeracy options that best suits your child's ability and/or interest:

Sort your lego by colour.  Count out how many of each colour you have.  
Remember to touch and count each piece.

Sort your lego by colour.  Create a "Make 10 Rainbow" to show the bonds of 10.  You can draw the rainbow or use manipulatives.  Write simple equations for each of the bonds (eg. 0 + 10 = 10, 1 + 9= 10 etc).



Belonging and Contributing

"The Colours of the Rainbow" by Jack Hartmann:  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D7XcKDTzI4

Go on a rainbow Scavenger Hunt.



Self-Regulation and Well-Being

Create one rainbow art project.  These are three examples but you are not limited to these.  Use the materials that you have available.

Rainbow Mobile:  You will need a stick, some string, paper, scissors and markers.  Have your child draw a picture of the sun, a cloud, a raindrop, and a cloud.  Cut them out and attach them to string and then the stick.

Potato Print Rainbow and Clouds:  You will need one large potato, paint, and paper.  Cut a large potato in half.  Cut a cloud design in one half of the potato and a rainbow on the other half.  Dip in paint and use the potato like a stamp.

Paper Plate Tamborine:  You will need a paper plate, rice or something to make a sound, markers or paint, a stapler or glue.  Fold the plate in half, fill it with rice and fasten it.  Decorate the outside by drawing a rainbow.

"Awesome Rainbows"  Please google:  GoNoodle Awesome Rainbows, you will find a great song to get your child moving.

Remember to spend some time outdoors running, playing and moving your body.  Daily drawing and writing, and practice cutting with scissors will also keep their fine motor skills developing.  

Problem Solving and Innovating

Please take an opportunity to check out the "Colours" section on PebbleGo.
Login in to PebbleGo (username:  sopl243 password:  school)  Click "Science" then click "Physical Sciences" then click "Light" then click "Colours".  PebbleGo will read the information to your child.  Please go through all of the tabs at the top.  The very last one gives an explanation of how rainbows are formed.

I am so excited for a science experiment this week.  What do you think will happen, if I put Skittles (yes, Skittles the candy!) on a plate and add warm water?  Please send me your predictions by Thursday April 16, 2020.  Once I receive all of your predictions, I will send a video of the experiment for you to observe and you can tell me what you see!

If you want to try this experiment at home, you will need:

- A bag of Skittles candy;
- a plate;
- warm water

Sort out the Skittles by colour.  Make a circle using the Skittles to form a pattern around the outside of the plate.  Make your predictions.  Pour the warm water into the centre of the plate and observe.  What is happening?  Tell an adult about it so they can write it down or make a video as you conduct your experiment.

Building Challenge

Use materials found in your home to build a rainbow bridge for a small toy or figure to cross.  Materials you might use are lego blocks, pipe cleaners, play dough, paper or plastic cups, popsicle sticks, string and or any other material you can find.  If parents are able to take a picture, you can write about your bridge or make a short video.  By documenting the learning, its helps give me a chance to be part of your building and learning process. Remember that designing and building is a process and if doesn't work the first time, simply start again but remember what did not work so you can make adjustments the next time.

Our New Learning Journey Begins Today!

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I hope this note finds everyone healthy and safe, that is our number one priority in these

uncertain times. Our next priority is maintaining relationships and connection for everyone.

I want to reassure you that I am with you on this learning journey and be contacted via email

so that I may support you as much as I can. Although academic learning is important, we need to

remember that students in Kindergarten are also learning much about their worlds and

that there are many opportunities to learn that occur naturally within our households and

through play. When we are at school, much of our days are spent on play and labelling the learning

that we see. Children select activities of interest to them and we embed as much learning

as possible into that play. Please continue to view play as an important part of the learning process

and allow as much free play as you can. Interactions are vital to learning. When time

permits, please try to play a board game and interact with your child in playful and ways.

I will be posting activities that can be completed over the course of the week relating

to our four frames of learning: Literacy and Math, Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and

Well-Being, and Problem Solving and Innovating. I am providing these activities for those

that are looking for academic guidance and new opportunities for learning.

Inside our classroom, we take pictures on a regular basis and the children will often ask for a photo
when they are extremely proud of a design or new learning.  Please, if you are able, take photos, and
if you wish, send them to me in an email. I want to be part of this learning journey as much as
possible.

All we are asking at this time is that you find a balance of what will work for your family as each
situation is unique.  If all you feel you have time for is reading, then by all means keep it up.
If you want to attempt a few or all of these activities and websites, that is great too.

We will be starting this online learning journey slowly with me posting activities on Monday
that can be done over the course of the week and I will check in periodically to see how things are
going and how I can support the learning.  Please remember, you are not in this alone and that I will
help as much as I can.

For online activities, you will have received an email with usernames and passwords.  I also sent an
invitation for you to subscribe to EPIC. If you have not received these emails, please let me know as
soon as possible.

This is a new situation for us all and we will navigate it together.  This learning will remain fluid and I
will adjust things as I receive new information from the board and ministry.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bennett-Jervis

Week of April 6, 2020

“I Wish You More” https://youtu.be/s0G-RRzq4Is

Literacy and Math Behaviours:

Read-alouds afford an amazing opportunity for children and families to connect and learn across all
domains. Please pick a read aloud and enjoy it.

We love to play with loose parts in the classroom!  Find a collection of loose parts and tell what math
lives in these materials (sort the items, make a pattern, estimate how many you have in your collection,
count the collection by 1, 2, 5, 10, make a shape using your materials, show ways to make 10 with the
materials).  The possibilities are truly endless! Examples of loose parts are lego, rocks, corks, plastic
caps, marbles, cars, dinosaurs, tiny figures, animals, sticks, buttons, shells, beads, clothespins, pom
poms, elastics, screws, and spools.  

Please take some time to explore activities on these websites.

Teach Monster to Read: https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/

Zorbits:  https://www.zorbitsmath.com/

Belonging and Contributing:

We have spent much of our time at school, noticing the world around us.  Since we were last together,
our seasons changed. It is now spring! Here are a couple of online read alouds to help highlight
some of the changes that we will be seeing unfold in the next couple of weeks:

“When Spring Comes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHgxFFxWV0Y

If possible, get outside and get your daily dose of vitamin N (nature).  Ask your child if they notice any
signs of spring. If possible, take a picture of them exploring and send it to me.  Please have your child
draw a detailed picture, with a background using a variety of colours of what they have found. Adding
writing would be the next step.  Depending on your child’s level of letter/sound knowledge, they can
label the picture or write a complete sentence like “I found a flower.” Encouraging phonetic writing is
key so the same sentence may appear as “I fnd a flor”.

Self-Regulation and Well-Being

If you wish, here is a book that you can share with your child about social distancing.

“Time to Come in Bear” https://youtu.be/DA_SsZFYw0w

Open the door for children to voice questions and concerns about the current situation.  Answer them
as honestly as you can with child appropriate language and content.

Cosmic Yoga “Peter Cottontail and the Tickly Monkeys”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEp9euhuu2E

Problem Solving and Innovating

Using materials in and around your home to build a castle (aka fort). Pretend that you are like the
pretend you are a queen, king, prince or princess and enjoy your royal space.

Materials you might use are pillows, chairs, blankets, clothes pins, stuffies and anything else your
imagination can think of. If parents are able, take a picture of your creation and label the different
areas (with help from your parents) to give me a better understanding of your castle and special
features of its design.