Shopping Spree

Sorry it's taken so long to post, here is a story from the last few weeks before break:

December is here, and for almost every kindergartener that means presents. We've discussed the history and true meaning behind the December holidays, as well as the joys of giving presents (quite a hard concept to grasp when you're five!). To support the idea that giving is often just as good, if not better, than getting, our PTA hosts "Giftland ", a shop where students can buy small trinkets as gifts for family members. To a kindergartner, you may as well be shopping on Madison Ave.

Yesterday, I took the students who had brought money down to Giftland to purchase their presents. Little Dennis had $20 to spend, a veritable fortune in kindergarten terms. With the help of a PTA mom, he looked around, carefully selecting the items he wanted, buying multiples of many things like yoyos and rings and flashlights. At the exhaustion of his $20 budget, he had two plastic bags bursting with dollar store treasures. As the PTA mom helped him tie the bacgs close, he looks up ever so sweetly and says, "Hey, where's my change?" PTA mom,, looks a bit confused and reminds him that he spent all his money, and that if he wants change, he'll have to put something back. "Would you like to put something back?" she inquires. "No," he replies with the space cadet stare, "but I would like some change."

Que the laugh track.

I love my job.

Thank you

It's November, so we have been talking about Thanksgiving. While many, well most, of the kindergarten people thought the primary reason for Thanksgiving was eating turkey, I did have a few that were able to help fill in our circle map with more than just food.  This lead to a discussion about being grateful, and the true meaning behind Thanksgiving ::cue cheesy sentimental music:: which is giving thanks.

In that spirit, we have been making Thank you cards. Yesterday, we worked on cards for the wonderful people who funded our project on Donors Choose. They did a fantastic job! Some chose to write full sentences, while others drew pictures of themselves and how getting our new math manipulatives made them feel. It was awesome to see them working on something so hard because it was for someone else.

Today, they went even farther in making cards for Veterans Day. Living in a military community and having a few military kids in our class, my kinder people are very aware and VERY grateful for the service that our armed forces perform. It was so cool to see their excitement to say thank you to a member of the armed services.

I love my job!

Party

Yesterday was our October birthday party. Our school doesn't allow Halloween parties, but I do have a celebration sometime during the month to celebrate all the kids who have birthdays that month. This helps in keeping cupcakes and other sugary snacks to a minimum.

This was also the first party of the year. My kids were over the moon excited for it, and had a very, VERY hard time staying focused. In fact, three kindergarten people had to miss part of the festivities because of their behavior. I thought I was going to go crazy from reminding and redirecting behavior.

But it was worth it. My little Southern Belle came up to me, smiled her shy smile and said "This is the best party ever!!!"

I love my job!

Friday Feature: Mother's Day

I was overcome with illness last Friday, so here are two Mother's Day Ideas to make up for not posting.

Bath Salts We will be making these this year for the wonderful ladies in our lives!

For this project you will need:

Ziploc Quart size Baggies
Epsom Salt
Perfume Oil
Food Coloring
Glycerin
A pretty container to put the finished product in

In the plastic baggie, combine about 1 cup of the Epsom salts, a few drops of perfume oil, a 1/4 teaspoon of glycerin. Add food coloring to make desired color. Seal the baggie, and squish vigorously to blend all ingredients. Clip a corner of the baggie and squirt the colorful, scented salts into the pretty container.

Watercolor Cards We will also be giving our Mother's these beautiful handmade cards.

For this project, you will need:

White construction paper
White Crayons
Watercolors of your choice
Water
Paintbrushes
Any choice of covering to keep both kiddos and community clean

Have student write their message to  mommy dearest with the white crayon on the white construction paper. Students then use the water and watercolors to paint the entire card. The white crayon writing will stand out against the watercolor paint. They turn out beautifully, and the kids think it's magic!

Feature Friday: Earth Day Projects

In honor of April being Earth Month, here are a couple of "green" activities that we are going to do in my class: Coke bottle Terrariums and Bottlecap Buttons and/or Magnets.

I didn't come up with the Coke Bottle Terrarium idea, I just remembered doing it when I was in kindergarten. So I Googled it and found this-Coke Bottle Terrariums.

Bottle Cap Buttons - This is a craft I learned from friends in college. This activity may be a bit too much for kinders, but I am constantly astounded by what my kids can do, so we are going to give it a try.

Materials needed:
Bottlecaps from glass bottles
1" hole punch
Various types of paper to hole punch, and cut out (magazines, old calendars)
Various beads, sequins, or small objects that will fit on a 1" circle
Pour-On resin
Craft Magnets/ or Button Backs
Hair Dryer
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Use a 1" hole punch to punch out circles from various kinds of paper (magazines, construction, etc.). Students can cut out letters to spell words inside their buttons, or decorate with glitter, beads, or whatever crafty thing that will fit on a 1" circle.

When students have finished filling the inside of the button, the teacher pours the resin (mixed according to box directions) in the button.  Use the hair dryer (set on low) to blow out the bubbles in the resin. Let dry overnight to harden. Attach the magnets or button backs to the back of the filled button with the glue gun, and voila....Bottlecap Buttons and magnets!

Manners

Today was our kindergarten Easter Egg hunt, our 1st official spring activity. It was all my kiddos could talk about; it was like pulling teeth getting them to focus for our reading lesson. But we did it, and even made our adorable bunny masks.

Not every little bunny brought a basket to collect eggs today. Thank goodness for a very thoughtful grandma who brought a lot of extras for our class. When my Bad Robot found out that a fellow classmate had provided him with a basket, he marched right up to him and said in his very direct style of speech, "Thank you for the Easter basket. " His classmate grinned from ear to ear and they shared a hug.

Such a lesson in grace, thankfulness, and kindness. You really do learn everything you need to know in kindergarten.