Push and Pull with Farm Abby

We put our knowledge of push and pull to real use today with Farm Abby.  We learned how the force of both push and pull are used when operating farm tools.  The kids started cleaning out one of the raised bed gardens to prepare it for spring planting.  

This afternoon we created an experiment to test the strength of different materials when pulling a bucket of blocks.  We practiced pulling using paper, yarn, crayons and rulers.  The kids recorded their results in their experiment notebooks.  

I'm not sure whether we were pushing or pulling when the limbo stick came out, but everyone had a good time celebrating Tropical Day by doing the limbo.  I would have added pictures, but somebody had to hold the limbo stick =).

Experiments

We took mystery materials today and used them to work more with push and pull.  The kids each took a straw and a cotton ball.  They practiced pulling up the cotton ball by inhaling through the straw.  Then they had loads of fun pushing the cotton ball on different surfaces and blowing the cotton ball from different directions.  We would experiment, gather and discuss our findings, then experiment some more.  Our work ended with the students making observations in their experiment notebooks.

We also sorted words by syllables.  Mrs. Keach gave us a graph to create with 1,2,3, and 4 syllable words.  The kids are able to see how many syllables a word has by putting their hand under their chin and then saying the word.  Each time their chin hits their hand is a syllable.  Try it at home with the names of people in your family.

Folks from The First National bank came in to chat with us about money today.  The kids read a poem about change, and then discussed how four pennies is worth less than one nickel, even though there are more coins.  We also were reminded to be safe with money by washing our hands after touching it.  Everyone was excited to receive a change purse and pencil (coming home tomorrow).

Remember tomorrow is Tropical Dress day.  The kids are encouraged to wear tropical clothes and bring in a beach towel for a lunch time picnic.

Push and Pull

After reading about the Three Little Pigs last week the class read a story about a great, big turnip that had to be pulled out of the ground.  This prompted a discussion about pushing and pulling.  We practiced pulling and pushing doors to make them move.  Then we wondered if the Big Bad Wolf "pushed" down houses with his breath, or if he "pulled" down houses.

We have been working on strategies to calm down when things get hectic in the classroom.  Today we all took a river stone and put it on our foreheads with the lights off.  Then the kids just listened quietly to guided stories about balloons floating in the air.  These self soothing activities help students learn to relax even when events around them feel overwhelming.

To decide this we practiced pushing air out of our mouths to make a tissue move, and then pulling air into our mouthes, thus sucking the tissue into our mouths.  Then each child took a small paper cup to experiment with pushing using their exhalations.  We had cups upside down, scuttling across the tables,  and holding bears, legos and unifix cubes.  The children watched their peers and then tried new ideas.  Tomorrow we will craft an experiment using our air to "push" cups around.

This afternoon we worked on our costumes for the class play.  We modeled our designs after those of Gerald McDermott, the author of the story our play is about.  The students talked about warm and cool colors, shapes and lines.  Everyone is interested in making four star work and they are checking out what their peers are doing for ideas.  They are frequently coming to Mrs. Keach and I looking for more input of how to revise their costumes.  What may appear to be mindless coloring is actually creation of a product using geometric concepts.  I can't wait for your to see their completed products.

Best Day EVER!!

We truly had the best day ever in kindergarten.  We covered several math, science, social studies, writing and reading standards with eggs,  and plants today!  Rather than a lengthy explanation I'll let the photos tell the story. 

 The kids stuffed bags with different materials to protect a raw egg from a long drop.   Four of our six materials came from plants.

 We used a plant based dye (beets, blueberries and grape juice) to dye our plant based popsicle sticks

 The kids check out our material bags after the drop to confirm their predictions of if an egg would survive the fall.

 Mrs. Keach asks the kids what will happen to an egg left in vinegar and the kids find out what will spin best, a hard boiled or raw egg.

 We dropped six bags of materials protecting the eggs.  Note the sugar, beans, and fur on the floor from bags exploding on impact.

 The best way to start off the experiment is with Humpty Dumpty.

 After the real egg drop, the kids tucked different materials (legos, tissues, dinosaurs) in plastic eggs to see if the plastic egg would break open.  It was constructive chaos!

 The class LOVED watching the bags drop.  It was more fun than Times Square on New Year's Eve.

 The end result of our packages.  There are broken shells in every bag but the sugar.

 Making predictions for our experiment.

Counting out popsicle sticks.  How many did we dye?  How many did we leave natural?  130 were dyed, and 169 were left natural.  One stick stayed out so we could use it to stir the dye.

On top of this, the kids finished writing their play AND earned all their marbles!  We will be celebrating with pajama day on Monday, April 1.  This truly was the best day ever.