It's Not Too Late To Be a Mystery Reader!

On Wednesday, Audrey's grandpa traveled all the way from Florida to be a Mystery Reader in our afternoon class!  She was so surprised to see him and he shared two interesting animal stories with us.  

 

If you, a neighbor, a family member, an older sibling, or relative would like to surprise your child by being a mystery reader in our classroom, please email me at apellosmaa@troy.k12.mi.us.  I would be happy to coordinate a special time for this special person to come in and read a story that has already been picked out or a story from our class library!

Detroit Zoo Field Trip = A Success!

We had a fabulous field trip to the Detroit Zoo on Friday!!  Thank you to all of the wonderful chaperones and volunteers for helping with this event - it would not have been possible without your time and energy!  We were also very lucky to have such beautiful weather.  What a great Kindergarten memory!!

Detroit Zoo Field Trip Reminders

It is almost time for our field trip to the Detroit Zoo on Friday!  As of now it looks like the weather is going to be beautiful!
http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/Troy+MI+48084

 

Please remember to send a spring jacket for your child that they could take off when it warms up later in the morning.  It is also VERY important that you send your child with a sack/bagged lunch - they do not need to bring their backpacks, red folders, homework folders, etc.  They cannot purchase lunch at school or the zoo.  By sending it in a disposable bag we will be able to easily throw it out when they are done.  This will make it easier for the chaperone's to carry in their backpack.  Children should wear their class jog-a-thon or class color t-shirt - BLUE.  We should be returning to Bemis at about 2:00.  In the past many children have been picked up by their families at this time, since it is such a long day for the kiddos with all the walking around they do.  Otherwise we will be watching a movie until the end of the school day.  We are looking forward to having a great day at the zoo!

Our Chick Eggs Have Arrived!!

It is such an exciting time to be a Kindergartner at Bemis!  Last week, our chick eggs arrived from the farm and they were put into our class incubator.  Each Kindergarten class has 12 eggs in their incubator.  Over the next couple of weeks we will be learning about the changes that are happening inside the egg by reading stories and looking at pictures.  Students will be keeping notes and observations of these changes.  We will also be learning the different parts of the egg, what the egg needs to survive inside the incubator, their life cycle and also what the chick will need to survive after it has hatched.  Please enjoy the countdown in your homes as I know we are enjoying it here at school!!

Our Class Incubator

Countdown Until the Chicks Are Here at Calendar!

Another Way For Us to Keep Track . . .This was sent home as well.

Happy Mother's Day!!

This week we have been studying Mother's Day!  I have read the children many stories, such as: The Night Before Mother's Day, Just Me and My Mom, Mama's Day Surprise, What Moms Can't Do, and Mommy Mine.  During our Mother's Day study, we have had the chance to reflect on how special moms are and how wonderful it is to celebrate someone else!

A Special Mother's Day Poem From the AM Kindergartners

A Special Mother's Day Poem From the PM Kindergartners

From Caterpillar to Butterfly!

Last week we received our caterpillars!  Right away we put each one in a small cup with food.  When we first got them, they were very small!  Each day the children think like a scientist as they observe changes and discuss what is happening in each cup.  Just today, we noticed that the caterpillars are turning into cocoons!!  We are able to connect this learning to some of the nonfiction stories we have been reading during story time.  We are super excited to have butterflies and we are keeping track of how many days it will take for them to make the transformation.  What a wonderful way to learn about life cycles!

Here are some of our favorite stories that we have read about caterpillars/butterflies!

We have also recorded our observations inside our Learning Notebooks by drawing what we see, labeling the parts, and writing some sentences about what is occurring.

Here is a peek at our cups.  On the left, you can see one of our caterpillars who is still eating away and getting ready to change into a cocoon.  On the right, you can see one of our cocoons.

This is our butterfly pavilion.  We have placed the cocoons in here.  We will be excitedly waiting for them to change into butterflies!