Class Blogs – Page 38 – Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island

Busy Week in Kinder!

November 19, 2014October 31, 2014 by Naomi Stein

We’ve had a very busy week in Kindergarten!

In math, we played two new games: Grab and Count and Roll and Record. These games help the children develop strategies for accurately counting and keeping track of quantities up to twelve. By “grabbing” handfuls of Unifex Cubes out of paper bags, the students decided how they wanted to represent the quantities using pictures, numbers, etc. By rolling dot cubes, the children developed visual images for quantities up to six, while connecting number words, numerals and quantities, and recording numerals to represent the quantities.

This week, we talked about how people in communities cooperate. The children reflected upon their home and school communities, and then illustrated pictures depicting the ways in which they cooperate with others. We learned that many friends help their home community by setting the table, cleaning the dishes, playing with younger siblings, etc. At school, friends work together to keep the classroom clean, show kavod, help our friends and teachers, share toys and materials, and have fun!

We read Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip and learned some new “Amazing” vocabulary words!

Park

Library

Post Office

Bakery

Fire Station

Chaperone

In this story, the children, chaperones, and the teacher cooperated with one another as they explored various places on their field trip including the park, bakery, post office, fire station, and library. Afterwards, the children thought about places in our community they would like to explore on a learning expedition. They drew pictures depicting their ideas, and we will be taking a vote to discover where our class will be going. Additionally, we will be turning our dramatic play area into this (as of now) mystery place! The children will create all of our props in the Design Lab!

It’s quite Fitting that this blog post is going out on Friday morning, as we have been exploring the letter F! The children created the letter F alphabet card and practiced Forming the letter with pipe cleaners. We will be using the visual of a fire pole to help us learn how to write a lowercase f. We will even practice sliding down the fire pole on the playground! Fantastic fun!

Teva Day 3: We are pumped to be alive!!!

November 19, 2014October 29, 2014 by Naomi Stein

This morning's tfillah was ruach filled. — This morning’s tfillah was ruach filled.

Students clear dishes and pesolet (waste) from the tables.

SHIN up! Waiting for everyone to be quit.... — SHINS up! Waiting for everyone to be quiet….

“Cool Pants” prevent ticks on the trail

Feeling proud of the hiking accomplishments!

He found a branch shaped like a menorah!

Can you guess what's on her face? — Can you guess what’s on her face?

Here's the answer to yesterday's Teva question. — Here’s the answer to yesterday’s Teva question.

What deep learning we're doing in the woods! — What deep learning we’re doing in the woods! Click on the link below to see the type of singing that happens at meals. See you tomorrow! Fifth graders will have so much to share with their parents!

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What”s been happening in the Gym?

November 19, 2014October 29, 2014 by ssugermen

Here’s what Pre K has been up to in the Gym…

Firstly they have learned how to come into the gym, sit down and wait for instructions. This is a very important part of coming to the gym and being ready to listen. We have also talked about how to be respectful of the equipment and each other in the gym. Be sure to ask you child about their experience in Gym.

So far this year Pre K has:

played “sharks and minnows” (a controlled game of tag)
run laps in the gym
played “switch” ( A made of game of mine and a crowd favorite.)
played on the equipment on our playground and learned how to be safe outside
played “soccer bowling” (Another made up game of mine.)
danced to music and used pom poms to keep the beat
learned what a relay race is and participated in simple relay races
learned how to sort different types of balls we use

Here’s what Kindergarten and First Grade have been up to in the Gym…

Firstly we reviewed how to come into the gym, sit down and wait for instructions. Every class starts with a warm up activity….usually running laps. Then we work on skills followed by a game or free play. Oftentimes students will continue to practice what was taught or reviewed during a class.

So far this year Kindergarten and First Grade have:

played “switch” ( A made of game of mine and a crowd favorite.)
participated in simple relay races
played a game called “spud”
learned some of the particulars of kickball (For instances, what to do after you kick the ball or what to do after you catch the ball.) We simulated game situations and in the spring we hope to play a real game of kickball.
played “fruit basket” (Using the fall Jewish holidays students exchange spaces in the gym and try not to be the one left without a space.)
played “crab soccer”
been recently learning the skills necessary to play soccer (like stopping the ball, kicking, dribbling a ball, kick and chase and more)

Be sure to ask you child about their experience in Gym.

Here’s what Second Grade through Fifth Grade have been up to in the Gym…

Firstly we reviewed how to come into the gym, sit down and wait for instructions. Every class starts with a warm up activity….usually running laps. Then we work on skills usually followed by a game and occasionally some free play. During free time many students will continue to practice what was taught or reviewed during a class. We usually spend about 6 weeks learning about a sport.

So far this year Second through Fifth Grade have:

played several types of games that have to do with bases (kickball, handball, wiffle ball, tennis baseball, and foam ball) All these games have the same basic rules. Students are also learning about tagging up, force outs and running the bases.
played “crab soccer”
recently been learning the skills necessary to play soccer (like stopping the ball, different styles of kicking, kicking with and without a goalie, dribbling a ball, passing to a teammate, being a goalie and more)

Be sure to ask you child about their experience in Gym.

Teva Day 2: Ecology

November 19, 2014October 28, 2014 by Naomi Stein

Students woke up before their alarm clocks today. They were so excited to start the day with hot cocoa.

Afterwards we participated in morning *shacharit*, the morning prayer service.

Students had time outside alone in nature during the amidah, the silent prayer. I wonder what parents think about the idea of praying in this way.

After a yummy breakfast, we sang songs about decomposition, with groovy hand signals.

Dancing in the dining hall is an unusual (and awesome!) experience.

In their outdoor learning groups, students’ focus today was on ecology. Can you guess which local plant produced this cool effect?

In their outdoor learning groups, students' focus today was on ecology. Can you guess which local plant produced this cool effect? — Dancing in the dining hall is an unusual (and awesome!) experience.

In their outdoor learning groups, students’ focus today was on ecology. Can you guess which local plant produced this cool effect?

The impressive compost piles here inspire us

This group is super proud of their discovery of an edible mushroom. They even put it on the "cool stuff table"! — This group is super proud of their discovery of an edible mushroom. They even put it on the “cool stuff table”!

The teachers hit the trails too!

The teachers went for a hike too! — This group is super proud of their discovery of an edible mushroom. They even put it on the “cool stuff table”!

The teachers hit the trails too!

After a day on the trail, students were feeling pretty tired. Still, they regaled us with tales of fire building, cave discovery, and amazement over all the living organisms in the lake

During chofesh, or free time, frisbee was a popular choice

It was gorgeous weather for outdoor play

Students showed off their skills — Students learned new tricks

While others learned new skills from their peers — And others learned from their peers

Students reflect on their moments of awe. After a whole group game of Predator and Prey, the interconnectedness of ecosystems resonates even more.

First Stop: Video News

Now that we have had a full week of school, science was back in full swing! Our scientific week started out with the dissection of a seed. During the dissection, we learned about the major seed parts; the plant food (cotyledon), seed coat, and baby plant (embryo) .

We continued exploring plants by planting seeds with our buddies that will grow in the fifth grade grow lab.

Then we had the chance to go to Blackstone Park and collect interesting nature specimens which later fueled much learning, discussion, and experimentation in class. Thanks to Mara for coming along!

In Design Lab, we began our study on balance and motion by learning about weights, counterweights, and balance points.

We finished up our week with an awesome guest reader! 2014-10-24 12.48.04

Although I usually highlight the fourth graders and their academic achievements each week, for this post I wanted to just focus on their character and perseverance. On Tuesday we met with our kindergarten buddies to participate in an outdoor scavenger hunt. They worked together to collect items such as leaves, stones, pine cones and grass in the neighborhood surrounding JCDS. While they laughed and strolled with their younger buddies, I took note of all that was happening around us:

A fourth grader held her buddy’s hand and carefully helped her across the street.
A fourth grader bent down to pick up all of the items that had spilled out of the bag and returned them to his buddy with care.
A fourth grader made sure his buddy made all of the decisions about what they colored on the front and back of the bag.
A kindergarten student sat quietly and safely on her buddy’s lap while she was listening to the directions for the activity.
A fourth grader helped his buddy carefully cut and glue all the materials for the project.
A fourth grader was giving her buddy constant support and encouragement as they worked on the project together.
A fourth grader made sure her kindergarten buddy was all zipped up in her winter coat so she would be warm enough when we ventured outside.

While none of these things surprised me, they did amaze me and made me feel so proud of them all. These relationships are so special and so significant for both age groups.

The fourth graders had another opportunity to shine. On Wednesday they led their second school wide assembly with Rotem (part of the school-wide design challenge). This assembly was a bit more challenging and the kids had to constantly readjust their original plans on the fly. I was so impressed with how they worked together and encouraged each other to keep on going even though it did not turn out as they had originally planned. They learned the tough lesson that when things don’t go as intended, you can always learn and do better the next time. The important thing is to work as a team and to never give up:)

I read this quote on a blog post this week and it made me think of this very special fourth grade class. They really are all A+ human beings. Have a great weekend.

“The world needs good human beings more than it needs scholars and over-achievers – and the tragic thing is, we just don’t hand out nearly enough “A’s” for loving, and living, well.”

By JD Lester