Kindergarten Week 18: Our First Semester Finale!

Dear Family,

Welcome to another joyful week in kindergarten! Week 18 was filled with meaningful learning, shared discoveries, and growing confidence as our children continued to build on everything they have learned so far, read on to see the highlights of our week.

Large Group

Besides setting the date, reviewing our shape of the week, and adding numbers to our caterpillar chain (we are now on day 86!), our large group focus this week was on digraphs; ch, sh, th, and ph. Throughout the week, our children took turns practicing words under each digraph from the board. This daily practice gave them repeated opportunities to recognize the digraph sounds, read the words, and learn how they are spelled. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they practiced together and supported one another.

Literacy

During our literacy sessions, we tried something a little different and very exciting. Our main goal was to support our children in developing communication skills, confidence, and vocabulary in a fun and meaningful way. We introduced a simple story script that showed how children can play together and communicate with one another respectfully. First, we read the story together and talked about the characters, their feelings, and what was happening in each part of the story.

Then, we practiced the script as a group, making sure every child had a chance to participate and feel included. Our children were thrilled to wear costumes and act out the story. As they took on different roles, they practiced speaking clearly, listening to one another, taking turns, and working as a team. The room was filled with excitement, imagination, and confidence as they brought the story to life. After the performance, we gathered for a group discussion to reflect on the story and their roles. This allowed our children to express their thoughts, use new vocabulary, and deepen their understanding of the story. Through this experience, we saw wonderful growth in confidence, cooperation, and language development. This literacy activity was a joyful example of learning through play, imagination, and teamwork, and we are very proud of our student’s effort and enthusiasm.

Math

During our math sessions, our class revisited counting, colors, number recognition, and sequencing through hands-on and energetic activities. In the first activity, we introduced a colorful ball race by dividing our children into two groups and explaining the rules together. As they raced and played, our children practiced counting the balls and identifying their colors, all while moving their bodies, taking turns, and cheering each other on. This activity supported not only math skills but also physical coordination, teamwork, and emotional awareness. As we continued building on these skills, we worked with our caterpillar numbers to explore number recognition and sequencing. We placed the numbers on the mat and introduced the idea of missing numbers. Our children were excited to search for the missing pieces and carefully place them in the correct order on the caterpillar. They showed great focus, confidence, and growing understanding of number patterns, participating with enthusiasm and pride as they solved each challenge.

Science

As we get closer to winter, our kindergarten classroom has been filled with excitement and curiosity; especially about snow. Our children talked about snow every day, shared what they knew, and asked many questions. Inspired by their interest, we planned a special science experience based entirely on their ideas. For this activity, we created a “snow” experiment using cornstarch and hair conditioner. We began by placing the cornstarch on the floor and giving our children time to observe it closely and explore it with their hands. Many of them immediately made connections to previous lessons and confidently said, “It is solid!”. This showed us how well they were remembering and applying what they had learned about states of matter. Next, we added the hair conditioner. As we mixed it in together, our children excitedly shouted, “Liquid!” They carefully mixed the materials and watched the texture change right before their eyes. This hands-on experience helped them clearly understand the difference between solid and liquid, while also recalling earlier discussions about gas.

Once our snow was ready, creativity took over. Some children made snowmen, while others formed piles of snow and experimented with different shapes. Throughout the activity, they talked with one another, shared ideas, and described what they were noticing. The room was filled with excitement, cooperation, and joyful exploration. This experience supported our children’s understanding of science concepts while also strengthening their language, social skills, and teamwork. Most importantly, it showed how powerful learning can be when we listen to children’s ideas and turn their curiosity into meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Art

Our kindergartners took their creativity outdoors for a beautiful morning of self expression by the infants and toddlers’ compound! Donning their tiny art smocks, our children gathered at easels equipped with mirrors and blank chart papers. With focused eyes, they studied their reflections before carefully painting self portraits using a vibrant palette of colors. Once their masterpieces were complete, our children took turns proudly explaining the different features of their work. It was truly impressive to see how they perceive themselves, the results were absolutely amazing!

Next week’s schedule:

Monday – Math, Literacy

Tuesday – Literacy, Science

Wednesday -Library, Math

Thursday - Science, Music

Friday - Library

Specials:

Monday- Art

Tuesday - Gym

Thursday - Ethiopian center/ clay



Reminders and notes:

• Please make sure that our children are wearing suitable clothes on Monday as we have art class and activities get messy sometimes.

• Every Wednesday and Friday is library day. Our children will be bringing home a book of their choice in their library folder, so please make sure to read the book with them over the weekend. Please return the folder the following Wednesday so they can get a new one.
• Every Tuesday, we have gymnastics, so please ensure that our children come dressed in comfortable and loose-fitting sports attire to facilitate their exercise.




Thank you for being part of our kindergarten journey; see you all next semester!