Week 30 in Kindergarten: Busy Minds & Creative Designs!

Dear Family,

How have you all been? The weather has definitely been keeping us on our toes, but it hasn’t stopped us from enjoying our usual school routines! We kindly encourage you to dress our children accordingly or pack an extra set of clothes so we can comfortably adjust throughout the day. Despite the changing weather, we had an amazing week filled with laughter, learning, and joyful moments. Let’s take you through each day’s sessions! And our children’s ICS soccer match reflections are shared at the end of the blog, so be sure to enjoy that special highlight as well. 

Large Group 

Our usual large group routines continued as always. We started the week by sharing about our weekends every Monday, setting up the date, and adding numbers to our caterpillar each day. Of course, our fun song breaks kept the energy high and joyful throughout. Our large group book, “The Human Body Book,”connected beautifully with our science lessons. Alongside practicing our sight words, we also enjoyed a creative activity where children designed patterns using magnetic tiles on the board. This activity encouraged them to express their individual creativity while learning from one another in a fun and collaborative way.



“Aunty Percilla came from Zambia Sunday morning and she gave me chocolate. Mommy and daddy went to a party and I watched TV until they came back.” -Lubono 

“In Saturday morning I was watching TV for a long time while I was waiting to change my clothes for a play date I had with Ismael. And we bought them cookies and we ate it together and played with his bunnies. In Sunday Morning I slept well I only watch a TV for a little bit and I slept back at night.” -Solomon 

“We played hide and seek with Solomon and my mommy said don’t hide in the toilet. So we played pillow fight” -Ismael 

“Yemariam is sister and then I eat pizza and I eat cake” -Betselot 

“I ride my bike outside then also my brother come out and we ride together I also took my toys outside and tie it” -Samuel 

“It was my birthday yesterday and Hekima, Riley, Adelene, and JJ came. We played hide and seek also my big sister came.” -Kian 

“I went somewhere and ride scooter with my uncle and I ate pizza after that. And my scooter was so dirty so we took it home and I slept” -Yadon 

“But first Yadon, did your mom come from London? Okay my weekend was fun. After church when Leul went to his house I ate ice cream with my sister. We also bought cookies and ate it with my mom and daddy. Also Sunday I went to church again.” -Liyat 

“Me Betselot my sister we together eat pizza. My mommy said it’s raining so my next time so I drink water” -Yemariam 

“I go to church with Liyat and after that I go to eat my lunch and then I went back home and with my mom and Dibo I go to century mall but it was closed so we went back home and I only watched 6 minutes TV. I also ate pizza and I went to the hair salon and got a new hair cut. Look at my hair!” -Leul 

Literacy

This week’s literacy sessions were fun and engaging as we explored the world of nouns and pronouns. In our first session, we discussed what nouns and pronouns are by using examples such as our personal names, countries, and cities. Afterward, we practiced identifying pronouns by asking each other which pronouns we use. It brought lots of laughter when some mixed them up; like a girl saying “he” or a boy saying “she.” Through this, we learned that boys are referred to as “he,” girls as “she,” and objects or animals as “it.” We also worked on sorting activities using pronoun words and picture cards. Our children matched pronouns with the correct images, their friends, and classroom objects, making the learning both interactive and meaningful.

“I get girl here. A picture” -Yemariam 

“Pencils, tables, books are all ‘it’ “ -Kian 

“Ismael’s bunny and cats are ‘it’ but he calls them like they’re ‘he’ “ -Solomon 

“My dad and Jamie’s dad are both 'he' cause they’re dads even Tesfsh is 'he' Leul’s dad” -Liyat 

“Lutanda and my mom are 'she' and me and my dad are 'he' and our house and car are ‘its’ “ -Lubono 

“We can also go to the tables and put a she or a he like a game by reading our names” -Leul 

Math

As we have been practicing identifying two digit numbers, we challenged ourselves this week by learning how to read and write three digit numbers. During our first math session, we explored this concept using both the board and paper activities. To strengthen their understanding, we completed a place value worksheet where children placed each digit in its correct position; from hundreds to tens to ones. This was a great exercise, as they read the numbers while writing them, helping them confidently identify and understand three digit numbers.

“I didn’t know how to do this in America, but now you and my mom taught me so well so I know how to do this” -Solomon 

“You see Solomon I didn’t learn it in America but it’s so easy for me and I learned it here with you at the same time” -Leul 

“It’s so easy for me too” -Lubono 

“Do we put 2 zeros before we right 6?” -Kian 

“When it’s 2 hundred you write 2 instead of 1” -Liyat 

“Look Phi I write” -Betselot 

“67 is sixxxxx sevennnn” -Samuel 

Science 

We continued our exploration of the human body this week with engaging activities. We began with anatomy jigsaw puzzles, which kept them busy and focused as they worked together to figure out where each part belongs. Although it was a bit challenging, they successfully completed the puzzles, leaving them feeling happy, confident, and proud of their efforts. For our second session, we took the learning outdoors for a fun cut and paste activity. Our children were given sheets with different human organs, which they carefully cut out and then placed on a separate paper in the positions they believed were correct; from top to bottom. This activity encouraged independent thinking while keeping them actively engaged and focused.

“Food go here” -Yemariam (pointing at the stomach” 

“The brain is the first one cause it’s found on top of our body” -Leul 

“I checked my pee earlier at recess and it was not yellow” -Yadon 

“Betselot needs to drink more water like Yemariam so their pee looks the same” -Liyat 

“This is our heart and it beats so fast when we run and run” -Samuel 

“This is head I mean brain” -Ismael 

Art

This week, we revisited our “creating designs using shapes” activity to support our four newly joined kindergarteners, while also giving our returning seven children a chance to practice and strengthen their understanding of the concept. Our children were each given a hard paper for their final design, along with soft paper and scissors for cutting. They began by planning what they wanted to create, thinking carefully about how to use different shapes in their design. Based on their ideas, they cut out shapes such as circles, triangles, and rectangles, and arranged them to bring their creations to life. This activity kept them focused and attentive throughout, while also allowing them to express their creativity and proudly share their unique designs with the class.

“I want to make ice cream” -Yemariam 

“I will make a house and I will make a heart and stick on it” -Liyat 

“I’m gonna make a mansion for Rolando” -Solomon 

“I will make a car and stick rectangle on the window” -Leul 

“I will make a car for me” -Samuel 

“I want to make a rocket ship with shapes” -Kian 

ICS Reflections:


“Last time when we played football and me and the green team fell on the grass” -Kian 

“The bus driver was covering his ears when we were singing in the bus I think we were too noisy. And I also saw Adelene at ICS. She will be my friend next year when I go there” -Liyat 

“I scored 5 goals and I get flag from Tesfsh” -Ismael 

“I didn’t get tired. I played more and more. And I like the school. It’s my school next and Alex will come to Little Einsteins” -Samuel 

“I switched team by the way. I was playing with team 1 and Biruhe switched me to a different team and I was the best player there. We had the same football field like ICS one in America” -Solomon 

“I like the ball and then I like the grass too it was so soft” -Lubono 

“I was having fun in the bus and after that I was watching through the window everything I even saw Solomon’s house and the football was fun and also hard because some of them were big like big kids like my cousins” -Yadon 

“In the bus we were so relaxing me and Solomon. Even in ICS the grass feels so good when I fall 3 times when trying to kick the ball so the ICS team won’t score. That’s why we scored 5” -Leul 

“ICS I goalkeeper and they pass to me and Betselot also goalkeeper” -Yemariam 

“Football and then goalkeeper me” Betselot

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.