Week 9 in Kindergarten: Popping, Comparing, and Dancing Raisins!

Dear Family,

We hope all is well. It’s been a short yet action packed week here in the Kindergarten class. Read on to hear some more details…..

Large Group

As always, large group is our favorite time together; where we start our day with books, songs, greetings, and laughter. This week’s focus was all about reviewing our classroom rules, school rules, and manners, while also talking about what makes things move or change. It set the tone for a week full of hands-on discoveries and an amazing learning journey to share together in the coming days!

“If one person is talking we don’t talk and we listen” -Liyat

“We don’t grab” -Ismael

“We say sorry sorry” -Samuel

Literacy

Our literacy time was full of surprises; literally! We played “Pop the Balloon & Unravel the Word” just outside our classroom door. Each of our children picked a balloon in their favorite color, held a pencil, and with a little pop…boom! out came a rolled-up paper with a CVC word inside! They eagerly opened it, read their word, and went to share it aloud with their friends. It was a perfect mix of fun, laughter, and reading practice and the popping sounds brought so much joy!

“Look I got ‘dad’ and am going to give it to my dad” -Leul

“I have Jam Sat” -Yemariam

“I want to pop all the pink ones okay the pink ones are mine” -Liyat

“Pop Pop” -Nai

Math

This week in math, we explored comparing quantities in the most engaging way. We spread out different materials on the mat; blocks, beads, and tiles; and our children took turns counting and observing which group had more or less. They discussed, compared, and reasoned with one another, discovering how fun it can be to use math to make sense of the world around them!

Science

Our science sessions truly sparkled! We did the “Dancing Raisins” experiment. First, we compared bottles of water and Sprite, shaking both to see which created bubbles, and talked about the gas (carbonation) inside soda that water doesn’t have. Then our children made predictions: Will the raisins sink or float? Working in pairs, they poured Sprite into their cups, dropped in the raisins, and watched in awe as the raisins began to dance up and down! Their reactions were priceless; laughter, surprise, and curiosity all at once. This fun, bubbly experiment helped them see cause and effect in action while keeping their sense of wonder alive.

“You know I see raisins in church, they give us when we go to church” -Leul

“Bubbles bubbles but this no bubbles so no up and down” -Samuel

“This have gas and water don’t have gas” -Ismael

“I want bubbles” -Betselot

Art

This week’s art session was all about adding a creative touch to our photography project from last week. We took our art outdoors to the grass area by the art room, where our children decorated their very own photo frames using colorful paints, shiny beads, cute buttons, soft pompoms, and a sprinkle of glitter! Each child poured their creativity and imagination into designing their frame, taking their time to make it as bright and beautiful as their captured photo. Once the frames dried and sparkled under the sun, we brought them back to the classroom, where everyone proudly placed their nature photograph inside.

Library

This week’s library time was extra cozy and full of sunshine! We took our books outdoors by the infants and toddlers sandpit area, spreading mats and pillows on the grass for everyone to sit and relax. With the breeze around our children enjoyed their quiet reading time under the open sky flipping through pages, sharing stories with friends, and finding their favorite pictures. After our peaceful library session, we turned the moment into a little picnic treat! Everyone stayed on the grass and enjoyed their snacks together, chatting and giggling the perfect way to end a beautiful outdoor reading morning.

“Can we go in the sand and read? It will be windy and it’s good for us” -Leul

“Actually I like this place better, my sister learns here in this compound” -Liyat

“I want this book to home” -Yemariam

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

Friday - Football (happening soon)

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.

Stay tuned! Next week brings more fun discoveries and hands on adventures from our little explorers!