Month of November and December



Month of November 
& December 



Exploring Animal Habitats

Throughout the month of November and December, we continued to explore creating animal habitats. We focused on creating a habitat for forest animals and arctic animals. We provided the children with a grass carpet, sand tray, and natural blocks. They stacked the natural blocks on top of one another to represent trees. The children placed the black bears on top and underneath of the natural blocks. We continued to strengthen their understanding by displaying a documentary on bears, while providing them with plastic bears and large foam rock blocks. The children worked on arranging the rock blocks to create a "cave" like structure.




Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met: 
3. Participates cooperatively and constructively in group situations 
a. Balances needs and rights of self and others 

B. Solves social problems
12. Remembers and connects experiences
a. Recognizes and recalls 
b. Makes connections
24. Uses scientific inquiry skills
25. Demonstrates knowledge of the characteristics of living things
27. Demonstrates knowledge of Earth’s environment



Exploring Ramps 

 As a class, we have been curious in how objects move, and the path they take. We have investigated the following: how surfaces affect the speed of an object, how weight affects the speed of an object, how the shape of an object affects it's speed. We have conducted experiments using the ramp, various textures, and different shaped objects. The children have made predictions, tested their theories, discussed their observations and worked on coming to an conclusion. 





Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met: 
11. Demonstrates positive approaches to learning 
a. Attends and engages 
b. Persists 
c. Solves problems 
d. Shows curiosity and motivation

e. Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
24. Uses scientific inquiry skills
26. Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials 
28. Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks



Investigating Castles 

 The children have shown a great interest in castles: what a castle looks like, who lives in a castle, and the shapes that make up a castle. We have worked on representing castles through building, collaging, drawing and molding clay. We have strengthened their understanding through literature, videos, pictures, and puppet shows. 





Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met: 
7. Demonstrates fine-motor strength and coordination 
a. Uses fingers and hands
11c. Solves problems 
d. Shows curiosity and motivation
e. Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
21. Explores and describes spatial relationships and shapes
a. Understands spatial relationships 
b. Understands shapes
30. Shows basic understanding of people and how they live 

31. Explores change related to familiar people or places




Exploring Shadows 

 The children have been exploring how the placement of their body can affect their shadow. We have provoked the children's thinking with a clamp light, white piece of paper, and props. The children were asked to stand at various distances from the light source. They observed how their shadow faded or intensified depending on their distance from the light. We continued to strengthen their understanding of shadows by having them stand in one spot and move their arm to the left, right and above their body trying to cover the dots on the wall. Lastly, the children explored how they can represent their shadow on the wall with a black marker. 



Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives Met: 

11. Demonstrates positive approaches to learning 
a. Attends and engages 
b. Persists 
c. Solves problems 
d. Shows curiosity and motivation

e. Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking
21. Explores and describes spatial relationships and shapes
a. Understands spatial relationships
24. Uses scientific inquiry skills
26. Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials 
28. Uses tools and other technology to perform tasks
29. Demonstrates knowledge about self









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