Pumpkins (and Pumpkin Guts!)

This week we spent more time talking about fall, this time focusing on pumpkins. This will lead perfectly into our field trip to the pumpkin patch on Monday. On Monday, we learned more about pumpkins by discovering how they roll. The students used scientific prediction to predict if our fake pumpkin (no I wasn't brave enough to use a real one!) would roll further by pushing it or rolling it down a ramp. They then completed their own designs, and we tested out the do-able ones. We tried using the slide outside, a taller ramp, and a ramp with different materials. We didn't try pushing it down a parking garage or using a hot-wheel type track as big as our school. 

Tuesday we focused more on pumpkin by using descriptive words to describe the pumpkin. We then wrote about it, and drew our own pumpkin. Thursday, we headed outside to look inside a pumpkin. We separated the different parts of the pumpkins (yes even the scientifically named "guts"), and sorted and labeled the parts. 

The Kindergartners have had a busy week sounding out words and learning sight words. Their reader was the most in-depth one yet, but they really enjoyed it! In math they are learning about different measurements, and have been practicing measuring objects using paper clips. 

First graders have also been busy counting nickles, pennies, and dimes this week. They have also begun to work on many different consonant blends. The students were also introduced to two of four brother, SHerman (the quiet brother) and CHarlie (the crazy brother). It's been a really fun way to teach these blends. 

First graders also had a special trip on Friday. They went to Bluffton Harrison Elementary School to listen to an author speak. He was such an engaging, and funny speaker! He head them books, told stories about when he was a kid, and even drew a picture right in front of them!

*P.S. Sorry that there's not any pictures this week, I could not get my pictures to load! If you want any pictures of the author visit, I do have a few I can send you.