One Wild Week

What a wet, wacky week Ww week was.  Our week included a farm unit incorporating Whales, Mrs. Wishy Washy stories, Western Day, water fun, and Cinco de Mayo!  Scroll down for pictures and more...

Wheels & Whales

Our first day back, we followed our typical letter introduction routine.  The kids absolutely loved beginning to trace/write letter Ww by "driving" up and down their letters with toy cars (Ww is for wheels).  For the first time in a few months, we opened up the water table. Monday was all about whales.  We read Whale of a Tale by Bonnie Worth.  The kids were exposed to different kinds of whales and sorted pictures during centers.  They also created a window whale craft.  We made a list of facts that we learned about whales from our stories and observations.   Some of our facts included...

1) Whales are mammals that live in the ocean

2)  They do not have hair.  Their blubber keeps them warm.

3) The biggest whale is the Blue Whale

4)  Whales have tails that move up and down

5)  They have a blowhole on top of their head that helps them breathe

6)  Some whales have teeth and some have something called balleen

 

The kids sorted different types of whales and some groups played Memory.

Sorting by size

Farm Fun with Mrs. Wishy Washy

The Mrs. Wishy Washy stories by Joy Cowley are a great component of a farm unit.   We spent Tuesday and Wednesday learning about farms and continued some of our favorite fun activities throughout the week.  We read Mrs. Wishy Washy and Mrs. Wishy Washy's Farm.  The kids talked about their experiences on farms and we looked at pictures of farms.  We also sorted animals that belong and don't belong on a farm, played with farm themed play doh mats, and put together farm animal puzzles.  Our favorite activities were the "Wishy Washy Hokey Pokey", the story reenactment props, mud fingerpainting, and the Wishy Washy sensory table.  The Wishy Washy stories are about a pig, a duck, and a cow that live on Mrs. Wishy Washy's farm.  The three animals love to roll in the mud and despise taking their baths, but always have to listen to motherly Mrs. Wishy Washy.  Many of our centers that were based on these stories let the kids get messy!  We used "mud" (shaving cream and brown tempera paint) to make muddy animals for the hallway display.  At the sensory table, the kids reenacted the story using farm animals, mud, and a "bathtub" filled with soapy water and toothbrush/scrub brushes.  Even a week later, the kids are still asking me if they can play "Mrs. Wishy Washy" with the Beanie Baby animals and tub/scrub brush props at the block rug.  The kids also put together sight word puzzles and used their journals to retell and illustrate their favorite parts of Mrs. Wishy Washy's farm.  

Getting good use out of old Beanie Babies again!

 

Loved hearing the kids imitate Mrs. Wishy Washy and her animals.

Before....

Those are some messy animals!

Western Day

On Thursday, we went on an adventure to the "Wild, Wild, West".  Activities included "panning for gold" in the sand table, horseshoe prints, making hats, building sight words using magnet letters on cowboy boots,  drawing/writing about if they were a cowgirl and cowboy, and racing "horses" outside!  We also read Cowboy Bunnies by Christine Loomis and sang songs such as "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain". 

 

Yeehaw!

Cinco de Mayo

In preparation of the Cinco de Mayo Sunday, the kids got a little taste of Mexican culture on Friday.  During the week, we discussed the upcoming date.  On Friday, we looked through non fiction stories and learned how to count to ten in Spanish.  We discussed the country of Mexico, the flag, and traditions such as foods, dances, games, songs, instruments, and clothing.  We celebrated by making paper plate maracas and doing the Mexican Hat Dance.  We also had some really tasty Mexican food.  I brought in my guacamole bowl and various foods and we made salsa, guacamole, and cheese quesadillas!  The kids were a huge part of the cooking process!  I helped them (using plastic cutlery) cut up the ingredients, measure, and mix.  They always love cooking activities.  I was so proud of all the kids who tried new foods.  Many of them were a little apprehensive about trying some of the foods, but a good majority of them tried all the foods and liked them!  It was a successful and fun fiesta!

Yum!