What's Happening in Kindergarten

Photosynthesis and Pollination

The girls in Kindergarten have learned that for plants to produce their food, they require sunlight, air, and water, a process known as photosynthesis. The girls have also discovered that plants need the help of bees and other insects to reproduce. To better understand this concept, they conducted a hands-on activity using paper flowers and Cheetos to simulate pollination. This activity helped the girls learn about the importance of pollination in the reproduction of plants.

Plants

In January, the kindergarten girls began a new science unit on plants. They began by discussing the differences between living and nonliving things, sorting and illustrating examples of each. Next, the class learned about the different parts of a plant and their functions. They also explored the factors that influence plant growth, including what plants need to thrive and how the environment can affect their development. To reinforce their understanding of these concepts, the girls created books that highlighted their new knowledge about the essential conditions for plant growth.

Gingerbread Challenge

This month, the kindergarten girls took on a fun challenge: helping gingerbread girls escape the oven and make their way to ASHtown to see Santa. Each girl designed a unique gingerbread girl and came up with special ideas to keep her safe from the oven. The girls built rocket ships, created police escorts, planted rose bushes, and even set up hair salons to protect their creations in ASHtown. One lucky gingerbread girl even got to stay in her bed, cozy under the blankets! Great job, girls!   

Representing the Seasons

This month, the kindergarten girls completed their study of seasons and weather. Each girl created a unique tree to represent her favorite season. Following this project, they began a new science unit focused on plants. They started by discussing the differences between living and nonliving things and then sorted and illustrated examples of each.

Staying Safe and a Halloween Observation

This month, the girls focused on identifying and describing various types of severe weather. They held discussions on how to stay safe during such events. To enhance their understanding, the students read books about severe weather and created an anchor chart summarizing what they learned, including safety precautions. To conclude their study, they illustrated different ways to stay safe during severe weather. 

Additionally, the students conducted an experiment to test the rate at which candy corn dissolves. Each class observed four beakers: one containing oil, one containing vinegar, one containing cold water, and one containing warm water. Before placing the candy corn into the separate beakers, the students wrote down their hypotheses about what they thought would happen. They then observed the changes and recorded their findings. Great job, scientists!

The Sun

This month, the kindergarten girls continued their study of the sun's effect on the Earth. Working as scientists, they researched the differences between sunlight and shade. During this month's experiment, they explored two questions: What happens to a cup of ice water in the sun? What happens to a cup of ice water in the shade?

The girls made predictions and worked in groups to build shade structures and to test how sunlight affects a cup of ice water. After conducting their experiments, they returned to the classroom to discuss their findings. Great job, scientists!

What Does a Scientist Do?

Welcome to the world of science! The kindergarten girls are learning that scientists are like curious detectives who love discovering new things about the world around us. This month, the girls explored various areas of science and discussed their favorite topics with partners.

Additionally, the kindergarten scientists focused on weather and seasons, examining how these elements affect us. The students read about different types of weather and how the sun influences our environment and lives. They conducted a hands-on investigation outdoors. During their experiment, the students discovered that not everything gets warm in the sun; for example, grass and plants remain cool because they use the sun’s energy to make food. After returning to the classroom, they discussed their findings and added details to their charts to highlight their learning.