NEWSLETTER
We are Gardeners!
We began our Spring Gardening experiences by planting with our 6th grade buddies! The 6th graders paired up and worked with our preschoolers to describe the plant they were planting and then work through the planting process. It was an enjoyable experience for everyone involved and prepped our children well to plant in their new box!
Thank you to Mr. Peacemaker for building us a new planter box! There were just a few nails left to hammer in and our children were able to take care of them and finish the box so we could plant our lettuce seeds.
After the box was finished we prepped it for planting, planted our lettuce seeds and then watered the seeds. The children identified each step in the planting process before we began it, and actively participated in each step!
The final step was to personalize the new planter box! Each child put their handprint on the box and we'll add their names later. They helped build it and fill it so we wanted them to feel a sense of ownership!
Reading our Interactive Book together...
We read the "How to Plant a Garden" book to revisit our experiences planting in the school garden. Each child was handed a picture to place on a page, and the children sat in the order of the book. As we turned the pages and read the story, the children checked their picture to see if it matched the words. Each child either added a picture to the page or found the corresponding item in our group of "gardening picture cards." Throughout this interactive reading experience the children had to listen to the steps as they were described and then look for the object used in the step. In doing this they practiced their receptive language skills and visual-spatial awareness.
We then moved to the tables to create our own interactive book. Each child cut out their pictures, and this time they had to cut it out on the square lines so that it fit in the box on the story page. If it was too big it would cover up parts of the story and we wouldn't be able to read it! This more focused cutting took time and concentration. Once a child had their pictures cut out, they described each one and we informally discussed what part of the planting process it belonged in.
Our last step was to we put our own books together. These books are each child's personal "manual" to follow for the planting process. As we moved through each page, we identified the missing picture. Each child found the picture in their pile and glued it in the right place. When we finished gluing the pictures, we read our book together. We emphasized that they can read the pictures to read the story, which practiced an important pre-reading skill.
During this large group literacy experience, we paid particular attention to "Concepts About Books" and some aspects of "Conventions of Print."
Before we read our book we talked to the children about the many ways that they can read and do:
