| |
The Kindergartners at Green Woods have a full and exciting year ahead of them. Each day will be full of opportunities for our beginning readers and writers to stretch and expand their budding literacy skills. Kindergartners at Green Woods are read to multiple times each day, as well as given many opportunities to browse and interact with books independently.
Many of the books that the students are exposed to directly connect to the environmental themes that they will be exploring. The year begins with a unit on geography, where the Kindergartners are introduced to maps and begin to learn the trails of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. After learning to follow maps and read trail signs, the students move into a study of our local stream, Smith’s Run, putting on boots to wade in the water and examine macroinvertebrates and aquatic plants. The stream study is followed by an investigation of the forest just in time to watch the leaves turn from green to brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red before they become “leaf litter” on the forest floor. We move into a unit on agriculture follows, complete with a search for the remnants of the old Brollo farm right here on the Schuylkill Center’s campus. This leads us into a study of the field, where the students will research Pennsylvania’s burrowing animals, as well as the many insects that reside on our campus. The Kindergarten year ends with a “dip in the pond”, giving the students a taste of what they will focus on in First Grade. |
| |
The students in Kindergarten have settled into the classroom routines, and are continuing to develop as learners. Our daily schedule includes opportunities for social, emotional and intellectual development through a variety of large group, small group, and individualized activities. Whether working or playing, the boys and girls are growing in independence and confidence.
Language Arts in Kindergarten now includes guided reading several times each week. Each student is given instruction which builds upon his or her knowledge and understanding of the reading process. Language skills are further developed through choral reading, read-alouds, daily writing and group discussions. Our math lessons include planned activities from the Everday Math curriculum that build upon skills introduced earlier in the school year. Environmental Science subjects have progressed from the geography of the Schuylkill Center to streams, forests, and agriculture. The remainder of the school year will include activities about fields and ponds. We are looking forward to more outdoor experiences in our wonderful school setting!
|
