Mrs. Z's Kindergarten

News spread quickly of the Gingerbread Baby’s presence on campus.  The kindergarten huddled together to plan how they were going to catch him.  “I know!  Let’s make a gingerbread house.  He will think it is his home.  That would be such a good trick.”  Such a genius idea…

After reading The Gingerbread Baby, kindergarteners heard footsteps scurry from our classroom door.  Could it possibly be?  We ran to the door, only to discover a note left behind.  The Gingerbread Baby took us on a scavenger hunt across campus.  Crumbs were found throughout the lower, middle and upper school buildings.  We were getting close, so we thought.  The notes lead us back to our classroom, where we found one last one: “Thank you for making me such a delicious gingerbread house.  I sent you on a scavenger hunt to search for me so I could take a nap.  You’ll never catch me.  I’m the Gingerbread Baby!” 

The backdoor in our classroom opened.  (The windy day didn’t cause the door to swing open at the perfect moment…wink, wink!)  We ran to the backdoor.  I was certain that I saw him run away.  Once again, another year passes where only I am lucky enough to see the Gingerbread Baby.

Smiles lit up the faces of Saddle River Day School students, along with its faculty members as the kindergarten scoured the campus in search of everyone’s favorite ice cream flavor.  The kindergarten is learning how to tally and count by fives.  Each response was recorded with a lick of the lips and a tally mark on their chart.  Back in classroom, the little poll takers, intently graphed the results.  Chocolate lovers reign supreme.

“Everyone, fasten your seatbelts!” (click)  Today’s weather forecast forced the kindergarten to cancel their first field trip to DiPiero’s Farm.  (Did it even rain between 12:30 and 2:30?)  Mrs. Z sent the children off into an imaginary world where they were on a school bus bouncing over speed bumps, swaying from side to side on quick turns, and lunging their bodies forward when the bus came to a sudden stop, but they never really left their chairs.  “Welcome, to Z’s Pumpkin Patch!  I’m Farmer Z!”  The children each had a chance to pick out their favorite pumpkin from Z’s Pumpkin Patch, located in our “Book Nook.”  (J)  They traveled from station to station, decorating their pumpkins with a huge smile on their face.  We also had a few laughs thanks to some very creative decorators.  A station enjoyed by all was the “Relaxation Station.”  This is where kindergarten friends sat back, relaxed and enjoyed some cider, fresh donuts, candy corn and conversation.  Once they regained their energy, they were back to decorating their pumpkins with silly hair, crazy eyes and toothless mouths.  When it was time to leave Z’s Pumpkin Patch, we got back on the bus and quickly fastened our seatbelts.  “And away we go…”

*Thank you to all the families who donated the pumpkins, crafts, cider, donuts, plates and cups.  You turned a dreary day into a wondrous memory.  Thank you!

*Visit my photo album for pictures.

After saving a caterpillar from a hungry bird, a young girl consults her grandfather and together they build a butterfly house. Considering the barren box, the child determines to bring outdoor beauty indoors, so the pair create a colorful "garden" of painted flowers to line the sides and a blue sky on the inner lid. Ultimately, the larva forms a chrysalis, undergoes the marvelous metamorphosis into a Painted Lady butterfly, and is set free by the tearful girl. The simply worded tale is narrated by the child grown old, who exults in a plethora of Painted Ladies in her butterfly garden, sure that they are the descendants of that long-ago butterfly who passed on memories of loving consideration.

Kindergarteners and their grandparents sat cuddled together listening to the tale of the Butterfly House.  When the story ended, they were given the task of creating a butterfly. Grandparents took on the role of decorating one side, while their grandchildren mimicked the butterfly’s unique symmetry.  While the butterflies were being made, loving memories were shared and new ones will be remembered.

How does a pumpkin seed grow into a pumpkin?  That’s the question kindergarteners were asked today.  “Only farmers know the answer,” was one response.  Within groups, students analyzed seeds, stared at pumpkins, talked amongst each other and came up with their own ideas.  After listening to each group’s theory, we read the story Pumpkin, Pumpkin and discovered the life cycle of a pumpkin.  Many of their predictions were proven right.  I then tested my might and attempted to break open the pumpkin so the children could observe its’ insides.  I clenched my teeth and tightened my grip. To their amazement, I split the pumpkin in half.  Their eyes and mouths were opened wide in awe.  Little do they know, the pumpkin was pre-cut. J  We continued to clean out the pumpkin and count its’ seeds.  One student suggested making groups of tens.  Then a few others found different ways to group the seeds.  We ended the lesson by sequencing the life cycle of a pumpkin. 

Hmmm….so, how does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?  These kindergarteners are busy scientists, observing that life cycle as well.

Marcus Pfister wrote a beautiful story, The Rainbow Fish.   All the children were captivated by the shimmering beauty his character beholds but there was one problem. The Rainbow Fish was not happy.  We stopped throughout the story to make connections and predict outcomes.  We came across a page that illustrated the Rainbow Fish with all her shimmering scales surrounded by others lacking that unique beauty.  The children were challenged with these questions: What do you think the Rainbow Fish is thinking?  How are the other fish feeling?  Thinking caps went on and we engaged in a frenzied discussion.  One said, “Why didn’t the Rainbow Fish want to share her shiny scales?”  Another said, “It’s important to share because it means you are a good friend.” The lesson ended with one simple question, “What is the best way to become happy?” Their answer, in unison, was “to make others happy.”

Following the story, each child made their own Rainbow Fish. A shimmering scale (A.K.A. a piece of shiny foil) was shared with each student to symbolize the unselfish friendships established in kindergarten.

The eight o’clock hour brought in fourteen children with eyes wide open and smiles from ear to ear, all anticipating an exciting day filled with firsts.  Some tears were spotted rolling down the cheeks of… mothers who just weren’t ready for the first goodbye of many. 

The morning was spent familiarizing the children with the environment around them.  Sandy, our class monkey, was able to ease any butterflies still fluttering around in their bellies.  His love for bananas had the children laughing out loud as he searched their lunch boxes in hopes to find just one. No luck!  Music and French class were their specials for the day.  They danced, learned to sing on pitch, were given a French name, and were taught how to say “hello” and “goodbye.”  Fun was had by all.

Nothing makes a kindergartner happier than the sight of a new playground, untouched by their little feet and small hands.  Imaginations ran wild as the girls set up a beauty salon under the slide, painting nails and the boys darted here and there trying so hard to avoid Spiderman’s sticky web.  Oh, to be five again!

As the afternoon settled in, Corduroy was read to the children.  Right before Corduroy found his missing button, I stopped reading and we searched the school for his button.  With a magnifying glass held in one hand, the children explored the campus.  It was nowhere to be found.  We did find all sorts of buttons and compared and contrasted them, but couldn’t seem to find the matching one.  It occurred to us it would probably be in a place where Corduroy felt safe and loved by all.  “If that’s the case Mrs. Z, we should check the classroom.”  And there it was…