Tooling Right Along!

The month of March began with a bang (or shall I say bong) as we explored clocks as tools.  We incorporated the use of clocks and time in our everyday activities and some children became even more proficient clock announcers.   ("It's time for snack!" was heard most frequently.)  Telling time on the hour, half hour, and quarter hours was practiced and perfected at a "timely" tempo.  We also practiced counting by 5, 10, and 2 to aid in our minute counting efforts.
Kindergartners are jotting  their own "List of 100 Tools" after listening to a series of stories,  Monkey with a Tool Belt by Chris Monroe.  The illustrations and antics of a very handy monkey were hilarious along with a list of tools that included a "donkey wrench" "rubber duck extractor" and a

 "pajama hammer."   We designed
tool belts complete with our own tool invention designs tucked inside.

We also tried our hand at using real tools after listening to a book about sculptor Alexander Calder's childhood and young adult life entitled, Sandy's Circus.   We learned that Calder created toys as a child and later designed a menagerie of circus performers with movable parts.  We put our own hands to task and made our own  sculptures using various kinds of pliers, wire, fasteners, and cork.   Calder, the inventor of the "mobile" (and those big bright  red/orange organic-looking free standing sculptures) would have been pleased to see our creative movable feast for the eyes hanging in our window panes.   We also attempted to create "Galimotos"- a child's toy found in Africa made out of wire scraps.  It is similar to a rolling push toy.

We also decided that March came "in like a lion" with brisk and rainy days and then became very lamb-like mid-month.  We took advantage of our  balmy summer-like weather and our newly acquired skills to present a Kinder-Circus to our K-Buddies.   Kindergartners slathered face paints, brainstormed and arranged their own attractions, and performed on the playground as jumping seals, dancers, clowns, and a ringmaster or two.   During a previous writing activity, we imagined what we would like to see if we could attend a circus.   Our ideas included "I want to see a dragon and a penguin,"  "I wish I could see a connect-the-dot circus" or  "I wish I could see a sparkle kitty."  Our Buddies hopefully enjoyed the trampoline (Thanks Shan), bubble wands, face paints, balance beam,   popcorn concession stations, and making the Ks ideas come to life.

In preparation for our activities, we were inspired by The Greatest Show On Earth by John Prater, Circus Train by Jos. A. Smith, and Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Mc Cully.  We also watched a DVD with excerpts of Cirque du Soleil's "Quidam"  and "oooooed" and "ahhhhhhed" as if we were right in the audience.  Our list of circus tools included hammers, stakes, rope, tents, and trained animals. 

  

Time and Time Again!

March Dates at a Glance

2/29  (Wednesday) Bell Tower Trip  scheduled  10 A.M.

3/2  (Friday) Dr. Seuss Pajama and Stripes Party & Yoga with Dom 10:00 A.M.

3/5-3/15 Spring Parent /Teacher Conference times available

3/14 "Once Upon A Timpani" field trip  with Cara for Music Class 10 AM

3/16  (Friday ) No School-Parent /Teacher Conferences- Sign-Up Sheet in the Classroom

(Please note that actual Kindergarten Conference dates do not include the 16th-Thanks for your understanding)   

3/23 (Friday) Trip to Wild Swan Theatre to see "Strega Nona"

3/29 & 3/30  (Thursday & Friday) Val away presenting at the MIAEYC (Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children) Conference, Grand Rapids, MI 

Kindergartners transitioned into another month and another theme (Tools) almost seamlessly last week.  We began talking about  telling time in Math Class before the break and continued throughout last week.
We listened to a nursery rhyme favorite Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker that contained a cast of unusual clock watchers.  We discussed the positioning of the long hand for  "o'clock", the purpose of the short hand,  total minutes in an hour and half hour, and even used our bodies to mimic clock positions.  We also talked about our class' varied bedtimes and mealtimes.

We used wipe off clocks to practice writing and reading the time and even drew our own clock patterns.  We visited the Burton Memorial Bell Tower on Wednesday and observed its scale and discussed the necessity of its multiple clock facades.   We also ventured upstairs for a peek inside the bell tower.  It (unfortunately) was locked due to the University break week but gave us a good reason to return to the bell tower at a later date (and some exercise climbing two flights of stairs).  Shan, our amazing P.E. Teacher accompanied us on our adventure.  We explored the surrounding area a bit and right when we exited the tower the bells tolled to announce 11:00.   For whom you say?  Just for us I think!

In the classroom, we listened to several versions of the song "My Grandfather's Clock" written by Henry Clay Work and decided that our favorite rendition was sung by Johnny Cash.  We also heard versions by Burl Ives, Boyz to Men, and Sam Cooke.   We learned about the song's origin and that the lyrics inspired the name "Grandfather Clock."  Previously, tall stand-alone clocks encased in a cabinet were called "long case" clocks.  Throughout the rest of the week, the children could be heard (on several occasions)  spontaneously singing the song.

My grandfather's clock was to large for the shelf, 
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that it he was born,
And was always his treasure and pride;
But it stopped short
Never to go again,
When the old man died. (excerpt from My Grandfather's Clock by Henry Clay Work)


The Kindergartners then put their newly acquired clock knowledge to use and created their own grandfather clocks.  Hour and minute hands and strategically placed numbers written on round disks were the start of  our design work.  Cardboard panels, plastic spools, and embellishments from the  Scrapbox store were used to erect "long cases".  And of course, being able to use our clocks as a tool for our math lesson was our proof  of a good "time".

 We were not sure of bats in the belfry, but some one's office contained a ton of them

 

 

Of Course, our week of clocks would not have been complete without an artistic interpretation by Surrealist artist, Salvador Dali.  We discussed Dali's style of "Surrealism" as being "super' or "hyper"-real.   His paintings  also appear to have a  "dreamlike" quality.   The Kindergartners mentioned  that the clocks looked "melty" and "like balloons that had lost their air."   Using an excerpt from Math-terpieces by Greg Tang, we worked individually and then collectively with other classmates to attempt to make groupings of "8" with a page of Dali-like clocks.  This math activity proved to be challenging and hopefully, fun.  

Our week ended with a "Pajama and Stripes" celebration for Dr. Seuss' Birthday.  We read  "Happy Birthday to You'  and "McElligot's Pool" both by Seuss; and even wrote our first formal style letters of correspondence about our favorite Dr. Seuss tale.  We also used dot markers to paint suess-y pictures.  Mrs. Carpenter even read us the original story of  "The Lorax"  on Thursday during K Buddies.  We topped off our birthday celebration with yummy cupcakes for A.M. snack.  Good thing we also had a session of calming yoga with Dom.  She taught us new poses as well.