Farm Days

Last Tuesday, we took a trip to The Center in Palos. We got to see and pet many animals and pick our very own pumpkins from the pumpkin patch! To get ready for the farm, we practiced chopping out some things we would see there with these Fall Chopping & Stamp Centers.

 We also talked about the many different animals on a farm and their sounds.

By the time we got to pumpkin picking, it was freezing and wet, so I didn't take out the camera, but overall it was a happy day down on the farm!

Parents, if you would like additional pictures, please e-mail or comment so I can send them to you!

Dogs again :o)

First off -its fall. And I LOVE fall. But before long the leave will be gone and we will be stuck in Chicago winter again. And you know what you need to keep you warm? 

This girl! And she needs you! All she wants to do is cuddle and relax on a nice warm couch or doggie bed with you. 

 Her name is Lacy and she is our foster dog through Chicago Pit Stop Rescue. Her life was saved when she was taken out of Chicago Animal Control a few months ago and joined us - eagerly awaiting her forever home.

She is a gentle, cuddly girl who loves a walk and a good toy to play with.  She won't ruin anything that isn't hers, doesn't bark, and plays well with others! She is just perfect and I am going to have a hard time giving her up, but she deserves the best!

Where is my forever family?

If you are interested in making Lacy a permanent part of your life, please contact me or fill out an application at Chicago Pit Stop Rescue.

...Now back to your regularly scheduled kindergarten programming :o) .....

Reading Centers and Reading Buddies

I know this is a little late, but here is a reading center activity that we did a few weeks ago during fire safety week.  The kids had a blast putting their letter sounds together to make words!

 We put our vowels (red magnet letters) on the side of the tray and then used our consonants to make CVC words. It was so fun exploring sounds with the kids and seeing their faces when they made silly words. :o)

And here are our 4th grade reading buddies working on us with a pumpkin project this week! While we prepared to go to the farm and pick our pumpkins, we discussed how pumpkins grew from seeds.  We read Scholastic News about pumpkins, watched a short clip about growing pumpkins.

The kids then worked together to make a chain of the pumpkin growth cycle - so fun!

Fire Station

October 6th kicks off National Fire Prevention Week! 

We are lucky enough to have a fire station within walkable distance from school so we went last Friday to kick off Fire Prevention Week.

The kids we able to walk through the fire truck...

...See a fireman in uniform (and talk about how it isn't that scary)...

Oh! And the fire and police stations are connected - so the kids got a tour of the police department as well.

Here's a little response sheet for parents and teachers to help the kiddos work on a fire safety plan with you.  We haven't worked on this yet - but the school part is in the plans for Monday!