over and under the pond

This week we continued our work thinking, talking, and showing important information (or key details) from nonfiction texts. We read another Kate Messner book, Over and Under the Pond. The children recorded important information from the beginning, middle, and end of the book. Using black pens and sticky notes, they responded to the text.

Some important information included showing and labeling the animals that can be found living over and under the pond as well as showing how animals rely on their physical habitat and other animals to survive. We talked about a pond as an ecosystem; animals are connected to their habitat and one another. Every living thing is connected.

The following morning the children glued their notes into their Science Journals and shared the important information they recorded with a peer. Once again the children demonstrated their strong comprehension skills. They thought about the text and responded by using pictures and words. They thought beyond the text, making connections to their own experiences and other books they have read about ponds. 

Through the sharing of their notes and thinking with a peer, they discussed what was the same and different; for example, some friends wrote about herons catching minnows with their long beaks while other children wrote about dragonfly larvae catching minnows with their sharp claws!

community celebration; snack and reading at the waterfall!

This week the children filled our community jar with rocks and stones. We use rocks to recognize powerful choices. We are all connected and our choices influence all of our work, learning, and play. The children thought of three possible celebrations and we voted. 19 of the 21 voters chose snack and reading at our beloved waterfall! 

It was a beautiful and peaceful morning.

Celebrations continued during recess when we introduced and played outdoor jenga. This made for a beautiful afternoon, too! 

I've always thought of jenga as a competitive game, but as the small group of Kindergarteners carefully removed blocks and balanced them on top of the tower, their peers erupted in cheers and accolades; You're so careful! That was a really tricky block! You did it! 

When the tower fell, they declared, let's rebuild it.  

The children often remind me of the power in our choices and how our choices influence our "tower of blocks". In the middle of the Westford playground, surrounded by the most delicate and joyful of children, I think of the jenga metaphor; as we end our year together and transition into a new one, we will make many individual and community choices. Our choices will influence and shape; towers may fall and within every fall there are opportunities to rebuild.