really wish I could buy watermelon with seeds




Way back on Monday, I posted some printable watermelon sequence cards for your pocket chart.



And I promised a printable watermelon book.


So, here it is - click on the title page to take you to Google docs for your free download.




















I made 2 versions of the watermelon page, for those who teach kindergarten, and those who read with children not in kindergarten. 

You can print it as a letter size paper book, or select 2 or 4 pages per sheet when you are printing in order to make smaller books.  

I'd love to know how you use this book - leave a comment.





            

Today was one of those days when the morning's plans went right out the window.

In such a good way.


I always have some activities set out on our tables and carpets for the kidlets to do when they come in first thing in the morning.  This morning I put out some unifix cubes,  some blocks made out of sponges and the wooden tree blocks (as well as some other activities) on our carpet.

The kids love to measure themselves with the unifix cubes.  So they did.  Then a small group decided to put all the unifix cubes together.  So they did.  The "road" went out the door.


Then they added the sponge blocks.  That got to the end of the little hallway outside our room.


The only logical thing, was to get the tree blocks and turn the corner.


A note was made and attached to a basket asking people to be "crfl".  Everyone was very "crfl" - the older students moving from room to room were very kind to the kidlets and their hall take-over.


At this point, making block roads turned into a class mission; they were going to take over the building!

Down the long hallway.



at a crossroads - take both roads




under the table


I loved the little unexpected touches along the way.



 baskets can work as blocks


 pvc pipes and the car mats were called into service


 And that got us to the front door and the end of our mission.



The kids 
all worked together, 
respecting each other's work,
using language, 
planning, 
sharing ideas, 
solving problems 
and having a lot of fun.  

And clean up was as purposeful and co-operative as the creation of the project.

A brilliant morning, where I stepped back, recorded their work and admired their learning.

Summer time and watermelon seem to go hand in hand.



We've been doing a lot of singing ...

Down by the bay
where the watermelons grow ...

Here's Raffi

and a self titled "hip" version


Watermelon seeds are responsible for one of my favourite celebration of learning moments.




We read Black Seeds, Black Seeds, a watermelon version of  Brown Bear Brown Bear.  Here is our pocket chart version.


I think that the idea came from a McCracken workshop (and if that means anything to you, we are dating ourselves!) many years ago. The illustrations were created for me (also years ago) by a very talented artist mum, Roseanne Currie.

Click on the graphic for your free pocket chart picture download.   I made 2 copies of the last picture so that one could be used as a title card if you wished.



Check back later in the week for a booklet version.

Happy Memorial Day to American friends - and happy Monday to everyone else.





Every day after lunch, we have quiet reading time.

Well,  I call it quiet reading time.  

But, it is rarely quiet.  

The kidlets sing books.  

read like teachers

read big books

read class made books

read wearing "magic reading glasses"

read alone

read with a friend

read in a created "cubbie"

I want my kidlets to read for the sheer joy of it.  

They take a mat (a bath mat from Walmart), a couple of books, and find a spot to get comfy.  

We have 3 ways to "read" a book:  read the pictures, read the words and retell the story.  

The kidlets can choose any of the books in the classroom - theme related, rhyming, animals, science, cars and trucks, songs, class-made books, favourite authors or characters - there's lots to choose from.

Click the graphic to print out this Jane Yolen poem about reading.




            

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