This week we explored the desert! As a group we read books, sang songs, looked at photos and watched video clips to learn about desert animals and the saguaro pronounced [suh--wahr-oh] cactus. We examined the barrel cactus and the prickly pear cactus as well!
It was fun to look at a real snake skin and cactus, and use a magnifying glass to examine the skin of a real lizard. We also looked at real spines from a saguaro and barrel cactus. We were very careful not to touch them! The hippos practiced using nice words, working together and taking turns during dramatic play with our desert props (magnifying glasses, flashlight, pretend bug spray, sealed sunscreen, view finder). We went on a desert hunt and marked off what we found from the desert! The room was filled with many explorers!! (goals: fine motor, matching, respectful behavior, taking turns, observing)
During group time we made a cactus garden with cucumbers and toothpicks. The cucumber was the saguaro cactus and the toothpicks were the spines. Each child took turns sticking the spines into the cactus. The cactus garden was not complete until we added the desert animals (coyote, jackrabbit, bobcat, snake, lizard, scorpion, tarantula, etc.) During center time, we made rattlesnakes, painted a cactus, played with sand slime, made desert pictures with sandpaper and stamps, looked through a view finder at animals in the desert, used tongs to collect lizards/frogs in the sand in our sensory table, sequenced pictures of a saguaro cactus, practiced rhyming words in our stories and answered questions about our stories. We also showed the students the amount of rainfall in the desert compared to the amount of rainfall in St. Louis using a tape measure and ruler. In addition, we signed in to what our favorite cactus was which was the saguaro. (goals: sensory, fine motor, safe behaviors, counting and recognizing numbers, participating as a member of a group, following 2 step directions, answering questions about our books, sequencing, rhyming, making decisions independently, comparing numbers)
Some activities we did not have time to do and will complete them this Monday as we finish up our desert unit. We will make our letter X with green pipe cleaners (saguaro cactus) and sand trays. During journal time we will answer the question, "What would you take on your trip to the desert?" We will also roll dice and place that many spines (toothpicks) into the saguaro cactus (green noodle). In addition we will paint a cactus using our finger on sandpaper (a scratchy sensory experience). Thursday we discussed and showed pictures of adobe homes. We built adobe homes using blocks and Lincoln logs! We will make our own cardboard adobe house on Monday.
In the gym, we put bells on our ankles with velcro and laid on our stomachs on scooters to pretend to be rattlesnakes. (goals:gross motor) We practiced being different desert animals as well. We also learned a song about the saguaro cactus. It is the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot". Here are the words.
"I'm a Saguaro cactus, prickly and tall,
Here is my trunk and here are my arms.
When you're in the desert you see me stand,
But please don't touch me with your hand.
OUCH!"
Next Week-Monday will be wrapping up the desert unit and Wednesday we will begin ROBOTS!
Books We Read
Why Are Deserts So Dry?
Cactus Hotel
There Was A Coyote Who Swallowed A Flea
Youtube video "Spelling with Animals in the Desert"
Youtube video "Sonoran Desert"
Youtube video "Sonoran Desert -Virtual Field Trip
Questions to Ask Your Child
1. What are the prickly things called on a cactus? (spines)
2. What did you pretend to be during gym class with bells on your feet? (rattlesnakes)
3. Is the desert hot or cold? What is the weather like at night? (cooler)
4. What animals live in the desert? ( jackrabbit, coyote, javelina, bobcat, owl, rattlesnakes, lizards)
5. Which cactus do you like? (the barrel, prickly pear or the saguaro)
6. Is the saguaro cactus with lots of arms, young or old? (old)
7. What is a cactus hotel? (animals make holes in the saguaro cactus and we called it a cactus hotel because the animals live there, then leave, then other animals move in)
8. Where do the desert animals go during the day because the desert is so hot? (holes underground)
9. Does it rain a lot in the desert? (no)
10. Why does the rattlesnake make a rattling sound? (to scare off predators or because it is scared)
4/2 Tuesday Profession Development -No School
4/13 Family Garden Day 9-11
4/15 and 4/17-parent teacher conferences
4/18 Spring Fling
4/20 Passport day 10-12 at LECC
Below are the pictures that show all the fun we had learning and exploring the desert. We are so thankful each day for the gift of your child! Thank you for sharing them with us. It's such fun watching them grow and learn!!
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| Everyone liked this desert song with animals in the desert. |
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| Adding spines to our saguaro cactus! |
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| We made pictures on sandpaper. Here is a saguaro cactus! |
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| Sand slime was a hit!! |
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| After painting the saguaro cactus we added spines (white rice). |
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| I found all the animals and cacti on our desert hunt! |
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| Tongs, frogs/lizards, cups, magnifying glasses, scoopers |
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Hugo passed out sea shells he collected on his vacation!!
The kids loved it! |
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| The students examined real snake and lizard skins! |
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| Show and Tell |
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| Show and Tell |
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| Show and Tell |
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| Outside fun! |
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We mixed yellow and blue to make green paint. We then painted with
with brushes and other materials. |
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| We pretended to be different animals in the desert. |
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| We rattled our legs to represent the rattlesnake. |
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| We worked on strengthening those muscles! |
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| Look at our cactus garden! |
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Each student came up to the front of the class and spoke into the
microphone about what they did over break. |
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We looked at the hole in the saguaro cactus. It is a hotel
for birds, mice and owls. When one moves out, another moves in. |
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| We looked at my real barrel cactus! |
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| The hippo all drew pictures on sand paper using oil pastels! |
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| We used snake stencils! |
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The hippos did a great job of cutting out their rattlesnake
with scissors and paper plates. |
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We have more lots more rain per year
in St. Louis and the desert has much less. |
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I explained that the cactus holds in water.
Then I squeezed the water out. |
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| More outside fun! |
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| We sequence pictures to show the life of a cactus! |
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It was also fun to make pictures using desert stamps.
Monday we will have the kids add pictures if they like
using markers. |
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| After cutting out our rattlesnake we decorated it using paint sticks! |
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| Look at our house! |
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| More cool houses! |
