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 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 story, practiced rhyming words 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)
On Thursday, we rolled dice and placed that many spines (toothpicks) into the saguaro cactus (green noodle). In addition, we mad a cactus with spines (toothpicks) out of playdoh and model magic. We discussed adobe homes found by the desert and we built adobe homes using blocks and Lincoln logs!
We also practiced positional concepts with frogs and lizards.
OUr letter of the week was the letter V. We made it by making the piece sign with our fingers. We learned a vulture lives in the desert which begins with the letter V. During our 2nd Steps lesson we learned how important it is to invite peers to play.
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. Does a cactus have prickly things called spines? (yes)
2. What did you pretend to be during gym class with bells on your feet? (rattlesnakes)
3. Is the desert hot or cold? (hot) What is the weather like at night? (cooler)
4. What animal lives 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 old? (yes)
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)
1. Does a cactus have prickly things called spines? (yes)
2. What did you pretend to be during gym class with bells on your feet? (rattlesnakes)
3. Is the desert hot or cold? (hot) What is the weather like at night? (cooler)
4. What animal lives 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 old? (yes)
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. Does it rain a lot in the desert? (no)
Reminders
4/8 Tuesday Profession Development -No School
4/14 and 4/16-parent teacher conferences
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| Happy birthday, Annie! |
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| We rolled the dice and added spines to the cactus! |
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| Our sensory table contained lizards, sand, cups and tongs. |
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| "I am going to the Desert!" |
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| Sand slime! |
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| We made a cactus out of model magic and added spines to it. |
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| The hippos matched desert pictures! |
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| We pretended to be rattlesnakes with bells on our ankle. |
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| Show and Tell |
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| Look at our beautiful spring decorations the students created! |
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| Art Party! |
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| We pretended to be different desert animals. |
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| Show and Tell |
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| Show and Tell |
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| Playdoh and spines to make a cactus. |
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| It was fun to examine real snake skins. |
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| We made desert pictures with stamps and paint. |
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| It was fun to go on a desert hunt in the classroom. |
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| After reading the book about the cactus hotel, we sequenced the pictures that went along with the story. |
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| What is your favorite cactus? |
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| Music fun with scarves. |
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| We looked at lizards. |
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| We looked at the amount of rainfall in Missouri compared to the amount of rain in the desert. |
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| We practiced our cutting skills by making rattlesnakes. |
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| We are working on finding our last names when we sign in to our question of the week. |
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| A barrel cactus and a real spine. |
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| We made pictures on sand paper using chalk. |
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| It was fun to paint a cactus and add spines. (rice) |
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| What letter did the magnet bug land on? |
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| Spider |
