An I Love to Read Month STEAM Challenge

It is I Love to Read Month and our school's theme this year is STEAM. Our media specialist did an amazing job planning activities centered around this theme, including our school's annual door decorating contest.

I had planned to post part two of our Eric Carle art projects this week but since they are still a work in progress, I will share our whirlwind door decorating adventure instead. Whirlwind, because we crammed the whole process into a few short hours. Not ideal, but a reality in an already jam packed month!

We started out by reading the books Not a Box by Antoinette Portis and What to Do With a Box by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban.

Next, the students were split into groups and they began brainstorming ideas of what they could create with their boxes. 

After they finished brainstorming, they shared their ideas with the class. Then, they chose the ideas they wanted to create.

The next day, each group made a list of materials they would need for their project. Some of the materials I had in the classroom, and some they brought from home.

I love the "palm palm" (pom poms)!

We were getting down to the wire (the contest judging was in two days), so the students used most of the next afternoon building their projects. I had to leave for an appointment, so I had no idea what I would find when I returned!

When I returned to school, I was delighted to see what they had accomplished in such a short period of time. All except one of the groups had completed their projects, and they looked amazingly close to their plans! I attached the completed projects to our door, which I had previously covered with pieces from a cardboard box and labeled "Not a Box."

Robot

Our School

Guitar

Castle

House

While we didn't win the contest (that prize went to the really cool maze created by the classroom next door), it was a wonderful hands-on STEAM learning experience!

Eric Carle Inspired Art--Part One

Do you ever have those moments where a great idea just falls right into your lap? When the stars seem to align in your favor? When two seemingly unconnected things connect in a way that is pure magic? When, well, you know what I mean. I had one of those moments recently...

My class has been studying the work of Eric Carle. We love his stories and have been very interested in his illustrating style. 

In a seemingly unrelated event, I introduced spray painting with liquid watercolors at the art easels. I gave instructions for how to hold the spray bottle away from the paper so the paint wouldn't bleed all over the paper and waste the paint. As is typical in kindergarten, those instructions served as an invitation. Soon, the drying rack was filled with papers soaked with colors. So much for my warning. As I sat at my guided reading table looking at the "mess" the students had created, something clicked. Suddenly, I went from lamenting the loss of my expensive liquid water color paint to realizing that the art the students had created looked very much like the painted papers Eric Carle uses to create his collages in his books. Alas, a project was born!

The next day, the students and I poured through Eric Carle's books once again. This time, we looked closely at the way he used collage to create his illustrations, especially noting the way he used different colors to make certain details stand out. We also watched a video of Eric Carle working on an illustration for one of his books so we could see the process in action. We were ready!

I matched each student  with a partner and they brainstormed ideas of what they might create. When they had agreed on an idea, they worked together to sketch their plan. The next day, I laid out all the liquid watercolor spray paintings and the students got to work creating their projects. As usual, I was excited to see the dynamics in play when students work with a partner or a small group, and I was reminded why it is so important to create opportunities for the development of these highly important social skills.

The collages are still a work in progress, as you can see from the pictures below. Next week, I will post pictures of the completed projects. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Exploring Economics in the Kindergarten Classroom

I love social studies! There are so many fun standards to explore together--even in kindergarten! Over the past few weeks, my class has been learning a little bit about economics. We started out learning the difference between needs and wants, and eventually made our way to learning about goods and services. 

A few years ago, I saw this wonderful idea on Pinterest. I wish I could remember whose it was so I could give proper credit, but I honestly don't know. That said, it has become one of my favorite projects to do each year.

First, we started by reading this book:

Next, we did a pocket chart sorting activity to test our ability to distinguish between goods and services.

After that, I asked the students to think about businesses in our town, or in neighboring towns. Once they gave me the name of a business, the next job was for them to decide if the business provided goods or services. In some cases, we discovered that a business could provide both! Here is a picture of page one of our list:

Finally, the students spent time creating their businesses. We did a little research so they could capture the essential details of their chosen business. As you can see, some of them nailed it!

Our elementary school--which has a two-tone brick color, green roof and clock tower.

Fleet Farm--which you will recognize if you are from our state!

Our local high school. Notice the school colors above the name.

When the students were finished, I created two streets on our bulletin board: Goods Street and Services Drive. The buildings were placed on their corresponding street. The students were so proud of their creation--and rightly so!