Learning to Read Non-Fiction

Recently we've learned how to find the main idea and supporting details in non-fiction texts. We took a book about penguins to help us with this skill.

We've learned that the title of the book gives us the main idea. Then we looked for things we learned while reading.

Later on, we learned that headings are like titles, and we can learn the main idea from the headings.  We discussed that in the text that follows we will learn details about the main idea.   Look how we've learned the main idea and details:

Then we shared the pen and wrote the main idea and details on our own:

Too bad I didn't capture any of those writers in action!

The great thing is that learning how to find the main idea in a non-fiction text is a life-long skill and we are on our way!

To show what we know, we then wrote informational reports on penguins with a main idea sentence.  More on that to come!

What Do We Stay Active During Indoor Recess?

Q:  How do we stay active during indoor recess?

A:  Adventures to Fitness!

Our class has an account to Adventure to Fitness.  Mr. Marc is fun to watch each day.  See?

Adventure to Fitness give us ways to stay active during these cold, snowy, and icy months.  Mr. Marc goes on various adventures, and we experience it with him.  Ask you child which Mr. Marc adventure is his or her favorite!

Learning About Topic Sentences

We have learned a lot about information writing in kindergarten.  First, we learned that information writing includes facts.  Our goal is to write three facts about a particular topic.  Next we learned that a topic sentence is necessary for a reader to know what the author is writing about.  

One of the activities we did was to think about something we know a lot about.  Students then partnered up with a buddy who had the same interest.  Then the partners wrote a topic sentence.

Look at our hard work:

Next we'll add three sentences with facts about our topic to our topic sentences.  

How to Make a Symmetrical Snowflake

How do you make a symmetrical snowflake?

First, start off with a center shape:

Add a shape to all sides:

Keep going:

Now you have a snowflake!

Friday Flashback

Throughout the year, we've been working on shapes.  Not too long ago, we made shapes of our own. Check it out!

We worked on learning the words side, corner, angle, too.  Can you tell which shapes we've made?  

Reading Sneezy the Snowman

During a read aloud time , we read the book Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright.  

We used the book to talk about whether the book was fiction or non-fiction and what evidence we could use to support our decision.  We talked a little about how Maureen Wright, as the author, got to decide who the characters would be and what would happen to them.  But we really discussed retelling the book.  When retelling, we talked about the characters, where they were, and who had a problem.  When we discovered the problem, we discussed what the characters did to solve the problem.  Ask your child what Sneezy's problem was and how he tried to solve it.  (Hint:  Sneezy made three poor choices, but his friends helped him make better choices--what were they?)

We were able to retell part of the story by writing about what mistakes Sneezy made:

"Sneezy the Snowman melted when [he] stood by the fire."

"Sneezy the Snowman melted when he stood by the fire and drank hot chocolate."

"Sneezy the Snowman melted when he go in the hot tub."

Based on what we learned from the book, we extended our understanding of the book by talking and writing about what a snowman should not do.  

Here are some of the results:

 "A snowman should not drink hot chocolate because it melts."

"A snowman should not go to Hawaii because there is volcanoes."

"A snowman should not stand close to the fire because he will melt."

What other books can you retell?

Olympics Resources for Kids

Are you as excited as I am for the Olympics to start?  Here are two links that you may enjoy with your child if you are interested in the Olympics:

Carmel Clay Public Library

Activity Village

Go U.S.A.!

Learning About 3-D Shapes

Our math class is getting really good at identifying 2-D shapes.  Now we're turning our attention to 3-D shapes.  

We have been playing a version of the game Memory:

Our goal was to match up the shape (both 2-D and 3-D) to a real-life object.


Where can you find examples of shapes in your every day life?

Working on Personal Responses

One of our standards is to share an opinion on a topic like a recently read book.  Today we decided to discuss a book we read last week:  Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright.  

The first thing we did was talk with a partner about what we thought of the book:  

We were talking about whether we liked the book and why we thought the way we did.  We're also practicing using the word because in our discussions.  

Next we took to our journals to write what we discussed with our turn-and-talk buddy:

When our independent writing time was over, some of us could share what we wrote:

Next up:  we'll draft more opinion pieces about some of our memorable books!