end of the year kindergarten handprint poem

The end of the school year brings lots of work and pulling a year's worth of learning together. Learning about each other, life, academics, problem solving and more. How can a kindergarten teacher use activities to help pull it together? Here is one idea where the finished product is more for the parents, but is a great discussion starter and lead-in activity.

End of the Year Handprint Kindergarten Poem

This end of the year Kindergarten Handprint Poem is a great printable from Little Miss Kindergarten that you can use with your class. We actually had it going simultaneously during one of our last writer's workshop sessions. We always start by writing our names and putting on invisible gloves (a foamy great-smelling soap) and rub it in like hand sanitizer.

End of the Year Kindergarten Handprint Poem

Students chose from three colors of paint and added their own prints. I think that they turned out very beautiful just as they are on white paper, so we didn't add anything, although you could definitely could let them paint or add more to the frame.

We don't "graduate" from kindergarten in our building and honestly, some will be ours again next year in kindergarten. Yet, we don't focus on that line of the poem as a class. We focus on how far we've come and we read First Day Jitters. (They can handle the twist ending by the end of kindergarten) We tour first grade classrooms while they're away at a special and write a letter to our new teacher.

I attach their letter to the back of their student profile sheet so when we do our class sorts, the teacher can be familiar with their writing, work and get a warm note from their new student. It all comes from these cute end of the year handprint poems and kicks off our wrap up activities with the right note of celebration (without the craziness), excitement for next year and appreciation for kindergarten.

More End of the Year

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17 Simple End of the School Year Student Gifts and Writing Activities
26 Fun and Memorable End of the School Year Celebration Ideas

I'm that kind of teacher who is already thinking about organizing and freshening up one or two things to prepare mentally for next year. How about you?
If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Kindergarten Teaching Ideas - Add Yours {5-30}

It’s that time again! It’s Show n' Tell - Teacher Style where you get to show off your creative kindergarten self! Link up your blog post with a classroom project like something you made, a lesson you taught, a new idea, or fun tip. {anything goes - as long as its for K}

Here are my favorites who linked up from last week. From one kindergarten teacher to another, I know you're going to love these creative ideas. Thanks for playing along!

Kindergarten Teaching Ideas

In order to play with us, you’ll need to add the this button to your post. Simply copy and paste the code into the top or bottom of your post. So, come on and join in the show n' tell fun!

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Let’s Play it First Class

If you link up, please take a second and comment on the 2 posts above you! This makes the entire experience more fun, we get to 'meet' each other and everyone wins with comments. {love 'em!}

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

releasing painted lady butterflies in kindergarten

Here is the next step in investigating painted lady butterflies in kindergarten. I previously laid out how I like to order the larva and my tips for investigating and allowing them to grow. This is the last section of the three part series.

> Read about ordering and setting this unit up 
> Read about investigating and housing the larva and pupa

Releasing Painted Lady Butterflies in Kindergarten

We try to find a butterfly once they have emerged that has crumpled wings. It's a great connection piece to discussing the "useless as wet paper" wings as mentioned in the story Stellaluna. This butterfly becomes our main specimen. The other butterflies stay in their dome for regular observation. I allow students time to observe as they walk by without too much hindrance during the day.

Our main specimen gets to help us observe the parts of the body up close under our document camera since he is less likely to fly away. We observe the hairy abdomen, eyes, antennae and proboscis. I will also take out a more regular butterfly that seems calm {but always share my expectations of remaining still if it flutters away} and we observe the wings and color patterns.

This part of our observation always affirms that they are indeed painted lady butterflies and I will also sit everyone in a circle and walk slowly past as the get to see the top and underside of the wings and the body up close. As we move onto writing about our observations, I do a detailed drawing as a model which most of them attempt to follow.

While we have them we feed them fierce grape Gatorade in a shallow bowl that has a plastic sponge to keep them from drowning. We are sure to observe one whose wings make it less likely to fly away on the sponge to observe how it uses its proboscis (tongue).

There comes a time when the butterflies have to be released. Normally they can live slightly longer than a week in our classroom habitat and lay eggs.

Now, when we are ready to release them... it seriously takes about 45 mins. to get everyone a butterfly, take a snapshot close up (like you see below) and actually out the door to release them.

But, for this day, I don't mind climbing the walls to capture the fly-aways and return them to their rightful owners (reminds me of the first few days if kindergarten). It's worth it for the smiles of awe.

And as we depart outside, I watch through a camera screen as little ones hold onto, chase down, stare in wonder at their beloved creatures of flight, I mentally start the process of releasing of "my" kinders as they truly are ready to fly away too.

More on Science

studying butterflies for kids
investigating painted lady butterflies in kindergarten
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Here comes the end of the school year! Ready for it? {wink} If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Top 3 Kindergarten Teaching Ideas this Week {5-27}

Its that time again – I’m featuring my favorite kinder teaching ideas to use this week from last Thursday’s linky party. I hope you find something fantastic that you’d like to try doing or try teaching.

These are just the top 3 teaching ideas that I had time to highlight, so a huge thank you for those who took the time to link up their fabulous teaching ideas!

2. U is for Underground Animals Theme Ideas - If your science curriculum needs a little beefing up, then you'll love this list of resources of underground animals. You'll find printables and crafts to add to your units so you can bring art and more into your day. {Free printables}

4. Flower Activities - If your students get into the study of apples, pumpkins, leaves or flowers then you'll want to read about some of these great activities on how students can compare, observe and label nature. I think using labels and other non-fiction resources is a great way to incorporate vocabulary and get them making connections.

5. Bees Pattern Block Game - This game gets students familiar with their pattern blocks and would be a great introduction to even discuss fractions (which ones have equal parts?). It's a simple game that will get students using their pattern blocks responsibly. {Free printable}

Are you wondering what was the most popular {or most clicked on} idea from the party was? Well… it was Learning Discussions in Kindergarten.

Thanks ladies. Your ideas are creative! You were all so awesome and you played first class by leaving comments for each other too {love that!} Feel free to grab my "I've been Highlighted" button since your tips and ideas were definitely worth the shout out.

You can view all of the ideas linked up HERE. If you have a blog, be sure to check in on Thursday when you can link up your favorite or most recent kindergarten teaching tip like a project you made, a lesson idea or a fun tip.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

making 5 fluency ideas and games

Making 5 is one of the basic and fundamental ideas that come from the Common Core standards in kindergarten. Students should be able to subitize, manipulate, create and pull apart very well in order to lay a solid foundation for further concepts.

This year, I realized that I should've slowed down in this area for some of my students. I felt rushed to move them past it and in my reflecting, I know that I won't allow the "pressure" whether it be self imposed or otherwise dictate my speed in this area next year. I see the role making 5 plays then in students making 10, composing and decomposing teen numbers in addition to numbers to and well beyond 100.

Here are some of the games I plan to play with students who need help in laying a foundation in this area. Mind you, it won't be all of my students that will need this type of work as part of a structured lesson, but all will benefit at the beginning of the year from the language, discussion and practice. These are available as a package in my shop.

Each game works on making 5, putting together and pulling apart and finding the missing addend essentially. There are three different formats that all work towards this goal.

The first is called, "Race to 5." Students use playing cards to choose a number. They can use the workmats to solve to find out how many more makes 5 and then they can move a space if they are correct. First one to the picnic basket wins.

Race to 5

I've included subitizing dot cards, numeral cards, equation cards and missing addend equation cards in order to help make this game last longer and to help differentiate.

Speed Race to 5

The second game, "Speed Race to 5" uses a spinner to make it fun! Using a paperclip and a brad, you can make your own spinner which determines the number students use to build 5. Can they find out how many more are needed to make 5? If they get it correct, they can race along the board to the picnic basket.

Spin It

The third game, "Spin It" is a "bump" style game. This game uses a spinner, students find the missing number to make 5 and can then cover up that number on the playing board using bump game rules of locking or bumping pieces.

I try to always think of what you might need in addition to what I'd just create for my own kinders since you're not right across the hall from me to chat with... so I put together a set of directions to help you put all of the pieces together, PLUS each game has a label to help keep the contents organized and a directions sheet with picture icons for emerging readers.

Making 5 Games for Kindergarten

Lastly, if you haven't already, there are great subitizing materials available as a free download with suggestions on how to work on developing strong number sense.

More on Addition:

free adding 1 gift to facebook fans
kindergarten timed tests - building fluency within 5
teaching addition with a number line as a strategy
free "ways to make 5" bingo - K.OA.1, K.OA.4

More on Math:

monster numbers {tools to learn 0-10}
creating ten frame manipulatives
12 free picture directions for math games

I hope you like this new game set or that it inspires you to make your own! If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Kindergarten Teaching Ideas - Add Yours {5-23}

It’s that time again! It’s Show n' Tell - Teacher Style where you get to show off your creative kindergarten self! Link up your blog post with a classroom project like something you made, a lesson you taught, a new idea, or fun tip. {anything goes - as long as its for K}

Here are my favorites who linked up from last week. From one kindergarten teacher to another, I know you're going to love these creative ideas. Thanks for playing along!

Kindergarten Teaching Ideas

In order to play with us, you’ll need to add the this button to your post. Simply copy and paste the code into the top or bottom of your post. So, come on and join in the show n' tell fun!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.kindergartenworks.com/2013/04/kindergarten-teaching-ideas-52.html" title="KindergartenWorks"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL5QZRF6lWTO5iB4V8Qx0C2u4OO9IEd0mLnBLexXiBH3K3tp6_FdtRnnr3qtNmtrQdw_uhdJTuXMPA8Z0Hp5Mj0Dh5f2S-5CoQFtzJNbjX9HeEDI1A0eOkC1Mu8B-EDGHFPkDko1NA8A2/s1600/showntellkworks.jpg" alt="KindergartenWorks" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Let’s Play it First Class

If you link up, please take a second and comment on the 2 posts above you! This makes the entire experience more fun, we get to 'meet' each other and everyone wins with comments. {love 'em!}

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

Top 5 Kindergarten Teaching Ideas this Week {5-22}

Its that time again – I’m featuring my favorite kinder teaching ideas to use this week from last Thursday’s linky party. I hope you find something fantastic that you’d like to try doing or try teaching.

These are just the top 5 teaching ideas that I had time to highlight, so a huge thank you for those who took the time to link up their fabulous teaching ideas!

1. Resources for Leo Lionni Picture Books – You'll find 6 of Leo Lionni's most favorite books with art lessons or activities to teach along with. You'll also find great links to free printable lessons and resources. If you use his books, this source is for you!

6. Advanced Word Work for Kindergartners - This is one of my own ideas that I have hosted on Teach Junkie {where I invite you to share your ideas too} that is an exclusive free download that you can't get anywhere else. I created it to stretch and challenge my kinders who are past working on cvc words.

3. Active Learning Game - This lesson plan will get your students moving. With a fun title like monkeys and baboons, who wouldn't want to play. Find out how you can get kids actively learning any concept with simple materials and loving every minute of it.

7. Number and Addition Skills With Playdough - Work on number recognition or bring in addition skills with this playdough free download. Students take turns rolling the dice, adding and building a bug. First one to build a complete bug wins! What a great way to give a partner something to do while another friend is taking their turn rolling and adding.

8. End of the Year Rhymes and Poems - Perfect timing for those of us who are winding down the year. Here is a collection of 4 poems for the end of the school year and a song that you can teach students to sing. You'll also find a link to more end of the year rhymes and keepsakes.

Are you wondering what was the most popular {or most clicked on} idea from the party was? Well… it was Resources for Leo Lionni Picture Books.

Thanks ladies. Your ideas are creative! You were all so awesome and you played first class by leaving comments for each other too {love that!} Feel free to grab my "I've been Highlighted" button since your tips and ideas were definitely worth the shout out.

You can view all of the ideas linked up HERE. If you have a blog, be sure to check in on Thursday when you can link up your favorite or most recent kindergarten teaching tip like a project you made, a lesson idea or a fun tip.

If you like what I do here on KindergartenWorks, then be sure to subscribe today. I look forward to sharing ideas with you weekly.
- Leslie

*Free downloadable Thank You Gift included when you subscribe via email or RSS.

investigating painted lady butterflies in kindergarten

Here is the next step in investigating painted lady butterflies in kindergarten. I previously laid out how I like to order the larva and my tips for making the process go smoothly. Since it's one of my favorite things I do in a year, I want to be sure to do it justice in this three part series.

This is science that we do in place of our science curriculum since I find ours rather lifeless. This is the opposite and really draws the best out of my readers and writers. Here are my tips on leading some investigations after your larva have arrived.

> Read about ordering and setting this unit up

Investigating Painted Lady Butterflies in Kindergarten

Add caption

Investigating Painted Lady Larva

Investigating the larva or caterpillars of a Painted Lady butterfly really only takes two things in my opinion. That would be time and magnifying glasses. It works out great to show them when they first arrive and hold up the travel container for students to observe from afar their general size.

Then, I think if you can plan at least 2 times for students to manipulate {gently} and observe up close is right about perfect. Two times is about all we seem to manage between the time they grow big enough and before they need to be transferred. Students generally do two writing pieces since they are much more apt to notice body features the second time.

I also will model a guided drawing the second time and we will place the larva under our new document camera. We use the freeze button so students can come up and point out specific features. The guided drawing gives them the proper tools to show what they see and it helps get rid of smiling Very Hungry Caterpillar-types of drawings. {oh yes, we get those}

Do I tell them what kind they are yet? Nope! We keep track of specific body features and they keep getting referred to our large section of butterfly books for reference to use what they've learned.

Transferring the Painted Lady Larva

On the second observation, our intention is to also give them food and create an individual habitat for each larva. We have little condiment cups which we purchase with our larva. I model spreading food around the wall of the cup (also ordered) with a window so we can still watch the metamorphosis.

My kinders love creating their own habitats and they also label a card with their name and they name their larva. They keep them along a shelf (out of the sun) as we watch them grow.

Transferring the Pupas (Chrysalises)

We are pretty convinced by this point (and normally confirm it with any books we have) that they indeed will be Painted Lady butterflies and begin transferring them to their new habitat. We use a butterfly net and sticks to create a home for them.

We usually label the sticks or chrysalises in some way this so that we can track who emerges when.

Comparing the Larva and Pupas

This is usually a separate lesson after we've transferred our chrysalises and had a chance to look at them very closely! We also try to determine what kind they are by comparing these caterpillar photos and entering in the information we determine is most important when observing our caterpillars. Check out this website as a great activity to do with your kinders on a large screen.

To generate a good comparison set for use with Painted Ladies - use:

Color: black

Body: spotted

Hair: sparse

Distinct Features: spines

It generates only 5 matches to compare and Painted Ladies are the last entry)

Once we do that, I pull up some google images of a painted lady chrysalis to compare it with our investigations. We do that to see if our narrowed down guess holds water when we compare the next portion of the life cycle. If you class has themselves convinced they are another kind, you can always use this to your advantage to prove/disprove by comparing.

A must see video to watch at least twice and generate some great discussion. We always discuss: the chrysalis' transparency, silk attachment to a branch, antenna imprint in visible in the chrysalis and where the head is located on the caterpillar when they are about to form the chrysalis.

More on Butterflies:

Studying Butterflies for Kids
Wrapping It Up - Releasing Butterflies