This week we began to delve into the world of dinosaurs. Because it was my window for progress report assessments, I didn't get to do all of my cool dinosaur lessons! It's always something, right? So this week, for sure, dinosaurs will be on!
In addition to some tests, some amazing learning on letters and sounds, sight words and math concepts, we discussed the world of the dinosaur. Specifically we did:
1. The dinosaur habitat
2. Carnivores and Herbivores
3. The Volcano!
Everyone loves a good baking soda volcano and ours was something to behold!
We began with a paper cup taped to a paper plate. I covered the whole thing in foil and punched a hole for the top of the cup. We had our volcano.
I was terrified for my carpet, so I used a tray inside a box. Haha!
Inside the volcano I had put red food coloring (the real deal from Smart & Final) and a half a cup of vinegar.
The picture is super awful because I was in the moment, excited, and we are lucky I got a picture at all. Haha! I put 3/4 cup of baking soda in the volcano and let the magic happen.
We also discussed how a baking soda volcano differs from a real volcano. That they are not really alike at all, but baking soda volcanoes are super fun.
We did watch how a real volcano erupts, including a lava floe in Hawaii.
We learned that dinosaurs had to live in a very harsh environment and it was a little scary. To make it less scary we made a volcano Fun Food. This was an ice cream cone (upside down) with the top cut off. We had licorice coming out of the top like lava. And gummy dinos to have a little fun with.
We learned about habitat and what a dinosaur needed to survive.
1. Food
2. Water
3. Shelter
4. Air
We also discussed our thoughts on why dinos are not alive today. Perhaps it was a change in their habitat. Discussing issues in which Kinders can give logical arguments is excellent practice for them as they grow in their education. We need to be able to prove our opinions and explaining why we thought dinosaurs went extinct, using our prior knowledge, is exactly what makes learning so exciting!
Our team tables worked on dino habitats.
We put in the land.
We added water (blue crystals that look like water) and plants.
We added the dinosaurs; one plant eater and one meat eater. (It's the circle of life...)
They are not only educational, but super adorable.
We also did dino number order this week. While it may seem simple, this activity is challenging for little ones. They have several steps in this process:
1. Identifying the numbers
2. Cutting
3. Beginning to glue on the left side of the paper.
4. Paying attention to order.
This week we will delve a lot more into dinos and make some exciting projects!
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