Gingerbread everywhere!

Gingerbread Man doubles facts!

These little gingerbread shapes seem to lend themselves to all sorts of fun. Here we are after making a book of math doubles and attaching it to the gingerbread cut-outs. Of all the doubles we have practiced, I would say 8+8 and 9+9 are the two that get mixed up at times... so we keep practicing. In fact we visited Mrs. Carney's class and taught them our doubles rap chant. They loved performing for another class!

Gingerbread girls and boys and elves made an appearance during centers too. Creating our own gingerbread kids on the starfall site, listening to Gingerbread Pirates at the listening center, sorting words under gingerbread headings at pocket chart, and searching for an elf in the dictionaries to discover and write a word, helped enliven centers!

Computer center!

Pocket chart sorts

Searching for the hidden elf!

 We had fun creating our own life sized elves this week to decorate our room. Exciting project!

Look up!

Cheerful little elves!

All in a row!

 In science we continued with
light and sound activities, discovering and discussing how we use light and/or sound to communicate information or send messages. Everyone had the chance to sort photos under those categories and tell how it could be used to communicate.

Nice sorting!

 Our completed paper 'video games' about how sound and light enhance the game were also proudly displayed!

Lots of creative ideas in these!

 Sorting was also an activity we engaged in during reading. Each child chose a gingerbread cut-out from a tin that had words or pictures on it from the various versions of the Gingerbread themed stories. They placed their cut out with its characters or events under Beginning, Middle, or End to determine when it happened in the story. It was good practice for story organization and for comparing texts. The bonus was if a solid red gingerbread was chosen, everyone had to hop up, run in place, and sing, "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"

sorting fun!

 Due to the freezing temps this week, we had several indoor recesses. Checkers, blocks, castles, cars, playing school, and building legos make recess a very fun time!

Playing school!

 

Blocks for animal homes

Checkers masters!

castles, legos, and more!

 Here a few holiday themed friends cheering up our day!

Excitement in the air!

Reading time is getting exciting as more kids are finding series and specific books they want to (and can!) read. We are also practicing a Reader's Theater Gingerbread play.

Caught up in a book!

Play practice!

In writing we are writing a fiction story complete with original characters and problem /solution. We will finish those next week. Love the creativity!

We wished Arthur a Happy Birthday this week - what a special day for him!

I don't know about you, but I am heading to the stores today for shopping and also for some gingerbread house supplies. We only need 4 more permission slips signed for our project on Wednesday. Anyone is welcome to drop by on your way to work (9:00), and a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or older sibling at TES is welcome to be the visitor! 

Here's hoping we all get a lot checked off on our To Do lists this weekend,
Mrs. Dagley