Hello Hummingbird families!
We have had a busy week transitioning out of our life cycle theme and entering into a study of the solar system. We have been reading books and making puzzles that focus on the planets. We have also been discussing the big bang theory! Yesterday we hung up a model of the solar system. The Hummingbirds have loved exploring and touching the planets.
Another new and exciting development is with our classroom caterpillars! They have formed cocoons this week and will most likely turn into butterflies this weekend! Next week we will take a walk to the park and let them fly free.
On behalf of all of the Hummingbird teachers I would like to extend a BIG Thank you for the lovely treats and kind words during teacher appreciation week!
We hope you all liked your Mother's Day gifts, the Hummingbirds worked hard on them all week. Have a lovely Mothers Day and a wonderful weekend.
** If you are interested in the way we introduced the big bang theory or reinforcing the topic at all, here is my big bang theory lesson plan:
The Big Bang Theory
You will need:
One black boaster
board
Glue bottle
Small clear
plastic bag
Small pieces of
tissue paper
10 pom poms to
represent the sun and planets
1. The sun= giant
yellow
2. Mercury= small black
3. Venus= medium
bright pink
4. Earth= medium
blue
5. Mars= small red
6. Jupiter= large
orange
7. Saturn= large
yellow
8. Uranus= large
green
9. Neptune= large
purple
10. Pluto= Tiny
light blue
Discussion:
Show the children
a picture of the solar system
Ask: What is this?
What do you know about the solar system?
Preparation:
Place small pieces
of tissue paper and pom poms inside bag
Place poster board
on the floor in front of you.
Turn off the
lights
Begin by blowing
into bag (gets children’s attention)
Lesson:
Say, “I am going
to tell you a story of something that scientist say happened a long, long, long
time ago before you were born. Before your parents were born, before their
parents were born, before I was born, before any people or animals, before there
were any cars, buildings, trees and even before any dinosaurs.”
Say, “There was
something called matter.”
Say, “Matter is
anything that takes up space.”
(Point out some
things in the environment that are matter. Point out that they are matter and they
are taking up space in the classroom.)
Blow into bag
once, twice or more to Inflate bag.
“With all that
matter, there was lots of energy.”
Say, “Energy makes
heat.”
Rub your hands
together and have the children rub their hands together then feel your hands on
your checks. Have the children do the same.
Say, “Energy makes heat.”
Begin twisting the
opening of the bag.
Increase the pace
as you say,
Say, “And there
was energy! And heat! ”
“Energy! And heat! Energy! And heat!”
“With all that energy and heat, there
was a big (hit the bag to pop it.) Explosion! ”
Say, “Scientist
call this explosion, The Big Bang Theory.”
Pick up the sun (big
yellow pom pom)
At this point
another teacher can turn the lights back on.
Say, “ The sun is
a hot star. It gives us light. It’s full of energy.”
Pick up the
planets, one at a time.
Glue them to the
poster board in planetary order.
When you pick up
each planet say,
“Mercury is hot
too.”
“Venus is the
brightest planet.”
“Earth is home to
me and you.”
“Mars is the red
one.”
“Jupiter is most
wide.”
“Saturn has icy
rings.”
“And Uranus spins
on its side.”
“Neptune is really
windy.”
“And Pluto is
really small. It’s a dwarf planet.
Optional: Show a
picture of the solar system
Then invite
individual children to glue on matter (tissue paper) to the poster board.
Vocabulary
introduced:
Matter: Anything
that takes up space
Energy:
Friction:
Children can make
their own big bang collage.
Pictures from the week :)
Teacher appreciation week goodies!! Thank you all so much for the generous gifts! We absolutely love teaching and taking care of the Hummingbirds!
We had a little Frozen party one day after nap. The Hummingbirds read Frozen books and sang along to the soundtrack.
Bikes in the backyard!
Our Solar system puzzle
These are the cutest kids in the world!!! (Jake - Idris's pop)
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