Apples, Apples, Apples

No matter what we are learning about, we are always pretty busy in kindergarten land.   This past week is no different.  I was not at work Monday, but the kids had a BLAST with their sub (who is a regular at our school and fabulous) and everybody's favorite cat, PETE!  I used Donna Conway's Pete the Cat Emergency Sub Plans Freebie.  We have been busy learning how to read and spell color words, and spending a day with Pete, was perfect.  On a little side note, during centers this week, the kids get to listen to Pete The Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons and they are SO excited.

To prepare for our field trip coming up this Friday to the apple orchard, we have been reading books about apples, completing a tree map and stamping apple prints on bags so they are set for us to put the apples we pick in.  I love kindergarten art.  Each bag is unique, some are very organized and some are, let's call them abstract.  We will continue our apple theme next week, as we did not have time to get to everything this week.  Part of the challenge is having some kids who are half day students and some who are full day.

Apple Stamping

Apple Stamping

Apple Stamping

Apple Stamping

Tree Map.  Students had a paper version and we did this together.

During centers in the afternoon, we have eight centers; seven of which are apple themed.  I created these centers last year, by perusing the internet and recreating the ideas I liked.  I forgot to take pictures while the kiddos were working today, so I will have to share them later.

Next week will include our apple investigation, taste test and graphing, an art project that shows an apple tree through each season, a science experiment on keeping apples from turning brown and APPLICIOUS DAY!  Applicious Day is a fun, apple filled morning.  Each of the kinder teachers hosts a different activity in her room and the kids rotate to each throughout the morning.  This awesome day came about last year when the Monday before our Thursday field trip, we found out the small orchard we go to was cleaned out the week before.


Off to do a few things then bed for this teacher... have to be ready for our first field trip tomorrow!