Happy Halloween (and we built a zoo!)

In Language Learning, we are focusing on hearing the sounds in a word (most are 3 letter words with a consonant vowel consonant CVC pattern) and then writing the alphabet letters that make that word.

I found this sweet Halloween tie in, where the students used the vowels to make three different words.  It was a good observation lesson as I could see (and hear) if the students knew the difference between the three short vowel sounds)

The students came dressed for the entire day in their costumes.  Princess Peach asked is the Paperbag Princess could be in a photo with her.

Here's the whole gang!

In the afternoon the students worked their way around the room and visited a number of stations, such as

Bat Toss

Alphabet Stamping

Counting the Characters

Putting Spiders onto the Webs

Ghost Bowling

and reading the recipes to make a Witch's Brew

On Friday afternoon, we had our final Building Things activity as Mrs. Wiebe, from Teacher's Pet

came to our classroom and helped us build a zoo!

Each student got to choose the animal that they wanted to put into an enclosure.

Each student had $20 (they kept track by crossing out the coins on their planning page) that they could use to buy items for their animal's enclosure.  They wanted to put up a fence, create a shelter, add food, water, a toy and even trees.

That's where our parent helpers came in.  The students had to go to the 'store' to choose the items that they wanted to build.  Really, they did not have any adult help in putting their enclosures together.  They were free to make decisions, plan, fail, and have to try again all on their own.

We had talked about fasteners earlier in the unit so they were well aware of what the different types were and which would do the job the best.

The best part was that each child had the creative freedom to make their animal's home the way they thought it should be.  No one told them they were wrong....because they weren't!

There was great pride in being able to make a tree,

or a fence,

or a bed,

or a toy

or some food....just the way they wanted to!