This morning during Jesus time we sang "He is Alive!"  We reviewed the story and shouted and clapped our hands because our God is not dead; He is alive!  He rose again to save us from our sins!  

After Jesus time we were very excited to see new kinds of birds on our feeder!  We saw a red winged blackbird! 

During free choice time the friends independently added tally marks to the bird sighting charts. 

We had to add more sections for new types of birds we observed!  

Double checking to see the birds we observed. 

The friends are using the literacy skills we have learned too! 

"I think this is a sparrow because it starts with S." 

Friend 1: "I am going to write all the birds we see. I will put a check mark by house finch" 

Friend 2: "Okay when you write house finch, you need an H. Do you see it there?" 

Look how the friends are using the skills we have learned!  This increases their confidence and fosters the love of learning! 

I don't know who was more excited to see our state bird (the cardinal) on our bird feeder - me or the friends! 

 Did you know that the classroom environment is actually a third teacher in the classroom? (The first is the teacher, the second is the curriculum, and the third is the environment. :) )  We intentionally create an environment for the friends to learn through play.  This friend sat and counted the numbers over and over.  This increases counting skills, one to one correspondence, and number recognition. 

Making birds at the creation station

One of the friends identified the birds in the pictures posted around the classroom and wanted to make labels for them! 

Showing other friends the labels 

More friends joined in the label making! 

Building a domino course in the blocks :) 

We love reading! 

(Notice how these friends are sharing their space?  They are not only learning valuable pre-reading skills, they are also learning important social skills.)

Making bird houses 

Gym time! 

Back in the classroom we had our Easter party!  Thank you to all of the parent volunteers and donations that made this party possible!!  

Reading a story with Mr. Teague

Reviewing the Easter story and tossing empty eggs (the best kind!  Ask your children why :) ) in the cross shape.

A yummy snack! 

Planting seeds with the cross 

Second free choice 

"I think I saw an eagle!  I know because it was a big bird and eagles are big!" 

Tallying the birds we see 

I see our state bird and a canary!" 

During small group time we worked with a partner to practice identifying letters in a book.  Once the first friend found the letter,  the partner wrote the letter in birdseed.  

Learning from one another is a great way that children learn. Today, one friend strengthened his confidence in later writing by teaching another friend how to write a letter.  Both friends benefit in this situation!  

With Mrs. Helmkamp, the friends used good junk to make their own birds. 

With Mrs. Prahlow, the friends used good junk (we added a few new things today!) to make a bird house.