Gravity, Natural Classroom and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This week we also continued to study transportation.  We have been taking a closer look at force and motion for all sources of transportation have a force, which creates the motion for it to move.  We began looking at the invisible force called gravity.  The students realized that gravity is the force that keeps things on the ground, is what pulls us back down when we jump, and much more.  

We watched a short clip of astronauts in space floating and saw how they eat and transport themselves around their space station.  

Showing the students that gravity pulls the ball to the 

ground or until another force stops it from moving.

We explored gravity by rolling a ball down a ramp.  At the end of the ramp was a tied string.  The objective was to roll the ball down the ramp once, and adjust the ramps height each after each roll.  The students were very encouraging towards each other.  The teacher next door even commented that our students must have been having a great time because of all or their cheering and excitement!

Blake noticed that he needed to lower the ramp almost to where it touched the ground in order for the ball to come close to the end of the string - otherwise it went too far.

Atticus' ball ended very close to the end of the string.  It was just a little past!

To continue the students passion for making our classroom a "Nature Classroom" we continued working on our weaving.  We added tree slices and buckeyes to the ends of the twine.  We also added a piece of non-died brown paper behind the weaving.  The paper makes the weaving stand out.  

Here is a final photo.

The children have also been very interested in working with our natural wood slices in our "Engineering/Building" area.  This week they made Willy Wonka's chocolate factory in honor of the Roald Dahl's chapter book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."  The students have been encouraged to make a plan like engineers before building.  Here are a couple photos of their designs.

Also, we started working on our teepee.  Thank you to those who have sent in branches, yarn, and ribbon.  Here are a couple pictures of the beginning of a long process to create a teepee.  

Thanks again for stopping by our blog to see what we have been doing in our kindergarten classroom.  Next week we will be as busy as this past week.  We have a dentist coming in to share about dental health in honor of February Dental Health month.  We will be having our dedication ceremony for our Kandinsky work, as well as our "Friendship" party this Thursday.  Please send your child's Valentine's to school by Thursday in addition to their Valentine mailbox and/or mailbag.  Have a beautiful week.  Take care!

Mrs. Julie Atkin