A day in the life

We are fortunate to have a Kindergarten play area outside of our classroom.  In the morning when the students arrive they put their backpacks in their lockers and head outside for some physical activity time.  We have transformed our play area into an outside classroom that incorporates fitness with learning concepts.  The students play instruments and participate in create movement.  They investigate items from nature and build habitats, and have fun with a wide variety of equipment including bikes, wagons, and balls.

After a half and hour of outside activity our students enter the school and are greeted at the carpet for whole group, and small group instruction.  An exciting component of the morning circle is the message that contains the special person.  The message has many clues that the students read to solve the mystery of who is the special person of the day.  The students all stand and sit down as the clues are read until finally only one friend is left standing.  Our students cheer with excitement!  We teach concepts from across the curriculum during our morning circle.  We also have a small circle during this time for students who require specific instruction in a particular area. 



 

After morning circle students participate in learning activities.  Students begin their activity time by selecting which learning activity they would like to start with.  Once they have finished at one activity they move to another activity independently.  Activities that students may choose to participate in include: puppet theatre, drama centres, baking, playdough creations, listening centre, reading centres, smartboard activities, design and make creations at the art studio, re-tell a story at the felt board, investigate the sand and water tables, explore the science table, build at the building blocks or at several other building centres, or have a snack at the Suzuki Cafe.  Teachers during this time facilitate in the students learning by moving around the room and engaging in conversations with the kids and assisting them to sign up to share what they have made. 

This is how popular sharing is in our classroom. Here we have a group of students that organized sharing at the carpet during our large block of playtime. They had one student sitting on the chair guiding the group and children asking questions.

Sharing Time: Students return to the carpet to sing and dance.  This is our celebration time where the students join together to share what they have made and signed up to share with the class their accomplishments.  Once the student has shared their creations the audience participates by asking a question.  These creations are then put on display.