Ocean Caves!

For the next three days we will still be learning about ocean scape.  

Today we learned about ocean caves and crevices!

I started our circle time by introducing the kids to our new hands-on number eight!  We passed the number around the circle and the kids traced it with their finger...

 ...then they clapped eight times...

 ...and pointed to the number 8 on our number line.

 Next, I set out numbered shells on the floor in the center of our circle.  We sang, 

"(Name) swam into the cave,

into the cave, into the cave.

(Name) swam into the cave,

and found the number 3.

(Sung to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb.")

I asked the child who I named to find the number that I called out each time we sang the song...

 I asked the kids how they wanted to build a cave with a sheet, and they had the idea to drape it over our climbing structure.  We shared what we thought would be fun and scary about exploring an underwater cave.

 We put seashells that Mother Goose Time supplied in our underwater cave.  I gave the kids a flashlight and they took turns going into the cave and bringing out 8 seashells.

 They placed the 8 seashells on our new number 8 counting card.  This was helpful for us to use while counting, because some of the kids were not able to carry out 8 shells, and the card helped them to identify how many more shells they needed.

 For our next activity, we discussed what we would like to find hidden in the ocean.  I gave each of the kids a new journal for the month of April.  They were asked to draw an ocean scene on the cover of their journal.  I told the kids that they could look through our ocean books in our library if they were having trouble thinking of something they wanted to draw...

 For our next activity, we discussed how we feel when we are in a crowded place.  I taped a large triangle on the floor (the shape we are going to learn about this month).  I explained that when we are near others, we must respect each others space and try not to hit or bump into anyone.  (We are learning about the word "respectful" this month.)   I played the music from our Mother Goose Ocean Commotion CD and invited one child to dance inside the triangle.  Then I paused the music and that child invited another friend to join in.  We continued adding friends until everyone was dancing together in the triangle.  We showed we are respectful by showing that we felt each person around us and made them feel important.

 After we were through dancing each child was given a new friendship bracelet that said, "I am respectful" on it!  This activity continued throughout the day because one child brought the new Kids Bop 28 CD today, and the kids danced their heart out nearly all day long! :)

 We were also excited to see the words "I & am" on our friendship bracelets!  Two words that we are learning about this month!

What do you think lives in an underwater cave?  I explained that underwater caves are home to various animals including eels, sharks, lobsters, scallops, and many types of fish.  I bought large ocean animals and took them out for a block building activity...

 I encouraged the kids to build an ocean floor with blocks and then knock it over with a beanbag that we pretended were crashing waves.  We looked carefully at the wreckage and searched for a cave or crevice that may have been formed.  The kids did this once, but then they were more interested in building underwater caves on their own...

The kids worked on the letter O page in their literacy workbooks...

 They also paired up with one friend and worked on an addition activity in their math workbooks...

 I thought this was cute...J formed a cave in his salad at lunch time!

 Our books for the day...

 Moonlight Ocean was recommended by Mother Goose Time.  This is one cool book!  Each page has a paper flashlight that the reader moves around to search for hidden sea animals!