Counting Trees...

On Monday our Mother Goose lesson was all about counting things/animals in the trees.

We searched for things we could count in the trees.  We were able to count the leaves on the poster, but we discussed how it would be too difficult to count real leaves on an adult tree because there would be too many.

We sang, "One Apple, Two Apples..." from our Nature Detectives CD.

Next I asked the kids to make paper wads from scrap paper.  The kids took turns freely tossing the paper wads into a bucket.  We brainstormed what the paper wads could be if we imagined they were fallen from a tree (ex: acorns, fruit, leaves, nest, etc.)

Next I asked the kids how many acorns they think could grow on a tree.  I taught them that in a good year, an oak tree can produce 70,000 to 150,000 acorns!!!  Mother Goose provided us with this "Adding Tree."  A few volunteers demonstrated how to complete math problems with the dice, acorns, and number strip. (The number strip weaved through slits in the tree trunk to reveal the answer to each math problem.)

After a few demonstrations, I left the "Adding Tree" out for everyone to play with during free-play time.

Next, Mother Goose provided each child with a new "My Nature Collection" book.  Over the next couple of days we will search our outdoor area for items named in the journal.  We may even glue pieces of nature to the book!

The kids drew a picture of themselves doing something they love in nature (swimming, fishing, gardening, etc.)  Then they wrote their name on the line.

Our first page was labeled with the word "leaf."  Unfortunately, Monday was a VERY rainy day for us, so we were not able to get outside and explore the leaves.  That was okay with us though, because most of the kids have a lot of experience with leaves already.  They wrote a sentence about leaves and then drew a picture of some of their favorite leaves.

On Tuesday we will work on the page that is labeled with the word "bark."

"The leaf is yellow."

"Big, leaf, small, medium...I like leaves."

Next I showed the kids a real tree cookie!  They laughed so hard when I called this a cookie!  We looked closely at the wood and counted the rings.  I explained that some people can tell the age of certain trees by finding out how wide the tree trunk is.  Another way is to count the rings inside of the tree trunk.

I asked the kids to cut out a large paper circle for their own tree cookie.  Then they drew the same amount of rings as they are old.

We used our tree cookies to follow 2-step directions. For example:

- Counting each ring then jump over the tree cookie.

- Sit on the tree cookie then count to 10.

- Walk in a circle around the tree cookie then count each ring.

- Place one knee on the tree cookie and then spread your arms out wide.

Next, the kids worked on a shape counting activity from their math workbook...

They also worked on ending sounds in their literacy workbook...

This was our book for the day...

This isn't the greatest picture, but I wanted to add that the kids listened to the song "Stomp the Beat" on our Nature Detectives CD.  I encouraged the kids to count the amount of beats in each rhythm section by clapping to the beat.  (Everyone is participating here, but I couldn't fit everyone in the picture.)

FYI - Our caterpillar is turned into a chrysalis!  The kids are anxiously waiting for a butterfly to emerge!

We also received another batch of caterpillars.  Thankfully, this batch seems to be doing much better than the last!