Wonderscape AcademyKindergarten

September · Week 1 · Day 4 · School day 4

Day 4: Scientists Notice

Week 1 planDay 5 →

Play with your child: Think Like a Scientist

Today’s goals

  • Phonics: Letters A, B RF.K.1d, RF.K.3a, RF.K.2
  • Reading: listen to a story and answer questions RL.K.1, RL.K.3
  • Math: Matching, sorting and counting 1 to 3 K.MD.B.3, K.CC.B.4a
  • Science: What scientists do: look closely and ask questions NGSS practices 1 and 3

Materials

  • Ada Twist, Scientist (or similar)
  • A paper bag for the walk
  • Blocks in two sizes
  • Paper and crayons

Swaps in [brackets] use things most homes have.

The day, step by step

  1. 10 min Morning meeting

    1. Greeting: sing a hello song or choose a greeting (wave, high five, elbow bump).
    2. Calendar: "Today is ___. Yesterday was ___." Point to the date.
    3. Count the days of school: add one straw to the ones cup. Today is day 4.
    4. Weather: look outside together and mark the weather chart (sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy or snowy).
    5. Question of the day: "What would you like to learn about?" Everyone answers in a full sentence.

  2. 15 min Phonics and letters RF.K.1d, RF.K.3a, RF.K.2

    1. Quick review: show the B card. Name? Sound? (B, /b/.)
    2. Thumbs up if it starts with /b/: ball, pig, bus, rabbit, bear.
    3. Letter hunt: find B and b in names, book titles and food boxes.
    4. Build or write B and b: play dough, a salt tray or a finger on the table.
    5. Sort pictures into a A pile and a B pile: apple, moon, ant, sun, alligator.

  3. 15–20 min Read-aloud RL.K.1, RL.K.3

    Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty (or any picture book about a young scientist)

    1. Before: "Ada is a scientist. Let’s find out what scientists do."
    2. During: "What did Ada wonder about?"
    3. After: "What would YOU like to find out?" Write the questions on a list.

  4. 20–30 min Math K.MD.B.3, K.CC.B.4a

    1. Sort blocks into two groups: big and small.
    2. Count each group (up to 3).
    3. Ask: "Which group did we count first?" Count again to check.

    Math center: Nature sort: leaves, sticks and stones.

  5. 15–20 min Science NGSS practices 1 and 3

    1. Go on a 10-minute noticing walk with a bag.
    2. Collect three safe things (a leaf, a stick, a stone).
    3. Describe each one: color, size, rough or smooth. Scientists use words to share what they notice.

  6. 15 min Writing W.K.2, L.K.1a

    Draw one thing you found. Your child tells you one describing word and you write it.

    Drawings, scribbles, letter-like marks and invented spellings are all real writing at this age.

  7. 30 min Centers and play

    • Blocks: build our school
    • Play dough: roll the letter of the day
    • Book nook: look at books and find the front cover
    • Sorting tray: buttons, beads or toy cars

    Device time (5 to 10 minutes, together): Think Like a Scientist.

  8. 5 min Closing circle SL.K.1a

    Ask: "What did you notice today?" Each child shares one thing.

Make it easier: Describe with just one word (color).
Make it harder: Describe each object with two words, like "rough and brown".
Look for: Does your child use a describing word?

Half day? Do the morning meeting, phonics, read-aloud and math. Fold science or social studies into the read-aloud talk.