Kindergarten Gallery 2020 - Palouse Prairie Charter School

During the fall expedition, students built their literacy and scientific skills as they engaged in a study of weather. First, students learned all about the basics of weather. They became meteorologists and studied all types of weather. The anchor text Weather Words and What They Mean was read aloud multiple times to discover how temperature, wind, moisture, and air pressure creates weather. Students then deepened their understanding of perspective as they went on a tour around the world and discovered how climate and weather change as you move across the globe. Students contributed to a classroom map of all the places we visited, and wrote about what would be packed in a suitcase to visit each place. As a culminating task, students learned how to read weather predictions and designed temperature and weather cards to create a school weather calendar which provided information to other students on how to be prepared to play outside.

In this expedition, students become scientists and learned all about trees. Students learned what made something alive through studying trees and the living things that depend on them. They learned how living things grow by becoming experts in texts and using knowledge they gain though observation. To start, students listened closely to “What’s Alive” and researched nonliving things and living things. Then students focused on the needs of animals as living things and how they can meet those needs using trees.

Students formed research groups to become experts on the trees and plants surrounding our school. Which spiked their interest and curiosity for the trees and shrubs we encounter every day. After growing their love for trees, students learned how real, and fictional, people enjoy and appreciate trees. They learned how planting trees can help a community and explored places trees could be planted.

Distance learning provided an opportunity for students to observe and share with their Crew about the trees and plants near their home. Students observed and shared their noticings about lilacs, tulips, willows, indoor plants, vegetable starts and many other plants they cared about.

Why are trees important?
Roots of trees hold soil in place.
Trees give us oxygen as they make their food.
People make many things out of wood.
Paper comes from trees.
Tree sap is used to make gum, syrup, soap, and rubber.
Caterpillars, deer, elephants, giraffes, and koalas eat leaves from trees.
Porcupines eat the inner bark of trees.
Squirrels and chipmunks eat nuts from trees.
Bees gather pollen and nectar from tree flowers.
Birds eat seeds and fruits from trees.
Birds and squirrels nest and raise their young in trees.
Monkeys live in trees.
Tree frogs can spend their whole life in a tree.
Honeybees and many other insects nest in trees.
Deer find shelter in forests.
How can we help others appreciate trees?
Teach others about trees.
People can rest in the shade of trees.
People can climb trees.
People like to build treehouses.
People enjoy the beauty of trees.
People like to eat fruit from trees.
Trees give us fresh air.
Trees make the world beautiful.