The First Week of Kindergarten

1. The First Week of Kindergarten By: Virginia Hoeper, Joanne Lanier, Amy Blackburn

2. Monday • Have students discuss the definition science. • Introduce the idea that scientists rely on the five senses by reading “What is a Scientist?” by Barbara Lemen • Have students identify the five senses. • Day 1 focuses on sight: • Teacher demos classification by physical appearance. • Groups students based upon: • Height • Clothing coloring • With a partner student practice grouping buttons based on observable physical characteristics.

3. Tuesday • Day 2 focuses on taste: • At their seats students will taste 2 types of baby food: sweet and sour. • After each tasting the students will be instructed to draw a picture of what they just tasted. i.e. banana, etc. • Students will regroup on the carpet and discuss their drawings making comparisons about sweet and sour items.

4. Wednesday • Touch: • Feel boxes: At stations students stick their hands in boxes and feel different textures and materials. The item in each box is also present outside of the box and the students are to try to match what they feel with what they see.

5. Thursday • Hear: • Have students close their eyes for one minute and listen to the sounds that they hear. Discuss the sounds as a class. • This activity will help students to make connections between what they hear and the objects that cause these sounds.

6. Friday • Smell: • Take students outside to the outdoor classroom and have them investigate the nature around them. • Smell: • Air • Grass • Flowers • Dirt • Trees • Pavement • Rocks