Kindergarten and STEAM

I struggled with these little 5 and 6 year olds.  As a teacher, you are looking at a spectrum of backgrounds (preschool, home day care, Sunday school only, no school experience, etc...).  Some students are academically ready for kindergarten (letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc...) and others no very little school ready skills.

How do you keep everyone engaged?  That is a great question and challenge.  I only have to work with them 50 minutes 1 time per week.  I am not cut out to be a Kindergarten teacher.

I have finally developed a few options that work well...centers!  MOVEMENT is the key.

This year, I got brave and tried some new lessons in new places.  Taking 15-20 kindergarteners outside TERRIFIED me.  I can barely keep track of my crew of 6 in public places like parks, stores, etc...  Taking an entire class outside was scary.

The first week, I did tin foil boats as "engineers".  I have made them for a first STEAM lesson most years.  The first year was in a pool in the STEAM room on carpet and/or courtyard.  Year 2 and 3, I used a bucket in the STEAM room which wasn't big enough.  This year, I borrowed the life skill teacher's small kiddie pool.  However, we moved to the butterfly garden by the school garden.  It is close to the hose connection, has great teaching benches, and no one hears the joyful noise made.

It was a total success.  I use the pre-cut sheets of aluminum foil from GFS (Gordon Food Service).  The box is industrial size.  I think the pieces are bit thin and flimsy, but they are ALL the same size with no extra work!

I did not lose any children, they learned how to try something new, and we got to enjoy the school garden. 

NOW I was hooked on outdoor teaching...but week 2 is usually read "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" then do STEAM centers in the STEAM room.  So I went with the normal since I was not pre-planned for another outdoor lesson.  Some of our centers week 1 were the Lake Shore Learning "Goldilocks and 3 Bears" kit (from my Donor's Choose grant), gear toy, Keva Planks, writing names on dry erase boards, and big floor puzzles. 

Links to products:
Lake Shore Learning Kit



Gears



Keva Planks


Week 3 was time for a new and fun outside lesson.  We did BUBBLE WANDS out of pipe cleaners while talking about shapes!  Make a circle bubble wand - get a circle (sphere shaped bubble).  What happens when we make a triangle, square, heart shaped wands?  You have to try it to find out.   

A few classes planted/weeded the garden.  We planted lettuce, radishes, and spinach.  They desperately need more water but rain is limited.  The lettuce appears to be growing so far and maybe 1 radish plant?!?!?

Since then we did more stations with some groups.  We are started a shape/pattern block study...look for more information soon!

Farm to table

What do you do with 4 HUGE Hubbard squash in the school garden?  What do you do with two mystery pumpkins or Kabocha squashes?

This is one we picked and started with!

You take a big risk and teach outside the box.

Here is how it went down:

Over the summer, one of our substitute teachers who is avid gardener suggested making squash or pumpkin gnocchi with the students.  I actually prayed that the squash would spontaneously disappear or not be harvestable.  True story...those beasts SCARED this amateur gardener.  I really did not think that even the new food service department wanted them.

So on Monday, I put on my "Big Girl Pants" and we (Bethany and I) picked two of the squash.  One of each type.  Bethany (the physical education teacher) took home the mystery item which we are calling Kabocha Squash to roast on Monday night, but her oven broke so we roasted at school on Tuesday.  Tuesday night, I roasted a big Hubbard squash.   She pureed hers after roasting while I just lumped my in a bowl.

Our mystery item

Cut open Kabocha squash

Before roasting the Hubbard squash

All cooked up and smells divine

You are supposed to tell it is roasted when the back droops

On Wednesday, Bethany and I co-taught a lesson on FARM to TABLE.  Students were able to help mix squash and flour together to make edible "playdough".  My recipe was off because the kobocha squash turned out like applesauce and the other was more like fork soft baked potatoes.  Two very different consistencies.  A parent helper, Annette, and I mixed the dough.  It took extra flour,  but came together. Students rolled out dough "logs".  Next, they cut those in pieces.
Then Mrs. May assisted in cooking.  Finally, the students tasted the gnocchi.  At this point, Mrs. Pinzok and I switched classes.  My first group went off for some exercise and hand washing with Mrs. Pinzok while Annette and I made the recipe with the second group of students.

The best part was that 90% of the students tried and LOVED the pasta!  The Kabocha squash that we used was a lighter yellow so it looked like regular noodles in the end NOT squash noodles.

On Friday, we wrapped up our squash gnocchi unit with a follow up from our local news station!

Here is the video clip - Farm to Table News

Now we are figure out how to spread our success and 16 cups of left over Hubbard squash to 2nd and 3rd grade next week!

The question is more gnocchi or a new recipe???  Time will tell!

Here was our inspiration recipe - gnocchi link - search Spoon University Pumpkin Gnocchi

Kabocha squash information