During the last week of February we spent each day learning about individuals who changed the world for the better. We began our discussion with Garrett Morgan, the inventor of the yellow light on a traffic signal. We played the game Red Light, Green Light in the classroom. We then played Red Light, Green Light and added a yellow light to warn the children that I would call out red next. As a class we talked about how helpful the yellow light was so that they could prepare for the red. The same is true for a traffic light.
The students then made their own traffic lights.
Next, we learned about Alma Woodsey Thomas, an African American artist who used bright colors and broad paint strokes to create colorful artwork. The children then created their own works of art similar to Thomas' using cut pieces of paper. The results are beautiful.
Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space was the next biography we read. We discovered that she is a doctor, scientist and dancer as well as an astronaut. When Mae was younger, she told her parents she wanted to see the earth from space. Although some adults didn't believe this was a possible dream for her, Mae did not give up and achieved her goal. We read the book Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed. The children then created their own rocket ships from old paper towel rolls.
Trombone Shorty is a musician who plays the trombone. He taught himself at a very young age and continues to play. We learned that Trombone Shorty grew up in New Orleans where he learned to play jazz. The students listened to some of Trombone Shorty's music. They also created their own music with instruments from the class and learned about brass, wind and string instruments. We also played a game called "Guess the Instrument". The students listened to an instrument sound and then had to guess which instrument made the sound.
Free Play
Students played with sensory materials and built structures with magnetic balls and sticks.
Letter Practice
