MFW Kindergarten - Dd is for Dinosaur

This week we studied:

Unit 8 of MFW

Printables pictured are from MFW  unless otherwise mentioned.

Theme:

Dinosaurs

Words to Remember:

Big and small, God made them all.

You can read about our curriculum choice and organization HERE.

We did the dinosaur unit back in the beginning of October.  I haven't blogged about our school time in so long, so I decided to try to get caught up in the next month or so.

I saw this idea on Creativity Takes Flight for a paper plate dino craft on Pinterest.  We changed it up a bit and made our own.  This was one of the highlights of the dinosaur unit for JZ (5).

I cut a paper plate in half and cut the rounded part from half for the head and tail.  I cut four rectangles for the legs.  The other half of the paper plate was the main body.  JZ painted the body parts green, then we left the painted pieces out to dry while doing other work.  Once dry he assembled all the pieces.

Supplies:

• foam sticker triangles
• school glue
• googly eyes
• paper plate
• green paint
• foam brush

From top left to right:

1. 100 chart 
2. Blend ladder page 
3. Number writing practice (1+1+1=1) 
4. Dinosaur counting (Our Little Monkeys) 
5. Vowel writing practice (Confessions of a Homeschooler) 

Each unit in My Father's World we make a badge the shape of the theme for the unit.  We like to decorate our badges and give each one character.  JZ added foam sticker triangles to the dinosaur like spikes.  After JZ makes the badge I write the words to remember on it.  We keep each badge on our calendar and recite the words to remember from all the lessons.

He was so proud of his badge and craft.

We love the series, How Do Dinosaurs?  JZ loved looking at the drawings of the different types of dinosaurs inside the cover of the book.  He tried drawing a few of his own.

Our favorites available on Amazon:

We made dinosaurs out of playdough.  Working with playdough and clay is a wonderful way to work on fine motor skills.  JZ and I talked and laughed together as he created.

Using the pom pom magnets I made I made patterns on our DIY magnetic board.  JZ continued each pattern across the board.

We continue to love All About Reading!  In the beginning we did 2-3 lessons per week.  I am a firm believer in letting young learners set the pace when it comes to reading.  When we started My Father's World JZ could already read everything taught in the program, so I knew he needed a little more.  The beginning of All About Reading moved very fast.  I was happy that it moved at a better pace, but I also wanted to make sure it didn't move too fast for him.  As we got further into the lessons I started doing one a day with him.  Something clicked, and he is sounding out words right and left and easily blending consonants.  His reading is becoming very fluid.

I am impressed with the All About Reading Program.  Lessons are interesting and multisensory.  This particular unit one of the lessons included a word flipper.  JZ is a huge fan of the word flippers, because sometimes he gets to read nonsense words.  Nonsense words are so much fun!

On of my favorite parts about the My Father's World Dinosaur unit was reading What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?  When we first received our curriculum box last spring JZ and J-Bug asked me to read it to them immediately, and it has quickly become a favorite.

More dinosaur books available on Amazon:

 

More kindergarten ideas:

• Ss Sun
• Mm Moon
• Ll Leaf
• Aa Apple
• Nn Nest
• Tt Turtle
• Uu Us

For more ideas for hands on learning follow me on Pinterest.