Kindergarten Kiosk

Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Dramatic Play

The Drama Center is a great way to build vocabulary and increase reading comprehension. This week we have finished our bear unit with the fable “The Three Bears!” (It is amazing how many students have never heard this story-- All the more reason to do it)

After reading two versions of the book and doing a compare and contrast activity, we made a story map. Using this map, we developed our story element wall using cooperative efforts! The children were very proud, especially the group that made Goldilocks. They made her so large because she was such a big problem in the story.

Next, we used the elements of the story to design the 3 Bear Cottage in our playhouse. It is finally put together. Tomorrow will be the first day of play in the center. I will add those pictures later.

The students will reconstruct the sequence of the story, retell the story, use the vocabulary in the story, and more as they learn in a child’s authentic way--play!

My playhouse changes into something new about every three weeks, the children love it! In fact, last year I received a great thank you from a student that had moved across the country following his kindergarten year. The letter was very touching as he listed the things he would never forget about kindergarten. Yes, you guessed it, the playhouse changing into new things was number 1 (He even listed them all).

There has been a trend to throw out the dramatic play in kindergarten. Please do not give in! The house is critical to a child’s development and a great place to practice academic, social, emotion, verbal, and cognitive skills.

Another Kindergarten teacher on my team (Hi Stephanie!) had the brilliant idea of having the children plant paperwhite narcissus to give to their parents as Christmas gifts. We planted the bulbs in gravel and water (super easy) a few weeks ago and now they're just about ready to burst into bloom. Everyone who has seen them has wanted to plant them as gifts for neighbors or coworkers; they are so beautiful.

My example is planted in a glass jar so that the children can see the roots growing, but the children's are planted in a red plastic cup with a poem glued onto it on green paper.

Here is the poem:

It’s winter time when all things sleep,
Except this little flower,
Like stars that shine at Christmas time,
To brighten every hour.

I want to be your little flower
And make you smile each day,
To brighten up your darkest nights
And chase the clouds away.

And here are more instructions on how to plant paperwhite narcissus (these instructions are for planting in soil--ours are in gravel which works great too!).