Transitional Kindergarten News

Classroom Newsletter Update 🌍

This week, we began exploring our final biome in Africa—the desert! Students were excited to dive into this new environment and learn about how it is both beautiful and challenging.

We started by reading a variety of books about the desert, which helped us build background knowledge and spark curiosity. Through these stories and informational texts, students were introduced to the unique characteristics of desert habitats, including the hot, dry climate and limited water sources.

We also spent time looking closely at photographs of deserts in Africa. Students observed the sandy landscapes, wide open spaces, and different landforms such as dunes and rocky areas. These visuals helped bring our learning to life and gave students a better understanding of what deserts in Africa really look like.

In other exciting news—our butterflies have arrived! Students are carefully observing them each day, just like scientists, and noting the changes as they grow and transform. This has been a wonderful hands-on way to explore life cycles and practice close observation skills.

We also learned about two fascinating animals: geckos and ostriches. For our art projects, students used forks to paint textured ostriches, exploring a new and creative painting technique. They also created vibrant geckos by layering four different painting methods: bottle spraying, bubble painting, paint printing with Legos, and sponge painting. Next, students added leaves using paint sticks, and we will assemble the final pieces next week.

In our social studies work, we explored different types of homes found in Africa. Students learned that where people live influences the kind of house they build, often using natural resources available nearby. After discussing and observing examples, students were challenged to design and create their own homes inspired by African architecture.

We also had a special opportunity to meet with our 7th grade buddies to begin research on individual animals. Each student selected an animal to investigate, and with the support of their older buddies, they started gathering information and asking questions. This collaboration was a great way to build both research skills and meaningful connections across grade levels.

📅 Save the Date!
Wednesday, May 13 | 4:30–6:00 PM

Join us for our Grand Finale Open House!
Your child will give you a special tour of all their hard work, sharing what they’ve learned about African animals and biomes.

✨ Students are SO excited for this special event!
🍪 Light refreshments will be served

Thank you for your continued support—we are so proud of all the learning, creativity, and excitement happening in TK!