Leaf Sorting

Yesterday we searched for different leaves and then we came back to the classroom to sort them.  First, they sorted them by color and then by shape.  They decided that sorting leaves by their shape proved to be more difficult.  It was a fun time and a great way to integrate science and math skills together.

Owls Drawings

I had the kids do a step-by-step drawing
lesson and I thought that they did a great job!

Christmas in November?

A huge thank you goes out to our local Fairway Seeds for supporting the kindergarten birding program!  They have donated two brand new pair of "real" binoculars and six new books!  Wow!  Another thank you goes to Vortex for donating a pair of brand new binoculars to the classroom along with the ones that Fairway Seeds donated.  Now we have 10 pair of binoculars for outings.  How awesome!  THANK YOU!

Here are the happy kindergartners!

T-rex visited our classroom today!

To Teacher's House For a Birthday Cookie!

Here they are checking out
my animal collection.

Birthday cookies all around!

We stopped along the way to play in the leaves.

Kids love to play in the leaves!

Owl Pellets

To wrap up my owl unit, the little scientist investigated owl pellets today.  Its true...owl pellets look gross, but they are interesting.  When owls and some other birds eat a small animal whole, they are unable to digest the bones and fur, so they cough it up.  When scientist look through the bones they are able to see what animals the owl had eaten.  These were pellets from a Short-eared Owl out west.  They had been kept in the freezer for months.  

It was so quiet in the room and the kindergartners were so intent in finding bones in their pellet.  They compared the bones to the ones on the pellet chart.  Most of the bones were of rodents.  Of course they were not happy with me when I said that they had to throw the bones away, so I let them glue the bones to their paper.  That is why you have received a paper full of bones and skulls!  Ha-ha!    

There was a lot of discussion and comparison going on.  
I've never seen the kindergartners so studious!

I offered to help some of them and they did 
not want any help.  They enjoyed this!

The kids thought that the long, pointy teeth 
were really cool!

He asked me several times, "Are you sure this isn't poop?  

Are you really sure?" 

Raptor Show

The Black Hills' Raptor Show did a presentation at our school.  He brought four raptors with him.  This was a wonderful presentation for our school since many of the children have some background knowledge in birds.  I had taught the Chickadee Bird Club about raptors prior to the presentation, so they were very excited!  Each family received a National Geographic book for kids about raptors.  There were really nice door prizes awarded too!  I thought it was really neat to see live birds close up!

John is holding a small falcon called the American Kestrel.
It is one of my favorite birds and it is in our area.  Look for
these small raptors on high line wires. This bird, Hendrix,
had imprinted on people when it was a fledgling and
is unable to care for itself.

This Eastern Screech-Owl is a small owl similar to 

those in our area.  I often get one in my nest box

 in my yard in the fall and winter.  They
whinny like a horse rather than hoot like the
Great Horned Owl.

It was a treat to see this Ferruginous Hawk
up close.  I usually see them by Pierre
or out west. 

Sadly, this bird was hit by a car and has
serious brain damage making it unable to
hunt for its own food.

Its rufous coloring and long, yellow gape are
how we distinguish it from other hawks.

This is a Short-eared Owl.  You may see them at
dusk on a fence post  Notice its facial discs
around its face that are used to funnel
sound waves to its ears.

This happy kindergartner won a plush 
Great Horned Owl as a door prize!