Birds and a pigeon

Since the school year started, the students have been learning about birds and participating in a theme unit that covers this theme in multiple areas.  In the Science Center, the students have the chance to read several books about birds, look at pictures of birds native to Ohio, and explore with decorative nests, birds and eggs in the exploratory table.  The Art Center had bird pictures and we have completed a tissue paper bird craft project that was displayed at the county fair last week.  (They are now hanging in the classroom!)  We have also read several books about birds.  Through the rest of September, we will continue to learn about birds and more fun bird themed projects will be coming home!

This week we continued with the bird theme.  It was Pigeon Week and we read the story "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" by Mo Willems.

In the story, Pigeon begs the students to let him drive the bus.  He tries EVERYTHING he can think of to convince the children that he should drive the bus.  This is a great book to get children involved in the reading process by participating in the story and telling the pigeon "NO!!!"  We talked about feelings and how the pictures show how Pigeon was feeling and what the picture was telling us at that time.  We also read other Pigeon books. "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late", "The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog", The Pigeon Wants a Puppy", and "The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!?!?" Our projects included painting and coloring a fleet of buses to display in the hallway, coloring a picture of Pigeon (Friday Class), Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the.... class books for each class, and a completing a chart where the students had to say yes or no if they would let the pigeon drive the bus and why. (Friday Class)

Next week, we start learning about the alphabet.  We will read the story "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin .Jr and John Archambault and create a coconut tree with each letter of the student's names.