Kindergarten Science Activities

Kindergarten have been studying force and motion or pushes and pulls. The children first moved a friend on a swing by either pushing or pulling. They then used a model of a swing in the classroom to discover how different pushes changed the motion of the swing.

During PE, the class used force to beat Mr. Crabtree in a game of tug of war.

Next, the children learned about gravity as a force. Using different sized vehicles the class experimented how vehicles go down a ramp with the pull of gravity.

Finally, the class learned about wind as a force. With a straw, the children used the force of wind to create movement with a variety of objects. 


Kindergarten Celebrates Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, and Saklan Kindergarteners celebrated with a musical tribute to one of our most noteworthy female signers – jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald!

While her career included many popular songs such as “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Cheek to Cheek,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” it was Fitzgerald’s version of the nursery rhyme “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” that first got her noticed and launched her into stardom. Saklan Kindergarteners worked with Ms. Chaffey in music class to learn this classic song, and debuted their performance during Friday Flag.

Enjoy the kindergarten class singing “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” below!


Kindergarten Paper Sculptures

What can lines create? Paintings, shapes, sculpture, and more!

In Art class this week, Kindergarten students learned that when something is flat, like a painting or a drawing, it is known as “two-dimensional.” When something is not flat, like a sculpture, it is known as “three-dimensional.”

Students explored sculpture further, learning that there are many sculptures all around us, and they can be viewed from multiple angles. Using strips of paper and glue, they learned how to make shapes, spirals, arcs, and zig zag lines to create their own paper sculptures.

The possibilities are endless to this sculpture project, as students can continue to add onto their existing structures. Their imaginations grow each time they build off another line of paper and relate it to something they have seen or imagined.

Throughout the project, listening to each student describe their creation brought the whole class some laughter and joy!


100 Days Wiser

On Wednesday, the Saklan students and faculty celebrated the 100th day of the school year! And what a year it has been.

In the Kindergarten classroom, 100 days of learning has more meaning than ever this year. After initially starting the year with online learning, the time in class has given the students the gift of working and learning together. Counting to Day 100 is also an important part of the Kindergarten math curriculum, as it incorporates number writing, counting by 10s, and place value.

To celebrate the 100-day milestone, the Kindergarteners matched numbered candy kisses to a number chart, built with 100 cups, sorted cereal into 10 groups of 10 before making cereal necklaces, created a picture of themselves at 100 years old, did 100 jumping jacks, and ate a piece of a “100” cake.

That’s a lot of celebrating 100! On to 101, 102, and more!


Polar Bear Experiments

Winter has brought a fun science unit about polar bears to the Kindergarten class. The students have watched videos learning that polar bears live in the arctic, hunt for seals, have a good sense of smell and really big feet! One of the favorite parts of the unit has been the experiments the kindergarteners conducted to further understand polar bears. First, the children made predictions to the question, “Does ice melt faster in saltwater or freshwater?” Then they observed ice in fresh and salt water and drew their observations at five minute intervals while the ice melted. The class learned that a polar bear can smell a seal below three feet of ice, so each student, with the help of a yard stick, tried to smell a Swedish Fish in an ice cube three feet below their nose. Next, the children experienced ice cold water with one hand covered in a bag of Crisco or blubber, and the other hand bare.

The students have drawn pictures of polar bears during in-class art projects and made a polar bear paw comparable in size to a real polar bear. 

If you have questions about polar bears, don’t hesitate to reach out to our new polar bear experts, the kindergarteners!



During January, Saklan students have been focusing on being hardworking. The eighth grade Family Group leaders created a video to explain what hardworking means and how it can help students reach their goals and overcome challenges.

After hearing suggestions from the eighth graders, each of Saklan’s first through seventh graders wrote down one goal, project or activity they want to work hard to accomplish or improve on. Check out the many areas in which our students are working hard!

#SaklanSocialEmotionalLearning #SaklanFamilyGroups

How Many Steps in a Mile?

The students in kindergarten thru eighth grade have been equipped with pedometers while exercising during P.E. lessons. The devices are simple and only measure “steps,” but are equipped with a reset button. P.E. classes have had fun experimenting with what types of activities generate the most movement or steps. Students have had the opportunity to see how dribbling a ball compares to swinging on the swings, and how walking a mile compares to skipping rope. Some of the third graders came to the conclusion that shaking the sensor generates a higher count than spinning it on a finger.  Overall, it appears that students focus on generating a count with their pedometers, and that feedback adds a little extra motivation to continue to exert effort while participating in physical education exercises.

Lucas in kindergarten asked Mr. Crabtree to take a picture of the pedometer he was using in P.E. and send it to his mom, as he was interested in one for home use as well.  For any other parents that have received requests for pedometers, here are the pedometers the students are using at school:


Collaboration Blocks

Have you heard about Saklan’s collaboration blocks? These large blue blocks have been a favorite recess activity since they were introduced at the beginning of December.

The blocks are manufactured by Imagination Playground, and are designed to allow for open-ended play, giving children the freedom to create and pursue their own play activities. These blocks have produced numerous creations, giving our students the opportunity to not only have fun, but to further develop their logic and mathematical skills, problem solve, use their imaginations, and develop inter and intrapersonal skills.

Working together with classmates to build with the collaboration blocks has provided Saklan’s students with many opportunities for creativity, fun and learning. Check out the pictures below to see some of the creations the students have built.

The collaboration blocks were made possible by gifts to Saklan’s Annual Giving Fund. Saklan relies on the generous support of the community to provide the many extras, like the collaboration blocks, that make Saklan such a vibrant place for children to learn and develop. Thank you to all our generous AGF donors.

#SaklanCreative #MadePossibleByAGFGifts

And the Winner Is…

After hearing the story I Voted, by Mark Shulman, and learning about the U.S. presidential election from Scholastic’s Let’s Find Out magazine, the Kindergarten students took part in their own election. With a voting booth, a ballot, a ballot box, and an  “I Voted” sticker, the children decided which animal the president should have in the White House, a dog or a cat. With an overwhelming majority, the children voted for a cat! There were a few tears of disappointment, but overall the Kindergarteners were excited to be part of the election process.


Square Pumpkins

Have you ever heard of a square pumpkin? Mrs. C’s Kindergarten class has! The Kindergarteners have been exploring 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes. They built shapes using playdough and toothpicks, played shape BINGO and the shape game, “I Have Who Has.” Then, the students listened to the story, The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, where pumpkins are cubed, triangular and rectangular shaped. Later, the children painted their own square pumpkins. The Kindergarteners thoroughly enjoyed this hands-on exploration of shapes that incorporated math, language arts and Halloween!