Animals and More

This week our focus was on nocturnal animals, although some of them do also hibernate.  Our projects and discussions involved in particular owls, bats and porcupines.  Hopefully you enjoyed the projects sent home about these animals (last week's hibernation ones also).  You will see photos of painting, cutting, gluing and the like to create the owls and bats.  The bats can be hung up for a Halloween decoration.  The adorable porcupines were fantastic for muscle development as a pencil was used to poke holes for the pieces of straws.  Our favorite books for these three animals are shown at the end of the blog.

Once again many facts about each animal were taught at circle along with posters and pictures in books to reinforce the information.  Most popular:  how owls can turn their heads all the way around and have  yellow eyes.  The word owlet was new for most of the group.  Margot just happened to wear a shirt with a cute owl on the day we made owls so of course we took her picture.  Children love bats due to their association with Halloween and chuckled when finding out that bat babies are called pups.  They also loved the thought that one bat can eat three thousand bugs.  Last were the porcupines who could have thirty thousand quills.  We learned that they have poor eyesight and love water lilies.

Ada celebrated her fifth birthday with beautiful cupcakes.  You can see the socialization at the tables that happens during snack or party time.  Obviously from the looks on the faces the cupcakes were a big hit.

Some pictures to view here are of the new playground structure which is extremely popular.  The class watched it being put together last week and a few participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday.  Needless to say, gross motor development happens when using it.

Margot presented the letter box for "E" and told us how much fun it was to fill it.  "E" is not the easiest letter to work with.  The blog ends with Riya displaying her beautiful picture made with markers on the easel.

Unfortunately Lucas is not in any photos.  Our friend was absent all week.  We all hope he feels better soon and can come back to have more fun with us.

Rolene and Jackie

 

Hibernation and Celebrations

Our blog begins with Emily presenting the letter box for "D" and showing us her duck puppet.  If you could only see the excitement of the Whole Note member who is the star of the alphabet each week!  Smiles and laughter break out on his/her face.  The audience is filled with enthusiasm for the performance.  It is equal to receiving an "A plus" for a presentation in public speaking 101.  The teachers debated about whether or not to feature more photos of friends writing in their alphabet books but this allows you to see the progress happening from week to week.  Ada wore the perfect top for the letter "D" day which is decorated with different donuts.

Our focus this past week was on the study of animals, particularly those that hibernate and what this means.  Although we did list the names of many such animals, the class had fun with bears and snakes.  Not necessarily in order of the text, you will observe children creating a bear cave from a cup covered with cotton, complete with bears (pom poms) inside.  Other youngsters are coloring beautiful snakes which were then cut out from paper plates (great for fine motor and muscle development).  Underground burrows were fashioned for the snakes from brown paper.  On the front the words "beware of snake" were written carefully to tie in writing skills.  Remember each child does it at his/her own ability.  One friend had his own idea for words and instead printed "do not touch snakes".  

Four and five year olds store facts.  For examples we talked about how bears catch salmon to eat as the fish swim upstream or that their fur is so thick that they cannot feel the bees stinging them when nibbling on hives for honey.  The group was fascinated to learn the a king cobra can dance or that  the ana conda snake can swallow an alligator.  Our library area was full of books about hibernating animals.  We even had lots of snakes out for dramatic play.  Next week we will continue animal studies by learning about nocturnal animals.

The week ended with Noah celebrating his fifth birthday.  He just loved his special day!  Happy Birthday to Noah.  Thanks to his parents for sending us special cupcakes.

Rolene and Jackie  

Fire Safety

The blog begins with our journal writing which was moved to this past Monday as we were just so busy the previous week.  The teachers did not want to skip this project as this beginning illustrating and writing is so important for early literacy development.  Several times the use of word cards has been mentioned on the blog.  Some are included for you to see here as our fall unit was completed.  Often these cards of varying topics are out at the art/writing center for those who are interested in continuing this work.  A balancing scale was out with decorative fall acorns to help a preschooler weigh and measure-beginning math.

The rest of our week focused on fire safety as October is fire prevention month.  Our discussions centered on what to do if you see a fire, who do you tell, how to get out of your house in a fire, what special outerwear firefighters wear and what tools help them in their work.  If clothes are on fire, you stop, drop and roll.  Practice  fire drills for families were explained, along with the importance of choosing a family meeting place outdoors in case everyone cannot get out the same door.  Ask your preschooler questions on this topic.  It is amazing how much each child learned.

Art projects and toys for imaginative play and dress up were offered  Everyone had a chance to make a picture of fire on the shape of a hydrant.  Costume fire fighter coats and helmets could be tried on.  Toy fire trucks, with ladders and hoses could be brought to a toy fire station.  Little fire people and fire dogs were available to add to the scene.  Great dramatic play happened here!  You will view one of the posters we talked about regarding fire safety.  Friends are solving a floor puzzle featuring a fire truck.  Others are reading books about fire related topics.  Each class member told us a rule about fire safety which you will see in the middle of the bulletin board featuring our hydrants.

Cheering and clapping could be heard as Jackie performed a science experiment.  A candle was lit to achieve a flame and then it was covered with a jar.  The flame obviously went out due to the lack of air.  Children love being scientists. 

Our finale was the writing of a class book.  Each youngster drew a picture of choice about something relating to all of our studies.  A sentence or two about it was dictated to the teachers who then put all of these into a book.  The publication has been placed in our library area for free choice reading.

There was no letter book this week.  Our day will now be on Tuesdays with the letter "D"  being featured this coming week.  Two emails are being forwarded to you from the mandarin teacher.  The boxes with mandarin written show what your children are learning to say.  The other email has pictures of our future concert pianists.

Rolene and Jackie

 fire trucksfire trucks, with ladders and hoses could be brought to a toy fire station.  Little fire people and fire dogs were available to add to the scene.  Great