A New Year/New Things To Learn

The Whole Notes began the first week of 2021 by having their own celebration.  We read a story titled "The Night Before New Years" which began our discussion on fireworks, parties, watching the ball drop in Times Square, etc.  Each child made a beautiful glitter picture for our bulletin board and practiced writing the numbers 2021.  The class also made New Year's resolutions.  Ask your child what he/she said; or you can ask us to check from the list on our bulletin board for you.  Some examples were doing more cleaning to help my family, not bothering a brother when he is reading and saying nice things to my family.  The group did great!

Once again the pictures are not in order of text.  Before vacation we began to learn about the Arctic and how the Eskimos know how to survive in the cold.  Each class member here that week created an Eskimo figure and drew his/her own version of an igloo.  Lots of new vocabulary was introduced such as mukluk (boots) and Inupiat (Eskimo).  We learned how these people fish, build homes and use dog sleds.  Facts about animals who live in this cold area were also presented.  Our creations are on another board, but unfortunately we cannot ask you in to peek.

The Arctic unit was extended this week to include the polar bears which were sent home Friday.  Everyone in attendance participated in a blubber experiment.  First fingers were put into a bowl of icy water.  Then they were put in a blubber mitt made from Crisco shortening and put back in the icy water.  It became obvious how the blubber on a polar bear keeps these huge creatures warm.  Did you know that polar bears have black skin under their fur?  Your preschoolers know that.  Polar bears were cut in duplicate, white and black, which was a fine motor challenge.  Blubber was added (bubble wrap) and all were laced together (eye-hand coordination).  Literacy was added as each child labeled the polar bear layers.  The completing of a floor puzzle with a picture of a polar bear was due to children cooperating.

Finally you will see Zayden showing the letter box for "M".  His friends loved the monkey he is holding.  The teachers enjoyed his drawing of Mars.  This coming week we start giving each child a second term with the letter box.  Clearly we are back to our schedule and having lots of fun.

Please send the bag with the outerwear every single day.  We want to be ready in case we need it.  Thanks.

Rolene and Jackie 

Holiday Activities

Our holiday celebrations for both Hanukkah and Christmas continued this week.  On our blog friends are playing with special holiday toys brought in by the teachers.  One friend is using a Hanukkah game to set up family figures exchanging gifts, eating latkes, and lighting a menorah while also listening to Hanukkah music.  Another friend is playing with a magnetic Christmas tree to decorate and count down the days until the holiday.  Not shown but also offered over the week were holiday domino games, memory games, lacing cards and coloring sheets.  All stories read this week were holiday themed except for the ones with the letter "L" in their titles as this was the letter of the week.

For Hanukkah the class created a potato latke game.  Here you will see some of the children cutting out a frying  pan and latkes.  The goal is to get an extra latke in the pan.  While the game brings lots of fun and laughter, this set up is great for eye-hand coordination.  The book titled "The Runaway Latke" was a big hit as the Whole Notes repeated the rhyme about catching the latke-similar to the rhyme in the "Gingerbread Man" story.  There is a photo of a friend listening to Latke Larry, a musical toy talking about eating latkes.

For Christmas we read "The Littlest Elf" and the "The Christmas Penguin" and made Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer puppets by tracing and cutting our hands for antlers which was not an easy task.  We also learned a lot about reindeers and their habits and how they live.

You can see JJ with the letter box.  The cut out of lightening and drawing of lips were class favorites for the letter "L".  JJ told us his Mom helped him.  Margot brought us cupcakes for her fifth birthday.  The blue frosting in particular was popular.  Much socialization is happening as the youngsters finish Margot's special snack.  She gave the class treats in beautiful jungle print bags.  Happy fifth birthday to Margot!  Martina is featured ringing up items on the cash register.

That is it for the week!  Remember vacation begins at days end next Wednesday.  If your preschooler will not be here for all three days this upcoming week, please let us know.  The teachers want to be sure that everyone receives their little gift bag.

This is the last blog for 2020.  Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all of our families.  Please be safe.

Rolene and Jackie

 

 

 

Treasures

The Whole Notes have spent this week finishing up their holiday treasures to give to you.  They will come home this coming week and you can decide whether to place the package next to your menorah or under your Christmas tree.  Of course your youngster may not be able to stand a wait and will have you unwrapping it immediately.  He/she may even do the honors for you.  That is fine too.

On the blog you will see friends painting their hands, folding and cutting snowflakes and using fingers to create the appearance of a snowstorm.  Cards to accompany our presents are being created.  Gifts are being wrapped.  Preschoolers ponder over choices of colors of wrapping paper and which ribbon should be chosen.  All of these pictures shown will come to life after you receive your gift.  Much hard work and love was put into it.

Also on the blog is a view of words being printed to tie in literacy on our new holiday bulletin board.  Zayden celebrated his fifth birthday.  He is passing out "goodie bags" kindly sent in by his Mom.  At the tables, the class is enjoying his delicious chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. It is fun to watch our group eat them.  Some lick the frosting first.  Others leave it for last.  Still some children eat with the paper still on.  There are many different approaches for this snack.

Noah is holding the letter box for "K".  He was very proud of his endeavor and is showing his kitten.  Noah told us his brother and his Mom helped him.  A new toy is featured in the first photo which helps us to recognize lower case letters which we practice in our alphabet books.  But this time the missing letters in the game are teaching us the sound at the end of the words rather than at the beginning.  Takuma is showing us what he constructed with pipe builders.  He is most interested in design and perhaps will grow up to be an architect.  Finally you will see the class sitting in front of our zoom meeting set up for mandarin lessons.  It was another very busy week!

On a side note, the weather is changing.  We need to take a lot of time to help everyone dress up in snow pants, boots, coats, hats and mittens.  Therefore our circle will begin at 9:00AM rather than at 9:15AM.  Please try to bring your youngster on time.  This is when "the meat and potatoes" of the day takes place-information on our topic, reading new words, completing the calendar and more.  We cannot repeat this meeting over the day. Your child misses out if he/she comes late.  Our program at this time encourages reading readiness.  Another goal for us is teaching independence.  You can help reinforce this task by giving your preschooler clothing that he/she can put on by himself/herself.  Thank you for your ongoing cooperation.

 

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