Pre K Parent News April 8, 2013

Hi Everyone,

Welcome back!  I trust you all enjoyed your time during our Spring Break.  Although it didn’t feel very Spring on March 20th, we did enjoy a few days of warmth and sun.  The children were laughing as we discussed the calendar on our first day back last week, as we all arrived in the middle of  a snow flurry storm.  By the end of the week, we were ready for the warmer days.  Earlier this week we went for a walk about campus to see if we could spot any signs of Spring.  The children noticed buds popping out on the bushes and trees.  They also spotted many shoots of the same color and shape poking out of the soil in many areas along fences and stone walls.  We even found a tiny bunch of cream colored crocuses right on the playground.  Of course there were also many patches of mud.  I brought some apple tree branches into the classroom to see if we could force them to bloom.

On Thursday, we made pussy willows by blowing brown water color that was dripped onto paper using eye droppers and straws.  We then dipped our fingers into white paint to stamp the pussy willow flowers.  Before beginning this art project, we learned this well known poem:

Pussy Willow

I know a little pussy.

Her coat is silver grey.

She’s over in the meadow.

Not very far away. 

She’ll always be a pussy.

She’ll never be a cat.

For she’s a pussy willow.

Now what do you think of that?

Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow!

Scat!

We are also beginning our exploration of seeds and plants.  We brought some pansies, which were already in bloom, to the Science corner, where we counted the petals and studied the patterns and colors of the flowers.  We also examined the veins in the green leaves.  After using the magnifying glasses to get a closer look, we placed each flower and leaf in the pages of a book to press them.  We will check on them next week to see if they are dry.  While placing the flowers in the books, we found some leaves we had pressed in the fall!  We plan on using the leaves for a special project next week.

Speaking of flowers, we met Vicky Violet from Letterland this week.  Vicky actually has very special violets that talk.  She keeps them in a very big and very valuable vase.  Vicky happens to live in a village which is located in the Letterland valley.  There, they grow lots of vegetables and flowers in the gardens.  Can you guess Vicky’s favorite color?  That’s right, violet!

While the children were eating snack, they commented that our Winter mural should be changed to a Spring mural.  They talked about ways in which they could make that happen and what they might like to include in it and what should be removed.  They had me remove all of the glistening snow paper and we discovered that there was brown paper underneath.  Next, we used the dabba-do painting rings to dab green and brown for the grass and mud.  They also requested that the frozen pond, which was made from silver paper, be replaced with blue paper.  Once dry, the children plan on adding some of the changes we have been noticing in our own environment, like birds building nests, bunnies, flowers beginning to bloom, buds popping out on trees and people fishing in the pond.  They had great fun brainstorming what they might like to add.

On Thursday, we celebrated Vincent’s Star Day!  His mom, Amber, joined us for Morning Meeting.  He also has an older brother, Dougie, and his dad, who needed to be at work, is Eric.  Other members of his family are his Gramma, MeMe and GeGi.  From his Star Day Interview, we learned that Vincent’s favorite food is eggs and he has a cat named “Jasper.”  When he was a baby, he loved swimming with his mom and dad.  Now that he is five, he continues to like swimming, but he also likes to dance, sing and play Angry Birds.  Vincent’s Star Board included photos of him on the day he was born and a picture of he and his family in Disney World with Goofey!  His board also included pictures of Vincent on beach at the ocean and one of him dressed up like a Dalmatian for Halloween.  For snack, he shared some delicious cupcakes with green frosting, as green is Vincent’s absolute favorite color.  Thank you so much!  Happy Birthday and Happy Star Day, Vincent!

On Friday, the children went for a walk on Mike’s Trail with Mrs. Cooke and her daughters, Lily, Georgia and Ruby.  The children noticed all kinds of green plants beginning to grow up through the old brown leaves and mud.  They also noticed that there was still snow on parts of the trail.  When they reached one leg of the stream they crossed, they remembered that when we last looked upon the stream, ice had formed over the top of the running water.  Now, the ice is gone!  The children also happened to be walking through the soccer field when Mr. Gore’s Science class was setting off rockets!  It was a fun surprise.  Most of the rockets went really high!