Hi Everyone!
We have managed to fit a wonderful amount of learning and fun into a very short week. We hope that you enjoyed our Mid-Winter Break. Mother Nature was kind enough to provide us with some fresh snow to make our Alaska Day on Wednesday even more special. First thing in the morning, we joined Lower School for a slide show about Alaska, which was presented by Mr. Frantz. The show included photographs of the frozen tundra in the winter and in the warmer months. We also saw many animals that live in the air, on the land and in the water in Alaska. In addition, there were pictures of the people who live in Alaska participating in traditional activities, such as playing games, fishing, making totem poles and working together. Next the children did a quick walk-about to see the scavenger hunt that included information about Alaskan facts that were introduced during the slide show. After a yummy fruit, cheese and cracker snack, we bundled up and headed outdoors. We played an Alaskan game of kicking a ball that is attached to a string; we visited the bonfire and watched Miss Guerette roast marshmallows for us; we went sledding on air tubes down the hill by the pond and we made snow angels and painted them with colored water in spray containers. We also did “Sled Dog Races,” by pulling one another by a rope tied to a snow tube. Just before we came in, we visited First Grade, where we used Sharpies to make wooden totem poles. It was great fun!
Since we were not here on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, we made Mardi Gras masks on Thursday. Preschool all joined together for French class to watch two short French videos; Three Billy Goats Gruff and Town Mouse, City Mouse. We joined the rest of the BCD community to watch the 5th grade French Class act them out on Friday morning. The videos we watched can be viewed at home by visiting Maria Whalen’s blog and clicking on 5th Grade (on the left); then on the right hand side the last two entries: La Rate de Ville et La Rate de Champs. Once this is open, click the butterfly to turn the pages and the mouse to have him read it to you. Les Trois Boucs Bourrus, click the snail to turn the page and the deer to read it to you. If you click the little goat it will animate the page. Enjoy! The children finished learning about Mardi Gras and we handed out beads. Starting next week, Madame Siegel will return to teach French for the rest of the year. Joni reports that it has been a pleasure for her to teach French to your children for the past few months. She says “Au revoir mes amis!”
Also on Thursday, we introduced the large wooden hollow blocks. We talked about how we can play in a safe way with them so that we lessen the chances of anyone getting hurt. We also discussed how we will store them when they are not in use and what we can make with them. Another very exciting new activity is the Marble Track Game. In the Math Corner, we introduced a game involving small pegs and small Legos.
Thursday afternoon, the children helped me as we packed up the dinosaurs and dinosaur games and we made them all extinct! We reviewed some of the theories scientists have made concerning why the dinosaurs went extinct. Our Pretend Area will go back to being a house, but it will include some hardware tools, like hammers, screw drivers, paint brushes and buckets.
Today, we talked about The Chinese New Year, which officially began on Sunday, February 14th. We read the story, “My First Chinese New Year,” by Karen Katz. From the story, we learned that people wear the color red for good luck and happiness, clean their houses to sweep out the old bad luck and get their houses clean for the good luck being brought by the new year. They also give children red envelopes filled with money, for good luck. Things, such as oranges and apples in pairs. After Library, where Mr. Uhas also talked about the Chinese New Year, the children made traditional red paper lanterns, decorated with gold paper.
Reminders:
- If you are sending in something to be warmed in the microwave, please be sure it is in a container that can be microwaved. Anything with tomato sauce should come in a glass container.
- Please send needed flatware with your child’s lunch.
- Update and replenish your child’s extra clothes.
- Bring Library books on Fridays.
- Please remember to remove wet shoes or boots before entering the Preschool rooms.
Dates to Note:
Have a Great Weekend!
Ellie
