Hi Everyone,
The Pre K classroom has turned into a romping, stomping dinosaur world! This week larger dinosaur figures and dinosaur eggs and bones were introduced to the children. Our Pretend Area has been transformed into a Paleontology Lab, complete with lab coats, microscopes, chisels, safety glasses, brushes and clip boards to record our observations. Our sandbox is now a dinosaur dig site, complete with dinosaur bones and eggs. After reading an information book about fossils, which are bones or imprints of plants, dinosaurs, shells or insects, which have turned into stone, the children made their own fossils by pressing our pretend dinosaur bones into clay. We will let these harden and then paint them next week. We are reading all sorts of dinosaur books. Some are information books. Other books are stories involving dinosaurs, but in realistic settings. We also read books which are pretend in nature, such as Patrick’s Dinosaurs, by Carol and Donald Carrick or Jane Yolen and Mark Teague’s How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? After reading a book involving a pretend storyline, we often talk about whether, for instance, dinosaurs really slept in a bed. In addition to learning the names of some familiar dinosaurs, we also talk about whether they liked to eat meat or plants. Food for thought…
This week, we met Noisy Nick, from Letterland. Nick loves to make noise and hammer nails. His neighbors think he is nice, but a little too noisy. He is celebrating his ninth birthday. His parents gave him a set of drums for his birthday. Now he will make even more noise! Next week we will meet Oscar Orange who lives near the ocean.
Our surprise snow day brought us lots of fun building snow people and sledding once again!
Important Reminders:
- Preschool goes outdoors each day. Please be sure to send boots, snow pants, mittens, hats and warm jackets.
- Please replenish extra clothes when necessary. Children should have a full set of clothing, including socks, undergarments, shirts and pants.
- Leaving a sweatshirt or sweater for days that may be chilly indoors may help your child feel more comfortable.
- Please be sure to send in a refillable drink container for us to fill with water. In our efforts to be green, we try to refrain from using plastic cups.
- Please be sure to send appropriate flatware in your child’s lunch.
- Including a variety of snack items is encouraged for young growing children.
- If your child needs to have an item warmed up, please be sure it is in a microwave safe container.
- Leaving an extra pair of sneakers or other shoes in school is a good idea.
- Please return Library books on Wednesdays.
Dates to remember:
Monday, January 21st, No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Friday, January 25th, Ski-Friday, Pre-K dismissal at 12:45pm
Friday, February 1st, Ski-Friday, Pre-K dismissal at 12:45pm
Friday, February 8th, Ski-Friday, Pre-K dismissal at 12:45pm
Thursday, February 14th, Pre-K Valentine’s Day Celebration
Friday, February 15th, Pizza Lunch, Ski-Friday, Pre-K dismissal at 12:45pm
Monday, February 18th, No School, Presidents’ Day
Tuesday, February 19th, No School, Mid-Winter Break
Wednesday, February 20th, Classes Resume
Friday, February 22nd, NO SKI-FRIDAY, regular dismissal
Warmest Regards,
Ellie