Hi Everyone,
This week we have enriched our play spaces with a number of new activities involving food. In our Puzzles and Games area, we have math counters in the shapes of fruits. We also have a Food Bingo game and some new food puzzles. Our Pretend Area is equipped with a cash register and play food. On Tuesday, the children helped me sort out all of the fruits and vegetables from our food bin. During Morning Meeting we played a sorting game and we talked about what distinguishes a fruit from a vegetable. We learned that if it is a plant and it has seeds in it, it is a fruit. This was information that we researched online. I was very surprised to hear that cucumbers, eggplants, corn kernels and squash are all fruits! Carrots, celery, lettuce, potatoes and broccoli are all vegetables. The rule is very simple. “If it has seeds, it is a fruit.” Once we explore all of the food groups, which include dairy, protein and grains, we will talk about “My Plate,” which is the new food pyramid. This is a simple method for all of us to know approximately how much of each food group we should try to have for a healthy meal. I asked the children to use their imaginations and think what vegetables or fruits could be used to make a person. As they suggested various features, I drew them. Their figure had a strawberry head; watermelon eyes; grapes for a nose; a banana nose; a raspberry body; cucumber arms; pickle fingers; carrot legs and orange feet! We will also learn the song, “Aiken Drum,” which is about a similar man who lived in the Moon and played upon a ladle.
On Monday, we decided to take a walk to the pond before playing on the playground. On the way, we noted that many of the leaves on the trees were gone. Once we arrived at the pond, the children noticed that the cattails had died and drooped and the water was low in the pond itself. It was a little too chilly to play in the water, but we managed to toss leaves, pebbles and sand from the shore into the pond. Many of them noticed the circles rippling from the splashes. They were also interested to see that many leaves would float on top of the water and the pebbles would quickly sink to the bottom.
A popular activity at our Halloween Party last week was mixing potions. This week, we continued making potions using colored water and eye droppers. Once the children mastered the skill of operating the dropper, they transferred the colored water from one container to another. In addition to challenging themselves to filling the test tubes, everyone was very interested to note the new colors they were creating.
“I’m filling it to the top! I love blue.”
“Should we trade colors?”
“When I squeeze the top, it comes up!”
“When I add red, it turns black.”
“I’m almost to the top.”
I am introducing a number of cooperative games. These games are designed to encourage children to have fun and interact with one another, without competing. In one game, I whisper the name of an animal in each child’s ear. On the count of three, they are to walk around and make the sound of that animal. There are at least two of each animal. Once the like animals find one another, they hold hands as a group. It took a couple of practices before we all got it! Next week, we will play another game, “Alphabet Body”. In this game, the children are put into pairs and given five minutes to figure out how to make a given letter with their bodies. Doing so requires a lot of problem solving and team work.
This week, the children have done a lot of building with geometric shapes and making patterns and designs. Each time they have surprised themselves and made something they feel is interesting, they ask if I can take a picture of it. Frequently, they ask if they can see what they had made later in the day or week. I will continue posting their creations for you to see.
“This is the short one.”
“This is the long one.”
“These kind of look like pyramids.”
“Look what I made! A square!”
“It’s a flower.”
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with me. It was really nice to have the opportunity to discuss your children’s experiences and progress. Please let me know if you have any other questions or further thoughts you would like to discuss. I am always happy to schedule times for us to talk.
For those of you who received your child’s new plastic folder, please be sure to empty the contents and return it in his or her backpack on Tuesday. I will help the children place their artwork, or I will help them place any communications from the Main Office in these folders each day. Please send the emptied folder back to school every day.
Important Reminders:
- Preschool goes outdoors each day. Please be sure children have appropriate outdoor gear for the day.
- 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.
- It is a good idea for children who wear dresses to also wear shorts or leggings.
- 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.
- Children are welcome to leave an extra pair of sneakers or other shoes in school.
- Please send Library books back to school on Mondays.
Dates to remember:
Monday, November 11th, No School, Veteran’s Day
Friday, November 15th, Pizza Lunch
Thursday, November 21st, Preschool and Kindergarten Friendship Lunch
Tuesday, November 26th, BCD Soup Day! 1pm dismissal for entire school; No Extended Day
No School, Wednesday ~ Friday, November 23th, ~ 29th, Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 1st, classes resume
Friday, December 13th, Pizza Lunch
Thursday, December 19th, Pre K Winter Solstice Party
Friday, December 20th, Winter Break begins at the end of the school day
Monday, January 6, 2014, Classes resume
Friday, January 10th, Ski Friday begins; Pre K is dismissed at 12:45pm
Have a Great Long Weekend!
Ellie
