Thursday, October 29

Group Meeting:  The children were so excited to show everyone their costumes!  We took a few minutes to show and tell.

Story:  The story for today was How Spider Saved Halloween by Robert Kraus.  Spider and his friends are getting ready for Halloween.  Spider cannot decide on a costume.  Then something happens to their pumpkin.  Ask your child to tell you how this story ends!

Letter Learning:  No letter learning today.  The Mon/Wed children did not have school on Monday, so I don't want to get us ahead of those classes.

Halloween Syllables:  I introduced syllables to the children by explaining that every word has parts.  I demonstrated by using their names and by clapping the syllables.  We looked at some Halloween characters and clapped the syllables in their names.   Then, we completed the paper using a bingo dauber to mark how many syllables were in each character.

Snacks:  The children frosted pumpkin shaped cookies and added sprinkles.  We had juice or water to drink.

Halloween Party:  The children made bracelets, threw bean bags at a ghost, and tried to throw bean bags into Halloween buckets.  We also had fun with the parachute!

At Home Learning

Because the Mon/Wed children did not have school on Monday this week, I do not have work for this group today.  However, I did put the Let's Find Out Magazine in their folder.   It is about voting.  You can do this if you wish.  The video is at letsfindout.com.  Sign in as a student and use the password redeemer.

Wednesday, October 28

  

Group Meeting:  The children danced to "The Halloween Freeze Dance" by the Kiboomers.  Everyone was excited about our Halloween party!  

Story:  The story for today was The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams.  A little old lady goes for a walk in the woods to gather nuts and seeds.  It is dark by the time she starts home.  On the path, she comes to two shoes that go "clomp, clomp".  The little old lady says "I'm not afraid of you" and continues on.  Along the way, she comes to a pair of pants, a shirt, two gloves, a hat and a pumpkin head.  She tells each one that she is not afraid.  They follow her home.  The little old lady has an idea of what they can do for her.  Ask your child to tell you!

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was O.

Measuring:  The children used Unifix cubes to measure a pumpkin, ghost, and bat.  The printed the number of cubes in the box.  These papers can be kept at home.

Halloween Party:  The children made bracelets, tried to throw bean bags through a ghost's eyes and mouth, and threw bean bags into 6 Halloween buckets.  

Snack:  The snack for today was pumpkin shaped cookies that the children frosted.  Our drink was juice and water.

At Home Learning

Name page

Story:  Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell  This is a counting book.  The difference is that they are counting backwards.  How many ghosts will stay in the house?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZjFq6DCTVQ

Spider Game: For this activity, you will need the two spider rings that are in the packet and accompanying paper.  You will need something to put the spiders in so that your child can pick out one at a time without seeing them.  An empty tissue box or a paper bag will work.  You will also need a crayon to match each spider.  Put the spiders in the box or bag.  Ask your child to take one out without looking.  Have him/her identify the color of spider and use the corresponding crayon to color one spider.   Put the spider back and do it again.  Keep doing this until all of the spiders on the paper are colored.  Now complete the graph on the bottom.   How many spiders were one color?  How many were the other?  This is a lot of coloring for some children.  If they just want to color the spot on the spiders back, that is enough.

Math Journal:  Going Batty

Letter Learning:  Q  Use the curves and a little line to make the Q.  Use the wet, dry, try board to print.

Let's Find Out Magazine:  This issue is all about voting.  You can check out the video at letsfindout.com  Log in as a student and use the password redeemer.  You do not need to return this to school.

Tuesday, October 27

 Group Meeting:  The children danced to "The Halloween Freeze Dance" by the Kiboomers.  Everyone is getting excited about our Halloween party!  

Story:  The story for today was The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams.  A little old lady goes for a walk in the woods to gather nuts and seeds.  It is dark by the time she starts home.  On the path, she comes to two shoes that go "clomp, clomp".  The little old lady says "I'm not afraid of you" and continues on.  Along the way, she comes to a pair of pants, a shirt, two gloves, a hat and a pumpkin head.  She tells each one that she is not afraid.  They follow her home.  The little old lady has an idea of what they can do for her.  Ask your child to tell you!

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was O.

Measuring:  The children used Unifix cubes to measure a pumpkin, ghost, and bat.  The printed the number of cubes in the box.  These papers can be kept at home.

Gross Motor:  The children went to the Outdoor Classroom.  We will continue to do so unless it is raining or snowing.  Hats, mittens, and a warm coat will be needed when it is cold.

Snack:  The snack for today was applesauce, milk and water.

At Home Learning

Name page

Story:  Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell  This is a counting book.  The difference is that they are counting backwards.  How many ghosts will stay in the house?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZjFq6DCTVQ

Spider Game: For this activity, you will need the two spider rings that are in the packet and accompanying paper.  You will need something to put the spiders in so that your child can pick out one at a time without seeing them.  An empty tissue box or a paper bag will work.  You will also need a crayon to match each spider.  Put the spiders in the box or bag.  Ask your child to take one out without looking.  Have him/her identify the color of spider and use the corresponding crayon to color one spider.   Put the spider back and do it again.  Keep doing this until all of the spiders on the paper are colored.  Now complete the graph on the bottom.   How many spiders were one color?  How many were the other?  This is a lot of coloring for some children.  If they just want to color the spot on the spiders back, that is enough.

Math Journal:  Going Batty

Letter Learning:  Q  Use the curves and a little line to make the Q.  Use the wet, dry, try board to print.

 

Thursday, October 22

  Group Meeting:  We are starting to incorporate a few  Halloween activities into our class time.  We started the session by dancing to "If You're a Kid: Halloween".  Some of the children have been talking about their costumes.  Next week, the children may wear a costume to school on Thursday.

Story:  The story for today was Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman.  In this story, a witch has planted a seed so that she can grow a pumpkin for pumpkin pie.  Just as Halloween arrives, the pumpkin is ready to be picked.  However, the pumpkin is too big for the witch to remove from the vine.  Her friends Ghost, Vampire, Mummy and Bat come to help.  Ask your child how they are able to remove the pumpkin from the vine.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was U

Ball Study:  The children used our ball collection and determined which balls are hollow and which are solid.  Then, the children made bouncy balls.  The recipe is below if you'd like to make another at home.

Snacks:  The snack for today was Goldfish, juice, and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story:  Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BnHInUVDEo  

Math Journal: Leaf Pile

Letter Learning:  Letter C  We are now starting letters with curves.  Cut the curves and have your child place it on the letter C.  Continue with Wet, Dry, Try.

Ball Study:  Are bubbles balls?  If you have bubbles at home, ask your child to blow some.  If you don't have any, put some dish soap in water.  Take a straw and blow to create bubbles.  Ask these questions.  Can bubbles bounce?  Can bubbles roll?  Are bubbles hollow or solid?

Bouncy Ball Recipe

1 Tablespoon borax

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

2 1/2 Tablespoons white glue

1/2 cup warm water 

Food Coloring and/or glitter (optional)

Measure the borax and cornstarch into a cup.  Add the glue and food coloring/glitter.  Now add the warm water and mix.  The mixture will form a glob and separate from the water.  Use your hands to form the glob into a ball.  

Wednesday, October 21

 Group Meeting:  We are starting to incorporate a few  Halloween activities into our class time.  We started the session by dancing to "If You're a Kid: Halloween".  Some of the children have been talking about their costumes.  Next week, the children may wear a costume to school on Wednesday.

Story:  The story for today was Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman.  In this story, a witch has planted a seed so that she can grow a pumpkin for pumpkin pie.  Just as Halloween arrives, the pumpkin is ready to be picked.  However, the pumpkin is too big for the witch to remove from the vine.  Her friends Ghost, Vampire, Mummy and Bat come to help.  Ask your child how they are able to remove the pumpkin from the vine.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was U

Ball Study:  The children used our ball collection and determined which balls are hollow and which are solid.  Then, the children made bouncy balls.  The recipe is below if you'd like to make another at home.

Snacks:  The snack for today was Scooby snacks, juice, and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story:  Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BnHInUVDEo  

Math Journal: Leaf Pile

Letter Learning:  Letter C  We are now starting letters with curves.  I just realized that I forgot to send brown construction paper curves with the morning class.  I will be sure to do so next week.  Cut the curves and have your child place it on the letter C.  Continue with Wet, Dry, Try.

Ball Study:  Are bubbles balls?  If you have bubbles at home, ask your child to blow some.  If you don't have any, put some dish soap in water.  Take a straw and blow to create bubbles.  Ask these questions.  Can bubbles bounce?  Can bubbles roll?  Are bubbles hollow or solid?

Bouncy Ball Recipe

1 Tablespoon borax

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

2 1/2 Tablespoons white glue

1/2 cup warm water 

Food Coloring and/or glitter (optional)

Measure the borax and cornstarch into a cup.  Add the glue and food coloring/glitter.  Now add the warm water and mix.  The mixture will form a glob and separate from the water.  Use your hands to form the glob into a ball.  

Tuesday, October 20

 Group Meeting:  Today was all about firefighters and fire safety.  We started by singing and acting out the song "Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck".

Story:  The story for today was Dinofours: It's Fire Drill Day by Steve Metzger.  It's time for the preschoolers in Mrs. Dee's class to have a fire drill.  Albert is worried.  The fire alarm is loud and he's not sure what to do.  Ask your child to tell you why he likes the fire alarm at the end of the story.  After the story, we conducted our own fire drill.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was T.

Let's Find Out:  Our magazine was all about firefighters.  We watched a video about what gear the firefighters wear and use to put out fires.  In our magazine, we learned that the word fire starts with the letter Ff.  We colored the letter F to make a path for the fire truck on the last page of the magazine.

Snack:  The snack for today was fig bars, juice and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story:    Dot the Fire Dog by Lisa Desimini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnga471akl8

Math Journal: Leaf Pile

Letter Learning:  Make the letter I with the construction paper pieces.  Make the letter I using the Wet, Dry, Try chalkboard.

Fire Safety:  Complete the page in the packet about firefighters and fire safety.  Conduct a fire drill at home.

Monday, October 19

Group Meeting:  Today was all about firefighters and fire safety.  We started by singing and acting out the song "Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck".

Story:  The story for today was Dinofours: It's Fire Drill Day by Steve Metzger.  It's time for the preschoolers in Mrs. Dee's class to have a fire drill.  Albert is worried.  The fire alarm is loud and he's not sure what to do.  Ask your child to tell you why he likes the fire alarm at the end of the story.  After the story, we conducted our own fire drill.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was T.

Let's Find Out:  Our magazine was all about firefighters.  We watched a video about what gear the firefighters wear and use to put out fires.  In our magazine, we learned that the word fire starts with the letter Ff.  We colored the letter F to make a path for the fire truck on the last page of the magazine.

Snack:  The snack for today was applesauce, milk and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story:    Dot the Fire Dog by Lisa Desimini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnga471akl8

Math Journal: Leaf Pile

Letter Learning:  Make the letter I with the construction paper pieces.  Make the letter I using the Wet, Dry, Try chalkboard.

Fire Safety:  Complete the page in the packet about firefighters and fire safety.  Conduct a fire drill at home.

Thursday, October 15th

Group Meeting: Our movement song for today was “Walking , Walking , Hop, Hop, Hop” by the Kiboomers. The children followed the movement until they heard “stop”. This is a great self-regulation exercise. 

Story: The story for today was Play Ball by Nancy Noel Williams. This is a non-fiction book about the many games that can be played with balls. The children were familiar with most of them, but I had to explain Marbles and Jacks.  Shows my age 😊

Ball Study: The children dipped various balls from our collection into paint and bounced them on paper. It was interesting to see the many patterns made by a playground ball, koosh  ball, and waffle ball.  The children also used the vacuum to make wind to move balls move across the classroom.

Letter Learning: The letter for today was E.

Writing Journals: The children came up with ways to turn Mat Man into a person. Some children drew Mat Man and added features to make their parents. Some drew super heroes or cartoon characters.

Snacks: The snack for today was cheese, Wheat Thins, apple juice and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story: Listen to I Am a Leaf by Joan Morozzo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH9NKpDvLCg&t=50s  The children have noticed the changing leaves in the play yard.  This is a good book for learning about how they change colors.

Letter Learning: The letter H page is in your child’s folder. Use the construction paper lines to form the letter on the page.  Make the H sound. I tell the children that it’s like blowing hot air. Now use the chalkboard to do Wet, Dry, Try.

Math Journal: Autumn Colors

Ball Study: In the folder, you will find a green paper with two experiments to try with balls. We did Huff and Puff in school. It would be fun to do at home. Try "The Force of Water". See if your child can figure how to move the ball in water without touching it.

Wednesday, October 14

Group Meeting: Our movement song for today was “Walking , Walking , Hop, Hop, Hop” by the Kiboomers. The children followed the movement until they heard “stop”. This is a great self-regulation exercise. 

Story: The story for today was Play Ball by Nancy Noel Williams. This is a non-fiction book about the many games that can be played with balls. The children were familiar with most of them, but I had to explain Marbles and Jacks.  Shows my age 😊

Ball Study: The children dipped various balls from our collection into paint and bounced them on paper. It was interesting to see the many patterns made by a playground ball, koosh  ball, and waffle ball.  The children also used the vacuum to make wind to move balls move across the classroom.

Letter Learning: The letter for today was E.

Writing Journals: The children came up with ways to turn Mat Man into a person. Some children drew Mat Man and added features to make their parents. Some drew super heroes or cartoon characters.

Snacks: The snack for today was cheese, Wheat Thins, apple juice and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story: Listen to I Am a Leaf by Joan Morozzo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH9NKpDvLCg&t=50s  The children have noticed the changing leaves in the play yard.  This is a good book for learning about how they change colors.

Letter Learning: The letter H page is in your child’s folder. Use the construction paper lines to form the letter on the page.  Make the H sound. I tell the children that it’s like blowing hot air. Now use the chalkboard to do Wet, Dry, Try.

Math Journal: Autumn Colors

Ball Study: In the folder, you will find a green paper with two experiments to try with balls. We did Huff and Puff in school. It would be fun to do at home. Try "The Force of Water". See if your child can figure how to move the ball in water without touching it.

Tuesday, October 13

  Group Meeting: The children helped me make a list of things that we saw at Shady Knoll Farm.  We got out our Writing Journals and drew pictures of what we saw. I showed the children how to draw by using shapes. For example, a pumpkin is a circle or oval with a line for a stem. A cow has an oval head, rectangle body, lines for legs and a tail.

Story: The story for today was the Three Little Pigs retold by Bonnie Dobkin.  This is the classic tale of the three pigs that went out to build their own homes.   The children love the part about the big, bad wolf.

Ball Study:  We have learned that balls bounce and roll. Today, we experimented with using wind to make balls move.  We used a small hand held vacuum to make wind. We used the words energy and force to talk about how the balls move.

Letter Learning:  We are starting to learn the letters of the alphabet. We will work our way through the alphabet at least three times during the school year doing one letter a day including at home learning. We will do uppercase letters now and add lowercase letters the next time through.  We will start with the easiest letters. Today’s letter was L.  I demonstrated how the letter is formed using the wooden lines. I made the sound for the letter L and used the word lion as an example of a word that starts with that sound.  We learned how to print the uppercase L using the Wet, Dry, Try method. Directions for this are in your child’s folder.  

Snack: The snack for today was apples, peanut butter, milk and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story:  Listen to the story of The Three Little Pigs using this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtHjB6rRmQc.  After the story, cut apart the characters of the story and glue them to the popsicle sticks.  Cut out the houses and ask your child to retell the story of The Three Little Pigs.

Letter Learning:  In the packet, you will find a piece of brown construction paper with big lines and little lines printed on it.  Cut them apart and use them to have your child form the letter F on the F paper that is in the packet. Keep the lines for future use.  After forming the letter, say the letter sound.  Point to the picture of the fish on the paper and say the word fish.   Now, it's time for wet, dry, try.  There is an instruction paper in the packet to explain how to do this.  Print the letter F on the chalkboard first.  The children are doing this at school, so they should know how to do it at home.  Remind them to start at the top.  You may keep this chalkboard at home as we will be using every day.  When we are through the alphabet, I will ask for it back.

Math Journal page:  The Great Pumpkin

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Monday, October 12

 Group Meeting: The children helped me make a list of things that we saw at Shady Knoll Farm.  We got out our Writing Journals and drew pictures of what we saw. I showed the children how to draw by using shapes. For example, a pumpkin is a circle or oval with a line for a stem. A cow has an oval head, rectangle body, lines for legs and a tail.

Story: The story for today was the Three Little Pigs retold by Bonnie Dobkin.  This is the classic tale of the three pigs that went out to build their own homes.   The children love the part about the big, bad wolf.

Ball Study:  We have learned that balls bounce and roll. Today, we experimented with using wind to make balls move.  We used a small hand held vacuum to make wind. We used the words energy and force to talk about how the balls move.

Letter Learning:  We are starting to learn the letters of the alphabet. We will work our way through the alphabet at least three times during the school year doing one letter a day including at home learning. We will do uppercase letters now and add lowercase letters the next time through.  We will start with the easiest letters. Today’s letter was L.  I demonstrated how the letter is formed using the wooden lines. I made the sound for the letter L and used the word lion as an example of a word that starts with that sound.  We learned how to print the uppercase L using the Wet, Dry, Try method. Directions for this are in your child’s folder.  

Snack: The snack for today was yogurt, milk and water.

At Home Learning

Name book page

Story:  Listen to the story of The Three Little Pigs using this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtHjB6rRmQc.  After the story, cut apart the characters of the story and glue them to the popsicle sticks.  Cut out the houses and ask your child to retell the story of The Three Little Pigs.

Letter Learning:  In the packet, you will find a piece of brown construction paper with big lines and little lines printed on it.  Cut them apart and use them to have your child form the letter F on the F paper that is in the packet. Keep the lines for future use.  After forming the letter, say the letter sound.  Point to the picture of the fish on the paper and say the word fish.   Now, it's time for wet, dry, try.  There is an instruction paper in the packet to explain how to do this.  Print the letter F on the chalkboard first.  The children are doing this at school, so they should know how to do it at home.  Remind them to start at the top.

Math Journal page:  The Great Pumpkin

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

October 6 I'm back! Let's go to the farm!

 Group Meeting:  I lead a discussion about our up coming visit to the farm.  We did the Scarecrow Song/Dance and wondered if we will see a scarecrow at Shady Knoll.

Story:  The story for today was Picking Apples and Pumpkins by Richard and Amy Hutchings.  In this story, a family is visiting an apple orchard and pumpkin patch.  The children pick apples and find pumpkins in the field.  I used this book to explain the activities that we will be doing at Shady Knoll.

Fine Motor:  The children traced curvy lines to a pumpkin.  This gave us a little more practice in holding a crayon correctly and moving the crayon in a controlled manner.

Let's Find Out Magazine:  The topic for this weeks magazine is pumpkins.  We watched a video about the parts of a pumpkin.  The children completed the last page of the magazine.

Gross Motor:  The children went to the Outdoor Classroom.

Snack:  The children had a variety of melon and pineapple chunks with milk and water to drink.

Take Home Work:

Math Journal Page:  Follow the directions to color the leaves.

Pumpkin Sizes:  Follow the directions to color the different sizes of pumpkins.

Name Book page

In today's folder is a map for the field trip along with a few directions.  We look forward to seeing everyone for a great time!