Sharing decorations

The children have been busy making ornaments to share with residents at a nursing home. We have made paper chains, paper ornaments, snowflakes and pine cone ornaments. 

Holiday fun

The month of December our class will be learning about different celebrations of light around the world. We learned about the countries that celebrate St. Nickolas Day and read The Baker's Dozen, a tale about St. Nickolas. We celebrated with gingerbread cookies. Joanne helped us celebrate Channukah by teaching the dreidel game and giving each child a dreidel to share with their families. For our celebration of Las Posadas in Mexico, the children are helping to make a piñata . It was very messy and gooey!

Second graders reading to preschool buddies

Having fun with ramps

Apple projects

This week we are learning about apples. We read The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall and The Seasons of  Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons. We used a mystery bag to feel an apple without knowing what it was and described what we were feeling. There were some great descriptive words such as hard,cold, smooth, pokey, round and big ( I used a huge Honey Crisp apple). Then the children guessed what was in the bag. A ball and an apple were the most popular guesses.

At the art table we made apple prints on paper. At the math table there are different sized apples to arrange from smallest to largest and there is also a scale to weigh apples and find out which one is the heaviest and lightest.
We also made applesauce. First the children used an apple peeler to peel the apples. Each child had an opportunity to turn the handle and the children enjoyed seeing how long a peel could be without breaking. Then they chopped the apples carefully into small pieces and put the pieces in a pot to cook. Our room smelled wonderful as the apples cooked. When the apples were soft, we used a colander fruit press to mash the apples. We added a little cinnamon to our applesauce. It was Yummy!

Shaving cream fun

Today we explored with shaving cream. I asked that the shaving cream stay on the table and that only hands were used. No fake beards! This is a great way to practice writing letters and shapes. It is fun to put glitter in the shaving cream to add texture or add drops of liquid water colors to see colors being mixed to form new colors. Small cars can be rolled through it to make fun track designs. I use the unscented cream so the smell isn't overwhelming. The children love it! It can be messy so smocks are needed.

Eagle Spotted

Yesterday the children were able to see an eagle soaring above the school. They were very excited. We could clearly see the white head and tail. It is fun to see them notice the difference between the eagles, hawks and vultures.

    The first week of school was great! Fran and I were amazed at how well the children transitioned into the classroom and adjusted to the routines.
    This week we will introduce some of our art tool such as glue, paints, easel and scissors. We will have a cutting bin to help practice scissor skills.
     We will read books about ourselves, friends, families and emotions during the month of September. Some of my favorite books are:
Mouse's first Day of School by Lauren Thompson
I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
Now I Am Big by Margaret Miller
Franklin is Bossy by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark
It's Mine by Leo Lionni
Do You Want To Be My Friend  by Eric Carle
Cleversticks byBernard Ashley
Jamaica and Briana by Juanita Havill
All Families Are Special by Norma Simon
When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Sometimes I Feel Like A Mouse by Jeanne Modesitt
Sometimes I'm Bombaloo by Rachael Vail