Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Storybook Celebration
Today the children took part in our storybook celebration. During playtime small groups of children followed a rebus recipe to make "Witches Brew." During snack time we shared this concoction with our friends. The children loved eating ghost eyes, mouse tails, and cat whiskers. Thank you to everyone who donated ingredients for the snack. Any extra food items we will use for snack, for our snack cupboard is almost empty.
For our center today the children made the story Who Took the Pumpkin From the Pumpkin Patch? As the children read the story they used the clues from each sentence as an indicator for what picture they should glue on each page.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monsters
Today our activities revolved around monsters. We read the stories Go Away Big Green Monster and Glad Monster, Sad Monster. Caldecott Award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way
for children to chase away their nighttime fears. Kids can turn the pages of
this die-cut book and watch the Big Green Monster grow. Then, when they're ready
to show him who's in charge, they'll turn the remaining pages and watch him
disappear! This story allowed us to talk about some books being real and others being make believe.
During centers the children made their own Big Green Monster. They were given a black piece of paper that was folded in half. Then a spoonful of green paint was placed in the fold. The children closed up their papers and rubbed on top of them. They then added features to make their monster. During the second center the children read the story Shape Monster, Shape Monster. Each page started out with the sentences, "Shape Monster, Shape Monster, Munch, Munch, Munch. How about a ______ for your lunch?" To fill in the blank a shape and its color was written. For example, "How about a yellow square for your lunch?" The children listened to the shape clue then glued the corresponding shape on the page. When your child brings the book home tomorrow encourage them to try to read it to you. Have them point under the words with their fingers moving left to right. Also have them use the picture clue to tell about the shape. If your child does not know the shapes, keep the book out and reread it the next couple of nights.
During centers the children made their own Big Green Monster. They were given a black piece of paper that was folded in half. Then a spoonful of green paint was placed in the fold. The children closed up their papers and rubbed on top of them. They then added features to make their monster. During the second center the children read the story Shape Monster, Shape Monster. Each page started out with the sentences, "Shape Monster, Shape Monster, Munch, Munch, Munch. How about a ______ for your lunch?" To fill in the blank a shape and its color was written. For example, "How about a yellow square for your lunch?" The children listened to the shape clue then glued the corresponding shape on the page. When your child brings the book home tomorrow encourage them to try to read it to you. Have them point under the words with their fingers moving left to right. Also have them use the picture clue to tell about the shape. If your child does not know the shapes, keep the book out and reread it the next couple of nights.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Sorting
Today as one of our transitions the children sorted pumpkins on the smart board by small, medium, and large. One of my favorite professional organizations is the National Association for the Education of Young Children. On their website they have great articles titled Message in a Backpack for parents and guardians. I have included the link to one article on how to work on sorting at home. http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/files/tyc/file/V5N5/Home%20Sorting%20Ideas.pdf
Today technolgy is everywhere. This can be a good thing, as well as a bad thing. My philosophy is that we should work to have a balance in our lives. I have included the link to the pbs website. This site has a varity of educational learning games. http://pbskids.org/ Another site we visit in the classroom is http://www.starfall.com/
Today technolgy is everywhere. This can be a good thing, as well as a bad thing. My philosophy is that we should work to have a balance in our lives. I have included the link to the pbs website. This site has a varity of educational learning games. http://pbskids.org/ Another site we visit in the classroom is http://www.starfall.com/
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Future Firefighters
It took a little time and effort to make it happen, but today was our special day. Today we had Fireman Kieth and Fireman Gary visit us from the Cleveland Fire Department. They reviewed our emergency number 9-1-1 with us. They also reminded us how to stop, drop, and roll if our clothes catch on fire. The best part of the experience was when Fireman Gary dressed up in his uniform. We got to see first hand what a firefighter would look like if he or she needed to rescue us. This was a good experience because some children were a little afraid of him all dressed up. We repeated the fact that if there was a fire they should not hide from the fireman. The children also each took a turn spraying the big fire hose. I hope we have a few future firefighters in the bunch!
Today the children also played in the Meeme Orchard center. They filled out orderforms for the purchases they wanted to make. The workers at the orchard then filled the order. The customers then took their apples home to make pie or feed their babies. The children could also paint a pumpkin if they wanted to use in the orchard.
Today the children also played in the Meeme Orchard center. They filled out orderforms for the purchases they wanted to make. The workers at the orchard then filled the order. The customers then took their apples home to make pie or feed their babies. The children could also paint a pumpkin if they wanted to use in the orchard.
Today the children also voted on how they would like our classroom pupkin to be carved. Of late we have been working on the term fewest. When we graph we identify the one with the fewest amount as the one with the smallest number.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Laughing
Looking for a reason to laugh? Here are a few:| Physical Health Benefits: Boosts immunity Lowers stress Decreases pain Relaxes your muscles
Prevents heart disease
Mental Health Benefits:
Adds joy and zest to life Eases anxiety and fear Relieves stress Improves mood Enhances resilience
Besides putting our minds to work today we also put our bodies to work. We watched the YouTube video by Hap Palmer called ABC Rag. We used beanbags to follow the actions on the video to review the letters of the alphabet. If you want to check it out at home visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VDa4865n34
|
Monday, October 22, 2012
P is for Pumpkin
This week our theme is pumpkins. Today we read the story Life Cycles Pumpkins. This story was a nonfiction story that depicted the stages a pumpkin goes through from seed to orange pumpkin. When the children entered the room today they colored half of a paper plate orange. They then glued a brown stem on it. At Miss Sue's center today the children colored cards of the pumpkin life cycle. They then cut them out and placed them in order. I will have the children repeat the process of sequencing their cards tomorrow with a partner. The children will then "tell" about the life cycle of a pumpkin using their cards. Sequencing is an important skill to learn, for the children will have to use it when they retell the events of a story, and write the steps in a process.
Our classroom is undergoing some changes this week. I took down the fire station and replaced it with the math and science center. In this center I added jack-o-lanterns with numbers on them and foam seeds. The children can look at the number on the jack-o-lantern and place the corresponding number of seeds in it. The books and puzzles center is now being made into the Meeme Orchard. We are in the process of putting up trees that have apples labeled with letters, numbers, and shapes. We will also work this week during playtime to make pumpkins to sell at the orchard. When the children place an order at the orchard they will fill out an order form. A worker will then fill the order. When the customers take their order home they can pretend to eat their apples, or make apple or pumpkin pie. I hung up a recipe for making apple pie in our house center. The recipe will allow the children the chance to follow the steps in the process of making pie.
Our classroom is undergoing some changes this week. I took down the fire station and replaced it with the math and science center. In this center I added jack-o-lanterns with numbers on them and foam seeds. The children can look at the number on the jack-o-lantern and place the corresponding number of seeds in it. The books and puzzles center is now being made into the Meeme Orchard. We are in the process of putting up trees that have apples labeled with letters, numbers, and shapes. We will also work this week during playtime to make pumpkins to sell at the orchard. When the children place an order at the orchard they will fill out an order form. A worker will then fill the order. When the customers take their order home they can pretend to eat their apples, or make apple or pumpkin pie. I hung up a recipe for making apple pie in our house center. The recipe will allow the children the chance to follow the steps in the process of making pie.
The children are also enjoying the pumpkin play doh that I made for them at the writing center. I have included the recipe for your enjoyment at home!
Pumpkin Play Doh
~ 2 cups of flour
~ 1 cup salt
~ 4 tsp. cream of tartar
~ 1/4 cup cinnamon
~ 2 Tbsp. cloves
~ 2 Tbsp. nutmeg
~ 2 tsp. ginger
~ 2 cups water
~ 2 Tbsp. oil
To Make:
1. Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices together in a mixing bowl.
2. Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and mix together well.
3. Transfer mixture to a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.
4. The dough will begin to thicken and form. When it becomes difficult to stir and is more solid, remove from heat and carefully knead the dough. {Note: dough will be hot!}
5. When dough has cooled, have fun playing ~ this is great for the holidays!!
~ 2 cups of flour
~ 1 cup salt
~ 4 tsp. cream of tartar
~ 1/4 cup cinnamon
~ 2 Tbsp. cloves
~ 2 Tbsp. nutmeg
~ 2 tsp. ginger
~ 2 cups water
~ 2 Tbsp. oil
To Make:
1. Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices together in a mixing bowl.
2. Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and mix together well.
3. Transfer mixture to a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly.
4. The dough will begin to thicken and form. When it becomes difficult to stir and is more solid, remove from heat and carefully knead the dough. {Note: dough will be hot!}
5. When dough has cooled, have fun playing ~ this is great for the holidays!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Apple Tasting
Today during snack the children taste tested apples. They tried red ones, yellow ones, and green ones. They used the following adjectives to describe the apples; crunchy, juicy, sweet, sour, crisp, and even yummy. Once the taste test was finished the children graphed which color apple they thought tasted the best. As you can see from our graph it was a tie between red and green apples.
During centers today the children made an apple tree with Miss Sue. They cut out a trunk and leaves, glued them onto a piece of paper, and then made apples with paint and the eraser end of a pencil. During a independent center the children used a balance and math manipulates to experiment with how heavy an apple is.
To end the day we played the "Rotten Apple" game. The children sat in a circle and picked an apple from the bushel basket. They then identified the color, shape, number, or letter that was on the apple. If the children picked an apple with a worm on it everyone placed their cards back in the basket.
During centers today the children made an apple tree with Miss Sue. They cut out a trunk and leaves, glued them onto a piece of paper, and then made apples with paint and the eraser end of a pencil. During a independent center the children used a balance and math manipulates to experiment with how heavy an apple is.
To end the day we played the "Rotten Apple" game. The children sat in a circle and picked an apple from the bushel basket. They then identified the color, shape, number, or letter that was on the apple. If the children picked an apple with a worm on it everyone placed their cards back in the basket.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Ten Apples Up On Top
Today our read aloud was Ten Apples Up On Top. This silly story offered us many opportunities to find rhyming words, like drop and top, tall, and fall, town and down. During center time the children at my center drew a picture of themselves. We took our time and made sure we had two eyes, a nose, a mouth, two ears, hair, and even eyebrows. We also talked about the color of our hair and eyes. Next the children were each given a number. They traced over their number and then counted out the corresponding number of apples. Lastly, they glued their apples to the top of their faces. I am going to assemble each child's page into a class book. This book will be available to look at while you are waiting for your parent teacher conference. At our second center the children used apples to make turn taking patters; red, yellow, red, yellow, ETC.
Today I filled the sensory table with the corncobs that our classmates graciously brought in. I also had some Indian corn from home that I added. The children love the feeling of taking the kernels off of the cobs. We are also using a cob of Indian corn for a science experiment. I placed the corn in a dish of water and asked the children to predict what will happen. Some of the children said the corn will grow. Another student predicted that the seeds would fall off. While another student prediced that the corn will happen. We will eagerly wait to see what happens in the next couple of days!!
The playground was very wet today after all of the rain we received over the weekend, so we decided to stay indoors. I got out our balance beams, tunnels and bridges and the children had a fabulous time participating in large motor movement.
Here are some other pictures from our busy day.
Today I filled the sensory table with the corncobs that our classmates graciously brought in. I also had some Indian corn from home that I added. The children love the feeling of taking the kernels off of the cobs. We are also using a cob of Indian corn for a science experiment. I placed the corn in a dish of water and asked the children to predict what will happen. Some of the children said the corn will grow. Another student predicted that the seeds would fall off. While another student prediced that the corn will happen. We will eagerly wait to see what happens in the next couple of days!!
The playground was very wet today after all of the rain we received over the weekend, so we decided to stay indoors. I got out our balance beams, tunnels and bridges and the children had a fabulous time participating in large motor movement.
Here are some other pictures from our busy day.
Friday, October 12, 2012
F is for fire, feather, fire truck, fruit, flowers, football, fork, friends and even fish
Happy Friday! To culminate each week the children take part in a variety of activities to go along with our focus letters. On Thursdays I show the children items from my letter jar that begin with the same sound as our focus letter. On Friday the children may bring in items from home that start with the focus letter. To make this an even more in depth experience you can challenge your child to find three or seven items that start with our focus letter. Each week the children will also make a letter page to go in an ABC book that we will be making during the entire school year. This week the children cut out the letter F and placed it in a box. The teacher then put red, orange, and yellow marbles that had been dipped in paint in the box. The children tipped the box back and forth to make it look like their was fire on their letter F.
This weekend take some time to use environmental print to help your child become more familiar with letters. Environmental Print is the print of everyday life: The symbols, signs, numbers, and colors found in McDonald's, Walmart, Exxon, Pizza Hut, and 7-Up. They offer excellent entry points for young children to begin to learn to read, write, and do math. Books, billboards, calendars, catalogs, comics, containers, coupons, flyers, greeting cards, grocery stores, journals, labels, magazines, menus, newspapers, office supply packaging, posters, recipes, road signs, snack bags, telephone books, and websites are items we see every day. Take some time to point out these items to your child and discuss the letters that are on them. It is much more appealing to remember M for McDonald's then M on a piece of paper.
This weekend take some time to use environmental print to help your child become more familiar with letters. Environmental Print is the print of everyday life: The symbols, signs, numbers, and colors found in McDonald's, Walmart, Exxon, Pizza Hut, and 7-Up. They offer excellent entry points for young children to begin to learn to read, write, and do math. Books, billboards, calendars, catalogs, comics, containers, coupons, flyers, greeting cards, grocery stores, journals, labels, magazines, menus, newspapers, office supply packaging, posters, recipes, road signs, snack bags, telephone books, and websites are items we see every day. Take some time to point out these items to your child and discuss the letters that are on them. It is much more appealing to remember M for McDonald's then M on a piece of paper.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Firebears
Who are the rescue heroes of Fire Station Number Eight? The Firebears!Sound the siren, grab the hoses, stretch those ladders. Rescue! With Firebears on the job, no blaze is too big to brave-it's all in a day's work.
After reading this adventurous tale the children made a Firebear of their own. They then drew a picture of their Firebear at work. Some of the bears were saving cats, some were putting out house fires, and others were putting out building fires.
Today the children also enjoyed singing the following song:
"Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck."
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
(Hands on steering wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(Lean to the right)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(Lean to the left)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(Lean to the right and left)
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
(Pretend to climb ladder)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
(Pretend to spray hose)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
(Lean slowly to the left and right)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
(Hands on steering wheel)
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truck
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(Lean to the right)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(Lean to the left)
Hurry, hurry, turn the corner
(Lean to the right and left)
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
(Pretend to climb ladder)
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Hurry, hurry, climb the ladder
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
(Pretend to spray hose)
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Hurry, hurry, squirt the water
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
(Lean slowly to the left and right)
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Slowly, slowly, back to the station
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
(Ring bell)
We also took some time today to discuss what to do if our clothes catch on fire. I placed a felt flame on my shirt and showed the children how to STOP, DROP, and ROLL. Then they each took a turn wearing the felt flame and practicing STOP, DROP, and ROLL.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Fire Safety
This week we have begun discussing fire safety. Today we talked about how if there is an emergency we dial 9-1-1. I made sure to stress that we only dial this number in an emergency. Today we did a large group project. This project involved making a firetruck. I like to have the children work in centers because it is easier to meet the needs of the children when they are in small groups. Large group instruction has its benefits too. When children work as a large group they have learn to be good listeners, so they don't miss any steps in the process.
When the children finished assembling their firetrucks they were able to draw a steering wheel, a hose, a firefighter, and anything also that they felt would be on a firetruck. In 4K one of our goals is to help the children draw recognizable pictures. To help with this at home you may encourage your child to draw pictures for their loved ones and friends. This way they are practicing the skill as well as having a purpose to do it.
Please enjoy the following pictures of our classroom fire station and events of the day.
When the children finished assembling their firetrucks they were able to draw a steering wheel, a hose, a firefighter, and anything also that they felt would be on a firetruck. In 4K one of our goals is to help the children draw recognizable pictures. To help with this at home you may encourage your child to draw pictures for their loved ones and friends. This way they are practicing the skill as well as having a purpose to do it.
Please enjoy the following pictures of our classroom fire station and events of the day.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
What is my child really learning while they are playing?
Today was an exciting day in our 4K classroom! Next week is fire safety week, so I changed our Math and Science center into a fire station. Our speah therapist let us borrow her fire station pop-up tent. In the tent I placed a table so our fire men and women can eat, play games, and color pictures while they wait for an alarm. The children also have a map of our classroom that they can use to find the directions to the fire. They have red, yellow, and orange flannel pieces for pretend fire. They also have a phone to take calls, a hose to put out the fire, and helmets. We only have two helmets to share among four children, which turned out to be a great teachable moment. The children learned that they could wear the helmet for awhile, but then they needed to share it with a friend.
There are many long term benefits to allowing children to play in a dramatic play center. First they learn to interact and cooperate with others. They can express individuality and creativity. The children learn to work together to solve problems. During play they can address fears and worries. They learn to ask and answer questions of others. Play also helps children understand themselves, their families, and the society around them.
Today during centers we review the sound that the letter "L, l" makes. We also enjoyed making leaf pints.
There are many long term benefits to allowing children to play in a dramatic play center. First they learn to interact and cooperate with others. They can express individuality and creativity. The children learn to work together to solve problems. During play they can address fears and worries. They learn to ask and answer questions of others. Play also helps children understand themselves, their families, and the society around them.
Today during centers we review the sound that the letter "L, l" makes. We also enjoyed making leaf pints.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Building a Community
One of my main goals as a teacher is to build a cooperative community of learners. Today we took a short break form our regular circle time routine to discuss what it means to be a good friend. Over the last few days we have been having a few problems with children taking toys out of other friends hands, wanting to be first in line, and cutting in front of people in line in order to stand next to the person they like.
Today I read the story It's My turn! to the children. In this story cat would go down the slide, but would not give dog a turn. Then he would go on the marry-go-round, but not let dog on, and then he would go on the swings, but not let dog on. In the middle of the story dog finally got to go on the slide, marry-go-round, and swing. At this time cat asked if he could have a turn, but dog said, "No." At this time we discussed how it would feel to be dog and cat. We also discussed solutions to the problem of wanting to play with the same toys. The story concluded with cat and dog working together on the seesaw.
It is a good character trait to be an independent thinker and know what you want. With this being said, I will work with the children to use their words to express their needs and wants, as well as use conflict resolution to solve social problems.
Today I read the story It's My turn! to the children. In this story cat would go down the slide, but would not give dog a turn. Then he would go on the marry-go-round, but not let dog on, and then he would go on the swings, but not let dog on. In the middle of the story dog finally got to go on the slide, marry-go-round, and swing. At this time cat asked if he could have a turn, but dog said, "No." At this time we discussed how it would feel to be dog and cat. We also discussed solutions to the problem of wanting to play with the same toys. The story concluded with cat and dog working together on the seesaw.
It is a good character trait to be an independent thinker and know what you want. With this being said, I will work with the children to use their words to express their needs and wants, as well as use conflict resolution to solve social problems.
Monday, October 1, 2012
L is for Leaves
This is another exciting week in 4K. This week we will begin work on learning the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that they make. Our first two letters are F & L. This week we will learn that L is for leaves. The children will also learn the sigh language sign that goes with L.
As part of our transitions the children traced the capital L on the smart board. We said the words, "Make a straight line down, then a line across the ground." By making up sayings, or giving a symbol human features, children are more likely to remember how to write letters or numbers. In class when we practice writing a number five we always say, "Mr. Five wears a hat, has a long neck, and a belly fat."
During center time today some of the children read the book Fletcher and the Falling Leaves with a partner. Before the children read the story I first modeled how to read a story with a friend. I read them the rhyme; Elbow to elbow, knee to knee, I can read to you, and you can read to me. Elbow to elbow, knee to knee, put the book in the middle, so we both can see. Then I sat with a friend and modeled the expected behavior.
At an independent center the children used droppers to drop colored liquid on a coffee filter to make fall leaves. This activity also incorporates scientific inquiry, because the children observed what happened when the colors mixed
.
Today we also had a new addition to the writing center. I pressed leaves from home and showed the children how to make leaf rubbings. This activity was a big hit! You may want to try it at home for fun too.
As part of our transitions the children traced the capital L on the smart board. We said the words, "Make a straight line down, then a line across the ground." By making up sayings, or giving a symbol human features, children are more likely to remember how to write letters or numbers. In class when we practice writing a number five we always say, "Mr. Five wears a hat, has a long neck, and a belly fat."
During center time today some of the children read the book Fletcher and the Falling Leaves with a partner. Before the children read the story I first modeled how to read a story with a friend. I read them the rhyme; Elbow to elbow, knee to knee, I can read to you, and you can read to me. Elbow to elbow, knee to knee, put the book in the middle, so we both can see. Then I sat with a friend and modeled the expected behavior.
At an independent center the children used droppers to drop colored liquid on a coffee filter to make fall leaves. This activity also incorporates scientific inquiry, because the children observed what happened when the colors mixed
Today we also had a new addition to the writing center. I pressed leaves from home and showed the children how to make leaf rubbings. This activity was a big hit! You may want to try it at home for fun too.
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