Day 10 and 11 started out our week about friends by exploring how the friends we have at school are the same in some ways and different in other ways. After reading the book, "Bongo Has Many Friends", we made a chart on Monday to show us how all the animals were the same...or different!
On Tuesday, we read a silly book, "Do You Like Ketchup On Your Apple Pie?", using the repetition and pictures for all of us to ask each other silly questions. We found out if we liked the same things that were in the book as we found the pictures and words that matched.
The focus on same and different was carried through in our art projects, math and literacy activities. You might have seen the book that the kids made about same and different shapes. The kids presented their books to each other today and asked their friends if the shapes on the different pages were the same or different. Today, the kids each chose their favorite of two color and several stamps. They stamped their pictures on each of their friends paper plates while we talked about who used the same color. Who used a different color?
To work on measurement and concept vocabulary, we determined the height of each child using the length of a piece of yarn. They put their yarn pieces in a row and talked about taller and shorter than, as well as that our friends look different and that's okay! When we did our math activity, during morning circle, of counting beans/pasta to put in our individual bottles, some kids got the same number to count and come kids got different numbers to count.
We had fun playing a matching game by putting letters underneath cups and finding letters that were the same. This also gave us a chance to name the letters and what sounds they make. Taking turns was a bit easier this time than the last time we played a matching game, though not finding a match can be very disappointing!
Ms. Michelle was here again today! I forgot my camera and won't have pictures, but what fun we had. After completing an obstacle course by walking and jumping on different objects, the kids walked on their hands like a wheelbarrow. We were then able to play with objects in a sensory tub filled with rice. More still was to come as we blew small foam shapes with a straw across the room. I love borrowing ideas from occupational therapists!
You have not received a purple folder with the "1oo Days of School" journal on Monday and Tuesday as my work computer stopped working Monday morning. I am hoping to be up and running using my old, old, old computer by tomorrow!
I love being with your children! They are all so different, and yet same wonderful quality of just being themselves! (If you correctly count the number of times that I used the words "same" and "different" in this post, you might just win a prize.)
