Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Day 24: Kids Love 'Natural Wonders'!
One of the highlights of today was going to the courtyard and discovering all of the activities that Ms. Kim, from 'Natural Wonders', had prepared for us! The kids loved wandering from station to station exploring everything. There was oatmeal to dip our hands into and pour into containers. Beans galore were found at one station along with different kinds of spoons and bottles. Scented play doe could be found at another station along with little stones to mix with the play doe. A BIG rock was discovered by Tucker, who enjoyed laying down on a pillow and looking at the rock up against the sky. Beau could be found at the block station making bridges for the animals. Evan enjoyed pouring the oatmeal into a cupcake tin with several friends. A box of old keys and clothes pins was a treasure chest for Joseph! The kid's smiles just made the beautiful day even more delightful.
"Show and Tell' was a big hit as Evan showed us a piece of wood that his dad was using to make his BIG bed. Everyone held the wood, discovering that it was hard and smooth. According to Evan, there is a lot of wood to clean up and he will be very busy helping his dad! The kids who are listening are starting to raise their hands to ask questions about the show and tell object, which is wonderful!
Using our idea web, the kids took turns making complete sentences to tell what they know about the cow. It was also a great opportunity to practice the correct pronunciation of the 'c/k' sound. We sang a song about a cow using our idea web, with each child waiting their turn to pick the picture about which they wanted to sing. Using actions helped the kids stay engaged with the song.
I hope the kids told you about the strawberry shortcake we made today! First, we sequenced the ideas that 1) a cow lives on a farm, 2) a cow eats grass on the farm, 3) we get milk from a cow, 4) ice cream is made from milk, 5) we can make a milkshake all because of the cow. Oh, it can be so hard to wait our turns when we cook! The excitement to be a part of the creation keeps everyone engaged and wanting to answer questions before their turn to add something to the blender. Of course, turning the blender on and off was the BEST part, according to the kids. We shared our milkshakes with Ms. Carol and Mr. Jimmy, practicing our "Hello, ___" , eye contact, and presenting the milkshake while using our words to tell them what we made. Mr. Jimmy is great about asking the kids questions which provides this practical, everyday communication interchange. We want the kids to practice their social communication skills with different adults, and kids, in different contexts!
Ms. Kelly will be posting a slide show of all the kids during the "Natural Wonders". Thank you, Ms. Kelly. We also thank Ms. Tiffany for taking all of the pictures! Enjoy!
"Show and Tell' was a big hit as Evan showed us a piece of wood that his dad was using to make his BIG bed. Everyone held the wood, discovering that it was hard and smooth. According to Evan, there is a lot of wood to clean up and he will be very busy helping his dad! The kids who are listening are starting to raise their hands to ask questions about the show and tell object, which is wonderful!
Using our idea web, the kids took turns making complete sentences to tell what they know about the cow. It was also a great opportunity to practice the correct pronunciation of the 'c/k' sound. We sang a song about a cow using our idea web, with each child waiting their turn to pick the picture about which they wanted to sing. Using actions helped the kids stay engaged with the song.
I hope the kids told you about the strawberry shortcake we made today! First, we sequenced the ideas that 1) a cow lives on a farm, 2) a cow eats grass on the farm, 3) we get milk from a cow, 4) ice cream is made from milk, 5) we can make a milkshake all because of the cow. Oh, it can be so hard to wait our turns when we cook! The excitement to be a part of the creation keeps everyone engaged and wanting to answer questions before their turn to add something to the blender. Of course, turning the blender on and off was the BEST part, according to the kids. We shared our milkshakes with Ms. Carol and Mr. Jimmy, practicing our "Hello, ___" , eye contact, and presenting the milkshake while using our words to tell them what we made. Mr. Jimmy is great about asking the kids questions which provides this practical, everyday communication interchange. We want the kids to practice their social communication skills with different adults, and kids, in different contexts!
Ms. Kelly will be posting a slide show of all the kids during the "Natural Wonders". Thank you, Ms. Kelly. We also thank Ms. Tiffany for taking all of the pictures! Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Day 22: We made butter!
Yes, we did make butter! Read here to learn more!
Since we our theme is farm animals this week, we learned about the cow today. After seeing a youtube about how to milk a cow (milking anabelle), we pretended to milk a cow using a latex glove filled with water. The 'milk' came out of the little holes if we milked it just the right way. The water fell into our blue pool, which ended up being just as fun in which to splash!
Shaking containers of heavy whipping cream to make butter takes about 10 minutes, but we persevered! The butter tasted great with a pinch of salt added, though the kids were a bit shy at first to put it on their cracker. Joseph and Tucker asked to take the containers home to share with their families. Hope you enjoy!
There is a really fun song on www.123child.com about a farmer picking up all of his animals on his tracker. We will be listening to it every day and you might enjoy it too. After getting on the site, go to preschool lessons. You will find 'animals' with a scroll down to 'farm'. After the 'farm' site comes up, scroll down to a picture of a man on a tractor and you can play the video.
While my camera quit on me during the cow activities, I do have pictures of being outside with Ms. Angela today. Balancing was the main focus today as the kids walked along different sizes shapes of balancing boards. The trickiest was a big, soft square that wiggled when you stood on it. We heard cheering from all the kids as their friends finished the course by raising their arms and saying, "I did it!".
We also had a chance to do relay races again. I love the big smiles as the kids race back and forth!
For each animal, we will be making an idea web with pictures of the animal in the middle. Pictures surrounding the animals will be about where they live, what they eat, what covers them, and how they help us. I will send the idea webs home so that your child can tell you all about the animals.
I think we all had fun today. Look forward to tomorrow!
Since we our theme is farm animals this week, we learned about the cow today. After seeing a youtube about how to milk a cow (milking anabelle), we pretended to milk a cow using a latex glove filled with water. The 'milk' came out of the little holes if we milked it just the right way. The water fell into our blue pool, which ended up being just as fun in which to splash!
Shaking containers of heavy whipping cream to make butter takes about 10 minutes, but we persevered! The butter tasted great with a pinch of salt added, though the kids were a bit shy at first to put it on their cracker. Joseph and Tucker asked to take the containers home to share with their families. Hope you enjoy!
There is a really fun song on www.123child.com about a farmer picking up all of his animals on his tracker. We will be listening to it every day and you might enjoy it too. After getting on the site, go to preschool lessons. You will find 'animals' with a scroll down to 'farm'. After the 'farm' site comes up, scroll down to a picture of a man on a tractor and you can play the video.
While my camera quit on me during the cow activities, I do have pictures of being outside with Ms. Angela today. Balancing was the main focus today as the kids walked along different sizes shapes of balancing boards. The trickiest was a big, soft square that wiggled when you stood on it. We heard cheering from all the kids as their friends finished the course by raising their arms and saying, "I did it!".
We also had a chance to do relay races again. I love the big smiles as the kids race back and forth!
For each animal, we will be making an idea web with pictures of the animal in the middle. Pictures surrounding the animals will be about where they live, what they eat, what covers them, and how they help us. I will send the idea webs home so that your child can tell you all about the animals.
I think we all had fun today. Look forward to tomorrow!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Day 21:
Ms. Michelle kept the kids busy today with yoga, bean bag toss and some squishy 'finger fun'! Make sure you see the pictures! The kids took turns choosing yoga poses from a series of cards and were real troopers as they moved their bodies in different ways. We moved to the bean bag toss where they kids threw different animal shaped bean bags into different shaped holes. Lots of language was embedded into the activity. Have you ever mixed corn starch and water for other than gravy? We did and it was wonderfully gooey. The kids were amazed when the solid consistency turned into goo that seeped through their fingers. I have got to use this activity again!
We finished the stick house and brick house by working together as a team. Those pesky sticks didn't want to stick to the board! Lots and lots and lots of glue was used.
During language and learning circle, we read the book, "Barnyard Banter". Since our monthly theme is 'Down on the Farm', we had fun imitating farm animal sounds while guessing where that goose disappeared! How could we not sing a rousing rendition of "Old McDonald Had a Farm" at the end of our circle time?
As usual, we ended our day with the '100 Days of School' journal, which the kids seem to love! They also wrote in their writing journal using a photograph of themselves engaged in an activity. After they 'write', the kids each dictate a sentence or two about he picture. I write down exactly what they say to me, indicating if the sentence was spontaneous (S) or cued (C). We will having a running record of their sentence structures and developing ability to recount a personal experience.
Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful fall weather. I am!
We finished the stick house and brick house by working together as a team. Those pesky sticks didn't want to stick to the board! Lots and lots and lots of glue was used.
During language and learning circle, we read the book, "Barnyard Banter". Since our monthly theme is 'Down on the Farm', we had fun imitating farm animal sounds while guessing where that goose disappeared! How could we not sing a rousing rendition of "Old McDonald Had a Farm" at the end of our circle time?
As usual, we ended our day with the '100 Days of School' journal, which the kids seem to love! They also wrote in their writing journal using a photograph of themselves engaged in an activity. After they 'write', the kids each dictate a sentence or two about he picture. I write down exactly what they say to me, indicating if the sentence was spontaneous (S) or cued (C). We will having a running record of their sentence structures and developing ability to recount a personal experience.
Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful fall weather. I am!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Day 20: Off to a great start!
My eyes were bigger than my stomach when I planned for today! I had planned that we would make all three houses for our retelling of "The Three Little Pigs". We had a great time making the straw house and were able to collect the sticks for the second house which we will finish tomorrow. Wednesday, we can work on the brick house and hopefully video tape the kids retelling the story on Friday!
When we acted the story out for Ms. Carol today, the kids took turns being the wolf. We enjoyed their individual interpretations of how the wolf's voice sounds. I can still giggle when I think about it!
We have been singing a take off of the song, "Down By the Bay", which has animals doing funny things. Some examples in the original song are: "Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?" and "Did you ever see a bear combing his hair?". However, we made up sentences about a pig with words that rhyme with pig. "Did you ever see a pig that could really, really dig?" "Did you ever see a pig wearing a wig?" "Did you ever see a pig eating a fig?" "Did you ever see a pig that was really, really big?"
We had some special visitors today as Beau's grandma and grandpa came to visit during lunch. I think we need to set up a schedule for parents to come visit as the kids feel very special when they have a special visitor.
Congratulations to Joseph's parents! Joseph has a third sister now. Her name is Julia and according to Joseph, she is 'zero years old'.
We are moving into the monthly theme of 'Down on the Farm'. While we finish up 'The Three Little Pigs', we will also be talking about what it is like to live on a farm and all of the animals that live on a farm. I think are going to have loads of fun!
When we acted the story out for Ms. Carol today, the kids took turns being the wolf. We enjoyed their individual interpretations of how the wolf's voice sounds. I can still giggle when I think about it!
We have been singing a take off of the song, "Down By the Bay", which has animals doing funny things. Some examples in the original song are: "Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?" and "Did you ever see a bear combing his hair?". However, we made up sentences about a pig with words that rhyme with pig. "Did you ever see a pig that could really, really dig?" "Did you ever see a pig wearing a wig?" "Did you ever see a pig eating a fig?" "Did you ever see a pig that was really, really big?"
We had some special visitors today as Beau's grandma and grandpa came to visit during lunch. I think we need to set up a schedule for parents to come visit as the kids feel very special when they have a special visitor.
Congratulations to Joseph's parents! Joseph has a third sister now. Her name is Julia and according to Joseph, she is 'zero years old'.
We are moving into the monthly theme of 'Down on the Farm'. While we finish up 'The Three Little Pigs', we will also be talking about what it is like to live on a farm and all of the animals that live on a farm. I think are going to have loads of fun!
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