This week since the weather has been chilly, we have alternated playing in the big room with taking walks in the high school. On Wednesday, the Lucky Ducks took a walk to the science center. The science center is incredible. It has numerous animals for the children to see and learn about. Some of the favorites have been an alligator, large turtles, fish, tarantulas and of course the life size tiger. This was not our first trip to the science center. But one of the first observations the children made, was that the tiger was missing.
After our trip, we came back to the classroom to write a letter to Wendy the science center teacher. This is the letter the Lucky Ducks wrote:
Dear Wendy,
We went to the animal center to see the animals. We didn't see the tiger. Where is the tiger? Thank you for letting us visit the science center.
From,
The Lucky Ducks
The Lucky Ducks each signed their own names - Not included for privacy reasons.
We brought this letter to the mail room to mail it, and learn about how a letter is sent. Making the connection to the wind blowing the letter around in Amy's Letter by Ezra Jack Keats.
The Lucky Ducks loved this and are eager to hear back about the tiger.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Wind and Water
OWL Unit 3 Weeks 1 & 2
This week we will begin our Wind and Water Unit. Children will explore wind and water using observations, experiments and books to learn more about such topics as evaporation, weather, temperature, insulation, rain and snow. Here are the theme concepts for this unit:
- We find water in different forms-- as rain (liquid) snow and ice (solid) and steam (gas). Temperature affects the form of water.
- Water soaks into, or is absorbed by, some things but is repelled by others.
- Wind--moving air-- affects things. Lighter things are moved a lot by wind, Heavier things are moved less by wind. The amount of wind changes with the weather. In storms, wind can blow very hard.
- Water comes to us through rain or snow.
- Water evaporates from puddles and from things that are wet.
- Plants and animals need water to live.
Reminders:
Book Backpacks are due Tuesday January 13th
If you send your child with snow boots, please send sneakers in their backpack for them to change into. The boots are not great for navigating around the classroom.
Appropriate outerwear for you child is really important! This includes a winter hat, gloves/ mittens, and a heavy coat. As we start to see snow on the ground, you may send you child with snow boots, but please send in extra shoes for them to change into while they are here.
Week of January 5-9
Books for the week:
Gilberto and the Wind by: Marie Hall Ets
One Dark Night by: Hazel Hutchins
Small Groups:
- Shape Bingo
- Unit Vocabulary Memory
- Making Snow Globes
Choice time:
Art Table: Puffy Snowmen
Easel: Painting with colors from Gilberto and the Wind (green, brown, black, white)
Manipulatives: Matching Clothespins to letters
Library Area: Books about Wind and Water
Sensory Table: water and sailboats
Library Area: Books about Wind and Water
Sensory Table: water and sailboats
Writing Table: January Work
Dramatic Play: kitchen
Rug Toy: Cars
Block Area: Cardboard Blocks
Week of January 12-16th
Reminders:
Book Backpacks are due Tuesday January 20th
If you send your child with snow boots, please send sneakers in their backpack for them to change into. The boots are not great for navigating around the classroom.
Appropriate outerwear for you child is really important! This includes a winter hat, gloves/ mittens, and a heavy coat. As we start to see snow on the ground, you may send you child with snow boots, but please send in extra shoes for them to change into while they are here.
Books for the week:
Gilberto and the Wind by: Marie Hall Ets
One Dark Night by: Hazel Hutchins
Rabbits & Raindrops
Small Groups:
- What can Air Move?
- Positional Book - where is the bear?
- Sequencing a snowman being built and melting
Choice time:
Art Table: Coloring with markers and adding drops of water
Easel: Painting with primary colors
Math/Fine Motor: Feed the Animals - roll the dice and give the bunny that many carrots
Library Area: Books about snow
Sensory Table: waterwheels
Library Area: Books about snow
Sensory Table: waterwheels
Writing Table: Writing in Blank books
Dramatic Play: laundromat
Rug Toy: Blowing Bubbles like Gilberto
Block Area: Cardboard Blocks
Early Learner Series
REMINDER
The next session of the Burlington Public Schools Early Learner Series is this Thursday, January 8. The session will take place from 7:00pm - 8:00pm in the Burlington Early Childhood Center (BECC). The topic for this month’s discussion is Setting Up Structure At Home. We will discuss why structure is important, different ways to add it into your life, and what to do when things don’t go the way we want. We will leave ample time to answer questions and troubleshoot any challenges you may come across in this area. We look forward to seeing everyone Thursday night!
- Naomi O’Brien, M.Ed., BCBA and
- Lisa Bottiglio, M.Ed
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Thank you
Thank you for taking time to come to our preschool show.
The Lucky Ducks did such a great job!
Next week we have school on Monday and Tuesday.
We will be finishing our unit on the Gingerbread Man. Students will be voting for their favorite version as well as selecting which story they would like to hear again.
We will be playing some fun Gingerbread games - Such as gingerbread, gingerbread, Fox. (Based on the popular Duck, Duck, Goose game- that the students learned how to play on Thursday).
We hope you have a wonderful and safe vacation with your families.
Family Party
Thursday, December 18th
at 10:40 is our
FAMILY PARTY!!
Please join the Lucky Ducks for a few songs, a craft and a slideshow.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Gingerbread Man
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all the families and staff who donated a pair of pajamas. We have collected the most to date! Scholastic will donate 1 book for each pair of pajamas. Thank you for providing so many children the chance for a snugly night with so many adorable and cozy pajamas. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Wow - December is flying by. Winter break will be from December 24-January 2nd. We will return to school on January 5th! Have a wonderful winter break!
This week we will be continuing our Gingerbread Man unit.
Family Party - Thursday, December 18th at 10:40
During our family party the Lucky Ducks will perform a few songs, families will decorate a foam gingerbread man and then we will watch a slide show of pictures from the first part of our year. Please send in a regular snack with your child, as the kids will eat snack before the family party.
Stories:
The Gingerbread Girl
The Gingerbread Kid
The Stinky Cheeseman
Small Groups
Fine Motor - Following Directions Coloring Page
Art - Finishing Family Gifts
Practicing Songs for our family party
Math - Gingerbread Patterns
Making Gingerbread Names
Whole Group
I have do you have letter game
Acting out the Gingerbread Man
Choice Time:
Sweet Shop - Making cookies
Block Area - Building a bridge for the Gingerbread Man with straw builders
Art - Adding decorations to our gingerbread house
Writing Center - Making Holiday Cards
Math - Sorting Shapes on Gingerbread Men
Easel - Painting or Coloring Gingerbread Houses
Listening Center - Listening to Gingerbread Bear and Gingerbread Baby on Cd
The Gingerbread Exchange
The Lucky Ducks have decorated Gingerbread Men to send to participating schools across the country. We are eagerly awaiting Gingerbread Men to be sent back to us from these schools. As part of this process, we have been looking at a map of the USA and discussing different places that students have gone to visit. We are expecting Gingerbread Men from - California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Dakota, Illinois, Colorado, New Jersey and the Pine Glen Elementary School right here in Burlington. If you have any family that lives out of state, or places that your family likes to visit, please let us know so we can add this information to our discussion.
Preschool Life Skill:
#5. When you want something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something else, say, "excuse me" to get them to look at you.
Wow - December is flying by. Winter break will be from December 24-January 2nd. We will return to school on January 5th! Have a wonderful winter break!
This week we will be continuing our Gingerbread Man unit.
Family Party - Thursday, December 18th at 10:40
During our family party the Lucky Ducks will perform a few songs, families will decorate a foam gingerbread man and then we will watch a slide show of pictures from the first part of our year. Please send in a regular snack with your child, as the kids will eat snack before the family party.
Stories:
The Gingerbread Girl
The Gingerbread Kid
The Stinky Cheeseman
Small Groups
Fine Motor - Following Directions Coloring Page
Art - Finishing Family Gifts
Practicing Songs for our family party
Math - Gingerbread Patterns
Making Gingerbread Names
Whole Group
I have do you have letter game
Acting out the Gingerbread Man
Choice Time:
Sweet Shop - Making cookies
Block Area - Building a bridge for the Gingerbread Man with straw builders
Art - Adding decorations to our gingerbread house
Writing Center - Making Holiday Cards
Math - Sorting Shapes on Gingerbread Men
Easel - Painting or Coloring Gingerbread Houses
Listening Center - Listening to Gingerbread Bear and Gingerbread Baby on Cd
The Gingerbread Exchange
The Lucky Ducks have decorated Gingerbread Men to send to participating schools across the country. We are eagerly awaiting Gingerbread Men to be sent back to us from these schools. As part of this process, we have been looking at a map of the USA and discussing different places that students have gone to visit. We are expecting Gingerbread Men from - California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Dakota, Illinois, Colorado, New Jersey and the Pine Glen Elementary School right here in Burlington. If you have any family that lives out of state, or places that your family likes to visit, please let us know so we can add this information to our discussion.
Preschool Life Skill:
#5. When you want something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something else, say, "excuse me" to get them to look at you.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Run, Run as fast as you Can!
We are starting our unit on the Gingerbread Man. During this unit we will read a variety of Gingerbread Stories. Given the variety of endings students will make comparisons from story to story about the endings and the characters in each story.
Stories Include:
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by Jim Aylesworth
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, butcher, a cow, sow, and a fox
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by - Karen Schmidt
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, little boy, farmers, bear, wolf and a fox.
These stories take place in the country side and **Spoiler Alert** the Gingerbread Man is tricked by to fox to get closer to him and the fox eats the Gingerbread Man.
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by Catherine McCafferty
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, cat, snake, goose, and fox.
In this story, the fox tries to offer help carry the Gingerbread Man across the river. That sly fox again tricks the Gingerbread man and he is eaten.
Throughout the unit, we will be reading similar story lines such as the Pancake Man and The Stinky Cheese Man. If you have a story that follows the same idea that you would like to share we would be happy to read it in the classroom.
Stories Include:
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by Jim Aylesworth
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, butcher, a cow, sow, and a fox
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by - Karen Schmidt
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, little boy, farmers, bear, wolf and a fox.
These stories take place in the country side and **Spoiler Alert** the Gingerbread Man is tricked by to fox to get closer to him and the fox eats the Gingerbread Man.
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by Catherine McCafferty
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, cat, snake, goose, and fox.
In this story, the fox tries to offer help carry the Gingerbread Man across the river. That sly fox again tricks the Gingerbread man and he is eaten.
Throughout the unit, we will be reading similar story lines such as the Pancake Man and The Stinky Cheese Man. If you have a story that follows the same idea that you would like to share we would be happy to read it in the classroom.
Small Groups:
Decorating Group Gingerbreads. The Lucky Ducks worked together to decide gender and trimmings for their gingerbreads.
Decorating Individual Gingerbreads
Following Directions - Coloring Page - Students were told what color to use on a specific object in their picture.
Positional Book - Where is the Gingerbread?
Choice Time:
Decorating a Large Gingerbread House
Construction Zone
Sand Table
Gingerbread Puzzle
Painting Gingerbread Houses at the easel.
Listening to Gingerbread Baby on CD.
What does 'Kind' mean?
The Lucky Ducks brainstormed many ideas on what it means to be kind to others. They all had their picture taken as Captain Kind or Princess of Kindness. Please look for these pictures at our Family Party on December 18th. We are encouraging all students in our classroom to be Kind to others. Here are some of their ideas they shared today:
The Lucky Ducks brainstormed many ideas on what it means to be kind to others. They all had their picture taken as Captain Kind or Princess of Kindness. Please look for these pictures at our Family Party on December 18th. We are encouraging all students in our classroom to be Kind to others. Here are some of their ideas they shared today:
Share a toy (This was very popular)
Share a costume
Share a cookie
Share a hat
Share markers
Smile
Say Thank You
Say Nice Things
The Lucky Ducks will continue to build upon this skill throughout the year.
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