This week we will begin our preschool curriculum. The curriculum we are using this year is Opening the World of Learning (OWL). The first unit is FAMILY. In this unit students will be exploring and talking about families and the many different ways family members relate to and help one another. Theme Concepts: Family members have role names (mother, father, sister, brother, etc Some family members live together, some live in other places but are still family members. Grown-ups in a family take care of children. Younger children need more care. Older children can help take care of younger brothers and sisters. Families do things together that are fun. Week of October 1st-5th Books for the week: Oonga Boonga by: Frieda Wishinsky Peter’s Chair by: Ezra Jack Keats Small Groups: Storytelling- Students will draw a picture of their of fall activities they like to do with their family. How do you help your family? Matching letters and names Choice time: Ipads Manipulatives: parquetry blocksLibrary Area: Books about family and October booksSensory Table: searching for baby animals Dramatic Play: Taking care of babies Rug Toy: soft blocks Songs, Word Play and Letters 10 Red Apples If You’re Happy and You Know It Week of October 8th-12th (There is No School Monday, October 8th) Books for the week: Corduroy by Don Freeman Peter’s Chair by: Ezra Jack Keats Noisy Nora by: Rosemary Wells Small Groups: Which Bear is first Counting Bears Memory with paint chips

OWL - Unit 1 Weeks 1&2

This week we will begin our preschool curriculum. The curriculum we are using this year is Opening the World of Learning (OWL). The first unit is FAMILY. In this unit students will be exploring and talking about families and the many different ways family members relate to and help one another.

Theme Concepts:

• Family members have role names (mother, father, sister, brother, etc
• Some family members live together, some live in other places but are still family members.
• Grown-ups in a family take care of children. Younger children need more care. Older children can help take care of younger brothers and sisters.
• Families do things together that are fun.

Week of October 1st-5th

Books for the week:

Oonga Boonga by: Frieda Wishinsky

Peter’s Chair by: Ezra Jack Keats

Small Groups:

• Storytelling- Students will draw a picture of their of fall activities they like to do with their family.
• How do you help your family?
• Matching letters and names

Choice time:

Ipads

Manipulatives: parquetry blocks
Library Area: Books about family  and October books
Sensory Table: searching for baby animals

Dramatic Play: Taking care of babies

Rug Toy: soft blocks

Songs, Word Play and Letters

10 Red Apples

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Week of October 8th-12th

(There is No School Monday, October 8th)

Books for the week:

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Peter’s Chair by: Ezra Jack Keats

Noisy Nora by: Rosemary Wells

Small Groups:

• Which Bear is first
• Counting Bears
• Memory with paint chips

Burlington Public Schools worked hard over the summer to update and launch new school websites.  If you would like to check them out, the links are below!

District site:

https://www.burlingtonpublicschools.org/

BECC site:

https://www.burlingtonpublicschools.org/schools/burlington-early-childhood-center

Reminder: Back to School night will be Wednesday October 3.  This is a parent only night.  

The Lucky Ducks presentation will begin at 6:30.  After this time you will have an opportunity to view classroom artwork and ask classroom related questions.  We are not able to discuss specific children at this time. Thank you.

All About Me

Important Date:  October 3rd at 6:30 - Lucky Ducks Open House


We are learning about our classroom routines, expectations and about each other.  This week and next week we are completing All About Me activities.  The children are busy creating an All About Me book that will be sent home during Open House or after if you are not able to attend.   We are discussing our favorite food, colors and pets.

We have painted apples and decorated the first letter of our names to go along with Chicka Chick Boom Boom.

Over the course of this week and next week we will be reading:
 Preschool Day Hooray
 Pocketful of Kisses - Chester the Raccoon from the Kissing Hand reappears in this story.
 Little Quack's Hide and Seek
 David Goes to School

Choice Time:
Dramatic Play - Apple Pie Bakery - The children are rolling out dough (felt) with rolling pins, placing apples (red, yellow and green pom poms) in the pie tin and baking it in our preschool pretend oven.  Then they can serve it to a firend.  They love this center.

Sand in our Sensory Table

Painting with acorns - Similar to rolling marbles in a box to paint, we will be collecting acorns on Thursday and using them to roll and paint an acorn picture.

Playdough - Children are rolling balls of playdough to place on our apple tree mats

Picking Apples from our apple tree - Children roll the dice and pick that many apples.

We had a great first day!

We had a fantastic first day together.   We read the Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. It is a story about a little raccoon named Chester who was anxious about leaving home and going to school.  So his mother decided to share a "family secret" with him- the "kissing hand".  She gave him a kiss on his paw and told him to press the kiss to his cheek whenever he missed her.

We sang many songs and played outside on the big playground too.  As we try to play outside everyday please remember to put sun block on your child prior to coming to school.

 
We will be getting to know each other and exploring our new classroom. Today and next week we will focus on learning the new routine of the classroom and learning more about each other.

Please remember to send in a daily snack and drink as well as an extra set of clothes (to be kept all year) to school with your child.

Books This Week/next week:
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – Bill Martin Jr.

Small Groups:
- sorting shapes
- Decorate the first letter of their name with bingo markers and painting leaves as related to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
-Each child will create a self portrait for their portfolio.

-Duck craft

Centers
-Dramatic Play- Housekeeping
-Sensory Table-Sand and sand toys
-Art Table- hand prints for Kissing Hand project
-Blocks
-Math- shape sorting
-Library- Books about school
- Table - Playdough

Songs, Word Play, and Letters
5 Little Ducks
5 Speckled Frogs
Itsy Bitsy Spider

Welcome to the Lucky Ducks!

On Thursday, September 5th, Lucky Duck families are invited to come and see the Lucky Duck classroom. You can explore our classroom from 9-9:30.  We look forward to meeting all of our new friends.

Thank you  for such a great year.  We hope you and your family have a wonderful summer.  

Summer Fun Activities

Read, Read, Read.  

Read with a flashlight, or on a picnic blanket, or at the library.

Play Ispy - 

I spy with my little eye something (give a color)

 I spy something that rhymes with 

 I spy something that starts with - (and give the sound)

Play board games -

Candyland, memory, etc.

Journal

-Keep a summer journal.  Children can draw a picture and tell you about their picture

Play at the playground

These ideas were taken from the Therapist Blog

• Break out the Sidewalk chalk

• Practice drawing pictures, lines, shapes or letters.  Use a spray bottle filled with water to spritz-away and start over

Developmental benefits: fine motor, prewriting skills, sensori motor development, midline crossing

2. Go on a Nature Walk!

– collect leaves, branches, small rocks to make a collage

Developmental benefits: fine motor, sensory processing, bilateral coordination and visual perceptual motor skill development

3. Wash the Car!

– break out the soap, sponges and hoses

Developmental benefits: upper body/wrist/hand strengthening, midline crossing, bilateral coordination, sensory processing skill development

4. Go to the Beach & Play in the Sand!

– draw lines & shapes in the sand with fingers; build sand castles

Developmental benefits: visual motor integration, visual perception, hand strengthening, bilateral coordination, midline crossing and sensory processing

5. Paint with Water!

• use large brushes, or small sponge pieces to paint with and use the side of the house, a fence or sidewalk as your “canvas”

Developmental benefits: hand and wrist strengthening, grasp development, proximal stability, visual motor integration and midline crossing  

6. Dig For Treasures!

– using small kitchen tongs or strawberry hullers, pick up small toys or “treasures” hiding in the sandbox

Developmental benefits:  grasp development, hand strengthening, bilateral coordination, eye hand coordination, visual motor control