Chemist in our Classroom

 Today our class had a visit from a chemist.  Gabby's mom came into our classroom wearing a colorful lab coat and goggles. She came into reinforce the concept of absorption.  At first Mrs. DiVincentis spilled water on the rug and tried to clean it up with a block. We all knew that was a silly thing to do. Then she used a paper towel to clean up the water. She talked to them about how the paper towel absorbs and does not repel water.

 Then each child was given Instant Snow in a bowl and a beaker of water to pour into the bowl.  Each child was able to observe how when water absorbed into the snow it grew bigger.  To reinforce this concept further she also gave us little sponges to soak in water. They grew bigger as well. Then she had "jiggly jewels".  They are as small at first then they grew in water.

 We used our "alligator fingers" to try get the sponges to grow bigger.

Thank you so much for coming into our classroom and showing us how much fun science can be. 

Wind and Water-Last week of unit Jan. 28- Feb 1

Classroom Happenings:
-Thank you for completing the wind and water project with your child.
-We are having a special visitor next week.  A parent who happens to be a chemist is going to come to our classroom and do an experiment with polymers.  It is to reinforce our unit concept of absorption.

To the left is our experiment of moving a fly swatter in the wind with a fan.  It moved slowly like a turtle.  To the right is a letter popping game on the touch it board.  Balloon is a unit vocabulary word and each student had to pop the right letter in the correct order from left to right. 

Unit Concepts
-We find water in different forms (liquid as rain, solid as snow, and gas as steam.
-Water can be absorbed and repelled by different materials (ie. sponge, plastic film)
-Wind affects things. Wind cannot move heavy things. Wind can make light objects move fast.
-Water comes to us in forms of rain or snow.
-Water evaporates from puddles and from things that are wet.
-Plants and animals need water to live.
-Water and wind provide opportunities for recreation.

Last week we discussed cooperation and frustration.  We talked about how the wind cooperated and frustrated Gilberto in our unit book Gilberto and the Wind.  We used pictures from the story to make a chart and described how the wind made him feel. 

Books this week

The Snowy Day

A Hat For Minerva Louise

Small Groups
Continued from last week:
-Language-Sequencing The Snowy Day- We will recall the events in our class unit book The Snowy Day.  We will cut and place pictures in order to retell the story.
-Letter Boats- We will put uppercase and lowercase letter in order
New Small Groups this week
-Drying and Reconstituting Clay-Part 2- We will observe what happened to our clay after we left it out in the air and what happened to the clay that we put in an air tight container.  We will complete our book to show our results.
- Thermometers- We will discuss thermometers and how they work. We will put one thermometer outside and one inside to compare.  We will also talk about why we need to know the temperature of things.
-Syllables of unit vocabulary- To complete our unit, we will clap out the syllables of unit words.  We will sort the words onto a chart to sort 1, 2, and 3 syllable words.
Center
Science Table- Observation Sheet to observe our 3 gerbils
Blocks-Blocks
Sensory Table- Treasures in Ice (We will put items in water then put them in the freezer. The next day we will put the ice in the sensory table to explore and "get the treasures out")
Dramatic Play-Snow Ball Toss Game
Library- A variety of books about weather
Art Table-Making Rain Sticks
Easel- Paints in colors from Rabbits and Raindrops
Puzzles- Puzzles
Manipulatives-  Iceberg animal (using arctic animals we will balance them on icebergs in trays)
Writing Center- Writing Animal words

Song, Word Play and Letters
Poems- Boom, Bang, Raindrops
Songs-Down by the Bay, Windy was the weather
Literacy Skills- Frog Jump Letters, Diving Letters, Change/ Rearrange of Words

Let's Talk About It
-Insulation- Putting ice in a cooler and putting ice on a tray- Talk about how thermos and coolers keep things hot or cold.
-Discussing Thermometers
-How to "Check" our bodies (How to sit during large group activities on the rug)
-Effects of too much rain(Bringing Rain to the Kapiti Plain)

Handwriting
-We will be working on Diagonal Line Letters. (Z, N,R, M,) We will also be singing songs related to diagonal lines.

Preschool Life Skills
We are continuing to review our previous skills 1-6.
1-When a teacher calls your name, stop, look and say, "Yes".
2-When a teacher tells you to do something, do it "Right Away".
3-When a teacher tells you to do 2 things, do it "Right Away".
4-When something is too hard, first try then say,"Can you help me please?"
5-When you something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something, say, "Excuse me" to get them to look at you.
(6and 7 are join together)
7-When someone is in your way or has something that you want, say "Excuse me" to get their attention, and then say"May I_____?" to get what you want.
New skill:
"Checking our Body" - This is to remind us how to sit during large group activities. We will talk about how to "check" our bodies to get ready to listen.  This is a important skill as we transition into kindergarten.

Obstacle Course Fun!

 
 Today our physical therapist Kim set up a special obstacle course for our classroom in the gym.  One obstacle course involved standing on one foot and counting to 3 then kick a number cube.  Then throw a bean bag through a snowman prop. Then walk on the snow (a soft mat) and then walk up and down a mountain (soft steps). Then at the end they had to recall the number they rolled on the cube and do that many "wall push-ups".

Another obstacle course involved scooters   First they had to learn how to drive their scooter.  When they passed their test they earned a "driver's license".  They earn driver used their scooter to go under obstacles and then over obstacles as they carried their scooter back to the start.

Then at the end she gave us all stickers for listening and working so hard.  

Thank you so much Kim!

Pancake Pajama Party Day

 Today was our pancake pajama party.  We earned 5 pom poms in our class reward bucket.  This means that every child earned a "high five" for 5 days.
 
Today we made dairy free pancakes for snack after we read our story.  It so happened that we read our book A Hat for Minerva Louise.  One of our students thought it would be a good idea to send Louise some pancakes.  Then another student thought Dr.Conti would like our pancakes too.
We walked up to the Administration offices to deliver them pancakes.  They loved the pancakes and our company.  It was a fun filled day.

Wind and Water Week 4 January 22-25

Happenings:
-Tuesday- Pancake Pajama Party- We received 5 pom poms in our class reward bucket and this is a reward for our class.  It is also connected to our book One Dark Night. (The main character is wearing pajama as he helps a family of cats). Your child can wear their pj's to school.
Friday- What moves in the wind homework is due. Have fun with your child with this fun activity.
If you have any questions about these activities feel free to contact me. 

Unit Concepts
-We find water in different forms (liquid as rain, solid as snow, and gas as steam.
-Water can be absorbed and repelled by different materials (ie. sponge, plastic film)
-Wind affects things. Wind cannot move heavy things. Wind can make light objects move fast.
-Water comes to us in forms of rain or snow.
-Water evaporates from puddles and from things that are wet.
-Plants and animals need water to live.
-Water and wind provide opportunities for recreation.

Books this week

The Snowy Day
Rabbits and Raindrops
A Hat For Minerva Louise

Small Groups
    Continued from last week:
Water Sound Exploration- We will investigate in the sensory table how water creates sounds. First listening to the sound of water in streams and ocean tides on the Ipad. Then we will create sounds by droping objects into the water in the sensory table. We will notice how the weight or shape of objects affect the sound it creates.
-Writing- We will be writing animal names from our unit book Rabbits and Raindrops to create a book.
-Phonemic Awareness- We will color, cut, then glue to create a rhyming book to our class song"Down by the Bay".
     New on Wednesday
-Drying and Reconstituting Clay-Part 1- We will explore clay and create an object. We will be creating a book to about this science experiment in a future small group
-Language-Sequencing The Snowy Day- We will recall the events in our class unit book The Snowy Day.  We will cut and place pictures in order to retell the story.
-Letter Boats- We will put uppercase and lowercase letter in order

Center
Science Table- Observation Sheet to observe our 3 gerbils
Blocks-Blocks
Sensory Table- Water and Tubes ( Movement of Water)
Dramatic Play- "L.L Bean Winter Clothing Store"
Library- A variety of books about weather
Art Table-Making Rain Sticks
Easel- Paints in colors from Rabbits and Raindrops
Puzzles- Puzzles
Manipulatives-  Goop (Cornstarch and Water)
Writing Center- Writing Animal words


Song, Word Play and Letters
Poems- Boom, Bang, Raindrops
Songs-Down by the Bay, Windy was the weather
Literacy Skills- Frog Jump Letters, Diving Letters, Change/ Rearrange of Words

Let's Talk About It
-Discussing Disappointment
-Discussing Thermometers
-How to "Check" our bodies (How to sit during large group activities on the rug)
-Drying Wet Mittens

Handwriting
-We will be working on Big Line Letters that need a "frog jump" such as F, E, H... (A big line down, frog jump up, then little line at the top, and little line in the middle).

Preschool Life Skills
We are continuing to review our previous skills 1-6.
1-When a teacher calls your name, stop, look and say, "Yes".
2-When a teacher tells you to do something, do it "Right Away".
3-When a teacher tells you to do 2 things, do it "Right Away".
4-When something is too hard, first try then say,"Can you help me please?"
5-When you something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something, say, "Excuse me" to get them to look at you.
(6and 7 are join together)
7-When someone is in your way or has something that you want, say "Excuse me" to get their attention, and then say"May I_____?" to get what you want.
New skill:
"Checking our Body" - This is to remind us how to sit during large group activities. We will talk about how to "check" our bodies to get ready to listen.  This is a important skill as we transition into kindergarten.

Wind and Water Week 3- Jan14-18

Unit Concepts
-We find water in different forms (liquid as rain, solid as snow, and gas as steam.
-Water can be absorbed and repelled by different materials (ie. sponge, plastic film)
-Wind affects things.  Wind cannot move heavy things. Wind can make light objects move fast.
-Water comes to us in forms of rain or snow.
-Water evaporates from puddles and from things that are wet.
-Plants and animals need water to live.
-Water and wind provide opportunities for recreation.

Books this week

One Dark Night
The Snowy Day
Rabbits and Raindrops

Small Groups
Continued from last week:
-Exploring Tangrams- Using tangrams we will create picture scenes and discuss shapes.
-Science- Absorbancy of Materials- We will put drops of water on various object to discover if the water absorbs on the material or if it "repels" and rolls off the material.
-Engineering- We will construct tin foil boats using tin foil. Then we will try to put bears in the boats and discover if how different boat designs may hold more bears.
New:
-Water Sound Exploration- We will investigate in the sensory table how water creates sounds.  First listening to the sound of water in streams and ocean tides on the Ipad. Then we will create sounds by droping objects into the water in the sensory table.  We will notice how the weight or shape of objects affect the sound it creates.
-Writing- We will be writing animal names from our unit book Rabbits and Raindrops to create a book.
-Phonemic Awareness- We will color, cut, then glue to create a rhyming book to our class song"Down by the Bay".

Center
Blocks-Click Blocks
Sensory Table-Water Movement (Tunnels, Tubes, Cups, etc)
Dramatic Play- Pet Vet with real stethoscopes and "x-ray" machines
Library- A variety of books about weather
Art Table-Sponge Painting
Easel- Paints in colors from Rabbits and Raindrops
Puzzles- Puzzles
Manipulatives-  Make Icebergs with white legos. We will watch them float in water see if they can hold an animal
Writing Center- Writing Animal words

Song, Word Play and Letters
Poems- Boom, Bang, Raindrops
Songs-Down by the Bay, Windy was the weather
Literacy Skills- Frog Jump Letters, Diving Letters
Handwriting
-We will be working on Big Line Letters that need a "frog jump" such as F, E, H... (A big line down, frog jump up, then little line at the top, and little line in the middle).

Preschool Life Skills
We are continuing to review our previous skills 1-6.
1-When a teacher calls your name, stop, look and say, "Yes".
2-When a teacher tells you to do something, do it "Right Away".
3-When a teacher tells you to do 2 things, do it "Right Away".
4-When something is too hard, first try then say,"Can you help me please?"
5-When you something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something, say, "Excuse me" to get them to look at you.
(6and 7 are join together)
New skill:
7-When someone is in your way or has something that you want, say "Excuse me" to get their attention, and then say"May I_____?" to get what you want.

Blowing in the Wind

Straw Painting-We have been learning about the movement of wind and water in our classroom. We used straws to blow paint at the art table.  

We also had sailboat races in the sensory table. We had a fan nearby to blow the sailboats in the water to reinforce how water can move objects. 

 We also matched colored mittens on a clothesline like Gilberto in the wind.

Gilberto watched clothes blow on a clothesline.

Wind and Water -January 7-11 week 2

Theme Concepts:

This theme allows children explore wind and water using observations, experiments,

and books to learn more about topics such as evaporation, weather, temperature, insulation, rain, and snow.

 

Books this week

Gilberto and the Wind
One Dark Night
The Snowy Day

Small Groups
-Science- What can air move?  We will be conducting a science experiment to see how wind or air can move classroom items.  We will compare how they move (ie. slowly, quickly, at high rate of speed, at a low rate of speed). Then we will chart our results to compare.
-Art- Creating pinwheels just like Gilberto in our unit book. 
-Fine Motor/ Letter Awareness- We will create letter snowmen by using our name.  We will compare how many letters are in each of our names as well.
-Exploring Tangrams- Using tangrams we will create picture scenes and discuss shapes.
-Science- Absorbancy of Materials- We will put drops of water on various object to discover if the water absorbs on the material or if it "repels" and rolls off the material.
-Engineering- We will construct tin foil boats using tin foil. Then we will try to put bears in the boats and discover if how different boat designs may hold more bears.

Center
Blocks-Tinker Toys
Sensory Table-Homemade Bubbles
Dramatic Play-  Pet Vet with real stethoscopes and "x-ray" machines
Library- A variety of books about weather
Art Table-creating boxes for cats
Easel- spray bottles
Puzzles- Puzzles
Manipulatives- Clothespin "fence" for animals
Writing Center- Writing Letters

Song, Word Play and Letters
Poems- Boom, Bang, Raindrops
Songs-Down by the Bay.
Literacy Skills- Frog Jump Letters, Diving Letters
Handwriting
-We will be working on Big Line Letters that need a "frog jump" such as F. (A big line down, frog jump up, then little line at the top, and little line in the middle).

Preschool Life Skills
We are continuing to review our previous skills 1-6.
1-When a teacher calls your name, stop, look and say, "Yes".
2-When a teacher tells you to do something, do it "Right Away".
3-When a teacher tells you to do 2 things, do it "Right Away".
4-When something is too hard, first try then say,"Can you help me please?"
5-When you something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something, say, "Excuse me" to get them to look at you.
(6and 7 are join together)
New skill:
When someone is in your way or has something that you want, say "Excuse me" to get their attention, and then say"May I_____?" to get what you want.