Snow Unit January 27-31

Books This Week:
Tracks in the Snow
Stella: Queen of the Snow
Katy and the Big Snow
The Mitten (used for reference with our small groups)

Small Groups For This Week:
1. Phonemic Awareness- We will be introducing the concept of "ear spelling" as we discuss animals in each of The Mitten books we are comparing.  We have read 2 versions of the same story.  We will be "ear spelling" the animals names (ie. mouse may be spelled MOS or boar may be spelled BOR) It is more about the process of listening to the sounds than having the correct spelling.
2.Science- Animal Tracks in the Snow matching activity
3. Math-Non-standard units of measure.  We will use blocks to measure how many blocks tall different snowmen are.  We will create a book to compare which snowman is taller and shorter.
1.Language- Book Browsing-We will look a unit books in a small group and reinforce vocabulary words we have learned.
2.Math- We will be rolling a number cube. Then identify the number. Then each child will show the correct number of cubes for the number. Finally, they will need to use a bingo dobber to mark the number.
3. Fine Motor- We will try to cut snowflakes. Then compare how each child's snowflake looks different (just like in real life)

Let's Talk About It 
-Maps
-Stuffing a mitten (We will add blocks to a mitten and try to predict how many blocks it will hold.  This will be related to our unit book The Mitten)
-Absorb and Repel Concepts
-Snow Insulation- using a foam cooler to hold snow and comparing to leaving snow in a bucket in our classroom overnight. We will make a prediction of what will happen (hypothesis).

Centers
Art Table: Making snow scenes with hole punchers
Block Area: Using "snowplows" in a snow storm
Sensory Table:  Ice blocks with letters in them
Book Area: books about weather
Easel: Snow pictures (white paint on blue paper)
Writing Table: weather pictures
Dramatic Play: TV Station reporting the weather
Puzzles and Manipulatives: matching different mittens




Handwriting
We will continuing a program called Handwriting Without Tears. It's focus is on letter formation and letter awareness. This program reinforces proper grasp and trying to strenghten fine motor muscles.
-We are working on letters with big and little lines that include curves (ie: D,P, etc)

Songs, Word Play, and Language
-SNOWY (A version of Bingo) "There was a day when we were cold and snowy was the weather."
-Book- When it starts to snow
-The Mitten story on Touch It board
-Syllable Tapping for vocabulary words for Tracks In The Snow
-PETER (A version of Bingo) on the touch It Board
-Environmental Print- We have been talking about reading words all around us.

Preschool Manners
We are moving onto our new skill.
-When someone is in your way or has something you want, say, "Excuse me" to get them to look at you, then you say"May I____________?" to get what you want.