Science Center Visit Today

Wind Power Weeks (May 23-27 and May 31-June 3)

Reminder: Our End of the Year Show is Friday, June 3 at 11pm
Please arrive by 10:55 because we will begin sharply at 11:00
No School- Memorial Day May 30

Make It Move  Unit 8 Week 3 and 4

Unit Books: Gilberto and the Wind
                            The Wind Blew

Weekly Question and Vocabulary Words:
How does wind make things move?
(float, twist, umbrella, burst, blur, pinwheel, sailboat, balloon)

Literacy Small Groups

Rhyming Bingo

We will continue to practice rhyming.  This week, we will focus on producing our own rhyming words.  While playing a round of rhyming bingo, children will need to produce a word that rhymes with a picture on their mat to cover that space.  They will work to get five in a row to win.

Lowercase Letter p Formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter p . Lowercase p is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter p as well.

Rhyming Race

We will work as a team to blow a ball to the finish line with a fun rhyming game.  After flipping a card, each child will get a chance to produce a word that rhymes with that picture.  When they do, they will  use a straw to help blow the ball  If they cannot, a new card will be drawn.  We all win when the ball reaches the finish line!

Lowercase Letter b Formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter m . Lowercase m is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter m as well.

Lowercase Letter u formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter u . Lowercase u is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter u as well.

Journal Writing

In next week’s story, Gilberto and the Wind, we will read about many different things we can do on a windy day.  We will write about what we like to do on a windy day.  We will add finger spaces to separate each word in our sentence and carefully sound out each word to hear sounds.  We will use details and lots of color to illustrate our ideas.

Gilberto Letter Sound Book

We will review objects that were found in our unit book Gilberto and the Wind. We will then listen to the beginning sounds in the objects. We will then match them with their matching letter. Then we will rainbow write the letters to complete the book.  

Sailboat Letter Matching

We will look review the letters in the alphabet by singing the ABC song.  Then we will cut and then sort our sailboats in the correct order to create a sailboat alphabet.  

Math Small Groups

How much does it hold?

Using cubes, we will compare how much different size cups could hold.  First, we will predict the amount that would be needed to fill the cup to the top.  Then we will count how many cubes are needed for each and write the number.  We will compare quantities and circle the cup that holds more cubes.

Family Order

We will compare heights of our family members.  We will think carefully about who is tallest in our family and continue until the shortest member of our family. We will make a family portrait with each member of our family in order from tallest to shortest.

Cup Fulls of Sand

We will fill  buckets with sand to recognize and compare how much sand fits in different sized containers. Using the same size cup, we will fill each bucket with sand and count how many we used to fill each.  We will  compare the size of each bucket with the amount we used to fill them. The bigger the bucket, the more sand we need.  The smaller the bucket, the less sand we need.

How much can I hold?

we will recalled how in our unit book The Cool Pool how someone used scoops to fill empty objects.  We will use our hands as scoopers to pull out counters from a container.  We will record how many counters each friend collect will collect,  We will then compared who collected the most, least, and if any amounts were equal.  

Spin and Write Numbers

We will spin a spinner then write the number it lands on. We will compare which numbers we land on the most, least or equal.

Will the Wind Blow it?

We look at a variety of objects. Then we will make predictions to see if the objects will blow in the wind. After we make our predictions will will use "wind" to see if the objects move. Next we will record what happened and talk about why.

Centers

Art Table- kite creations/windsocks/pinwheels

Sensory Table- boats with a fan nearby to create movement
Book Area- Exploring Books about wind
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-What moves in the wind?
Dramatic Play- Airport/Post Office
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- Wind Power Station
Rug- Tents to build
Block Area- blocks

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-Air, land, water movement
-What blocks move in the wind experiment
-Measuring Capacity
-Filling Containers
-How does the wind feel?
-Push, Pull, Go Book

Preschool Life Skills 
- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right a
way"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant
-Vowel Bat
-Big Pig
-Windy Weather song

-Alphabet Chant using sign language
-Letter Sounds Song

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behavior

Butterfly Release Today

Today we released butterflies that we watched grow from caterpillars into a chrysalis, then turn into butterflies.  We watched them fly away today.  It was magical!!

Make It Move Unit 8 Week 2 May 16-20

Make It Move  Unit 8 Week 2

Unit Book:  A Little Bit More

Weekly Question and Vocabulary Words:
What can we do to make things move?
(push, pull, roll, weigh, heavy, light)

Literacy Small Groups

Pushing and Pulling Sounds

This week, we have been learning that we can move things by using force to push or pull them.  Using magnetic letters, we will experiment with words by pushing away the beginning sounds to find out what’s left in the word.  Then, we will push the beginning sound back to say the word together again.  For example, if we pull away the c in the word “cat,” we are left with the word “at.”  When we push the letter c back into the word we have “cat” again.  Practice playing with words at home by taking away the beginning sounds to find out what’s left.  

Lowercase Letter m Formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter m . Lowercase m is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter m as well.

I’m a Big Kid

We will discuss how we have changed as we have grown from a baby to a big kid! We will write and illustrate what we were like as a baby and what we are like now.  We will say each word carefully and listen for the sounds we hear.  We will also use details to illustrate how we have changed.  

Lowercase Letter r formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter r . Lowercase r is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter r as well.

Journal Writing

This week, we will learn that we can move things by pushing or pulling them with our muscles.  In our journals this week, we will write about what else we use our muscles for.  We will continue to practice slowly saying words to hear each sound and writing the letter that makes that sound.  Remember, it is perfectly okay that your child writes any sound he/she hears, even if it is not the perfect spelling of a word.  He/She will learn the rules of spelling in future years.  

Math Small Groups

Comparing Equal Lengths

We will compare lengths of cube towers and work to make their lengths equal.  We will work with towers that have a set number of cubes and cannot be broken.  We will use sets of green and red cubes to make towers that are the same lengths as the taller yellow towers.  We will record our work on our sheets.

Going to New Heights

We will continue to use cubes to measure lengths that are equal to the lengths of the characters from our story this week.  We will make towers that are the same lengths as cut outs from our story and count the number of cubes we used for each.  

Roll a Tower Partner Game 

Working with a partner, we will roll dot dice to build towers with that number of cubes.  After each round we will compare which tower was tallest.  We will record our work and circle the taller tower  in each round.

Number Formations

Using the Handwriting Without Tears program as a guide, we will continue to practice forming numbers 1-10.  This week, we will review numbers 1-5 using wooden sticks, chalkboards or magna doodles and in our letter formation books.

Centers

Art Table- car track painting

Sensory Table- marble mazes
Book Area- Exploring Books about movement
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Building a playground
Dramatic Play- Vet (measuring and weighing animals)
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- Weighing Station
Rug- Doll houses
Block Area- blocks to measure with

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-Push and Pull
-Starting Line (where we start when measuring)
-Taller and Shorter
-Working Together

Preschool Life Skills 
- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right a
way"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant
-Vowel Bat
-Big Pig 

-Alphabet Chant using sign language
-Letter Sounds

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behavior

Make It Move Week 1

Make It Move  Unit 8 Week 1

Unit Book:  Oscar and the Cricket

Weekly Question and Vocabulary Words:
What are different ways things move?
(bounce, fast, slow,still, direction, muscle)

Literacy Small Groups

Ending Sounds

We will review ending sounds with a fun bowling game.  Using mini bowling pins, we will segment 3 sound words.  For each sound we hear we will place one pin on our mats.  After we identify and color the sounds we heard on our papers, we will get a chance to use a ball to knock down our pins.

Lowercase Letter b Formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter b. Lowercase b is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter b as well.

Word Balls

We will practice carefully tapping and sounding out words by individual phonemes (or sounds.)  We will  crack open mystery balls that contain three letters and a toy.  We will say the name of the toy slowly and tap each sound we hear.  We will use the letter to build that word and record it on our papers.

Lowercase Letter h formation

We will learn to write the lowercase letter h. Lowercase h is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter h as well.

Journal Writing

We have been learning about things that move or help us move.  This week, we will write in our journals about things that move or help us move on our playground. We will use our turtle talk and work to add finger spaces between our sentences.  We will continue to add details and colors to make our illustrations pop.

Math Small Groups

Comparing Lengths w/Balls & Ramps

We will compare lengths while having fun with balls.  Using three different kinds of balls, we will take turns rolling them down a ramp.  We will use cubes  measure how far each ball rolled and compare their lengths.

Measuring with Oscar

We will use a card with this week’s story character, Oscar, to compare lengths around our classroom.  We will hunt for items that are longer and shorter than our Oscar card and record them on our papers.

Finding  Same Lengths

We will continue to experiment with measurement.  Using snap cubes make towers of a set quantity.  We will measure items from our classroom to find objects that are the same length as each tower.  We will illustrate objects that we find that are the same length.  

How Far Can You Blow a Ball?

We will have fun experimenting and comparing lengths of balls we move.  Using a straw, students will have a chance to blow a cotton ball and a pom pom to see which could be blown further.  They will use paper strips to measure how far each ball was blown and record it for a class book.  

Number Formations

Using the Handwriting Without Tears program as a guide, we will continue to practice forming numbers 1-10.  This week, we will practice number 10 and review past numbers  using wooden sticks, chalkboards or magna doodles and in our letter formation books.

Centers

Art Table- marble painting

Sensory Table- water beads
Book Area- Exploring Books about movement
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Word Ball Activity
Dramatic Play- Bowling Alley
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- How far can the car roll?
Rug- Ramps with cars
Block Area- block ramps with balls to roll

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-Roll, Blow, Bounce(How things move)
-Measure it!
-Comparing length(Comparing short and long)
-Simon Says (Movements)

Preschool Life Skills 
- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right a
way"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant
-Vowel Bat

-Alphabet Chant using sign language
-Letter Sounds

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behavior

Reflections May 2-6

Shadows and Reflections Unit Week 2

Unit Book:  The Puddle Pail

Weekly Question and Vocabulary Words:
Why can’t we hold on to shadows or reflections?
(collection, illustration, ordinary, puddle, proud, disappear)

Literacy Small Groups

Lowercase letter t- We will learn to write the lowercase letter t. Lowercase t is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using Magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter h as well.

Rhyming Collections- In our story this week, Ernst collected puddles in his pail to discover beautiful collections of shadows and reflections that could be held inside.  We will review our rhyming skills to make collections of rhyming words.  We will use our own special rhyming pail to collect picture cards that rhyme with our picture card.  We will illustrate our collections.  Ask your child to name his/her rhyming collection.

 Long Vowel Sounds- We will learn that sometimes vowels make the sound of their own name.  For example, in the word “cute” the letter u says it’s name.  We will play a vowel race game. After carefully listening to the words the teacher says, we will use a dot marker to stamp the vowel that says it’s own name.  We will find out which vowel will win the race!

Lowercase letter h- We will learn to write the lowercase letter h. Lowercase h is a diving letter.  It starts at the top and dives straight down.   We will practice this letter using magna doodles, chalkboards, salt trays, etc.  We will rainbow write and pencil practice the letter h as well.

Final Sound Carnival Game- We will play a group board game to review identifying ending sounds in words. Using a carnival board game filled with letters, players will need to pull a card that has the ending sound of the letter they need to advance in the game.  We will also practice waiting and good sportsmanship during our game.

Math Small Groups

Sharing Pails- We will make another class book while practicing sharing quantities fairly.  Using cubes, we will share a set amount among three pails.  We will need to put any leftovers to the side to be sure each pail has an equal amount.  We will record our work using stickers to create our class book.

Shapes to make Shapes- We will use pattern blocks to make hexagons. Using triangles, trapezoids and rhombuses, we will work to fill the shape of a hexagon.  We will count the number of each shape we used and record our answers in our books.

Tangram Shape Activity- We will use special shapes called tangrams to make objects based on their shadows.  We will manipulate a set number of shapes to fill in the shadow of a boat, house, dog, swan, cat and candle while learning that shapes can be combined and manipulated to make other shapes.  Once we’ve completed the puzzle using real shapes, we will glue paper shapes onto our shadows to take them home.

Guess My Collection- We will sort shapes by various attributes (sides, corners, color, size, shape.)  Using pails, we will make our collection based on one or two rules.  (For example: shapes in my collection have 4 sides.)  We will sort our shapes according to our rule and challenge our friends tp guess the rule of our collection.

Number Formations

Using the Handwriting Without Tears program as a guide, we will continue to practice forming numbers 1-10.  This week, we will practice numbers 9 & 10 using wooden sticks, chalkboards or magna doodles and in our letter formation books.

Centers

Art Table- painting pail reflections and a "mystery painting project"--sh!!

Sensory Table- bubbles and tin foil to look for bubble reflections
Book Area- Exploring Books about shadows and reflections
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Writing the room using vocabulary words
Dramatic Play- Toy Store (toys and cash register)
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- concave mirrors to look at how mirrors can change images
Rug- Bucket Sorting
Block Area- blocks with mirrors (building by looking at reflection in mirror)

Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-How can reflection change
-Collections (making a rule)
-Shapes inside of shapes

Preschool Life Skills 
- We will be focusing on our curriculum of Preschool Life Skills during this time to help us transition into our new classroom.

1. When I call your name, stop what you are doing, look at me, and say,"Yes".
2. When I give you an instruction, do it "right away"
(Ask your child what do you do when your teacher tells you to do something.  They should reply "I do it right away." You can reinforce this at home too.  "Put your legos away and do it "right away""
3. When I give you  instructions, do them "right away" (multi-step directions)
4. When something is too hard say "Help me please"
5. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention
6. When you want something from a teacher or friend, say "Excuse Me" to get their attention and then use your asking words(ie. May I have a turn?)

Songs, Word Plays, and Language

-Our Good Morning Chant

-Someone sitting by the pool reflection song
-Alphabet Chant using sign language
-Letter Sounds

Classroom Motivational System
We will be learning classroom routines and expectations within our new classroom.  In order to create a successful and rewarding environment, each child will have a motivational system. Our classroom system promotes positive classroom behavior through positive peer modeling and teachers providing positive reinforcement for desired behavior