Weekly Question and Vocabulary
Unit Book: Amazing Jungle
(trunk, twig, branch, explore, hunt, graze, jungle)
Literacy Small Groups
Rhyming-We will continue our practice rhyming. Through a jungle bingo rhyming game we will learn to identify and produce rhyming words. We will listen for words that rhyme to identify a rhyming pair however before we can place a marker on our boards we must come up with our own rhyming word to rhyme with the other words in the group. We will use both real words and nonsense words to create our own rhymes
Lowercase Letters- We will be working on lowercase letters r and p this week. We will be using magnet boards, colored salt trays, chalk boards, or shaving cream to form these letters within our small group time. We will then expose the children to the Fundation lines. Fundations is the curriculum used in kindergarten. We will be exposing the students to the language (ie. sky line, plane line, grass line, and worm line) when forming our letters.
Lowercase Letters- We will be working on lowercase letters r and p this week. We will be using magnet boards, colored salt trays, chalk boards, or shaving cream to form these letters within our small group time. We will then expose the children to the Fundation lines. Fundations is the curriculum used in kindergarten. We will be exposing the students to the language (ie. sky line, plane line, grass line, and worm line) when forming our letters.
Rhyming-We will continue to practice producing our own rhyming groups. Using a picture to get started, students will think of words that rhyme with the picture. For each word they rhyme they will earn an animal stamp for their paper. Have your child practice producing his/her own rhymes while riding in the car or waiting in line or for an appointment.
Journal Writing- Using our writing journals, we will write about our favorite jungle animals. We will carefully sound out each word and some of us will even practice using our fingers to add spaces between words in our sentences. We will work hard to add colorful details to our animal illustrations. We are becoming fabulous writers!
Handwriting/Letter Groups
Please reinforce with your child that "we always start our letters at the top." This is an important skill in formations.
Math Small Groups
Patterns- We will begin learning about patterns. Using cubes, we will duplicate a pattern from our papers. We will then try to extend the pattern and color our papers to show our work. Patterns are everywhere- look for them both inside and outside- be sure they repeat before calling it a pattern!
Rhythm Patterns- We learn more about patterns by using our bodies to make our own rhythm patterns. We will practice repeating movements with our bodies (clapping, tapping, etc) then we will make our own pattern strips to make rhythm patterns. For example, we can tap, tap, clap, tap, tap, clap or shake clap, shake, clap. Try these at home
Nature's Patterns- Patterns can be seen in our natural world. We will explore patterns on familiar jungle animals by looking at & discussing photos of a zebra, tiger, tropical bird and snake. We will then recreate their patterns using cut paper and glue.
One Less Jungle Game- We will practice the concept of one less using a jungle dice game. After rolling the dice, we will count out that many counters and then take away one. We will color that many animals on our sheet. We will challenge ourselves to guess how many without using the counters after a few tries. We will also discuss more and less concepts.
Pattern or Not- We will play a fun “Pattern or Not” game. Using beads and pipe cleaners (snake body) we will create and extend a partner’s pattern. After some practice extending patterns we will challenge one another to decide if the design we made for our partner is a “pattern or not.” Use the “Pattern Snakes” activity sheet to have some fun with this at home.
Centers
Art Table- Sloth for jungle
Block Area- Zoo animals with labels for children to create zoo cages
Book Area- Exploring Books about jungle and desert
Easel-Markers and paper
Writing Table-Zookeeper Lists
Dramatic Play-Zookeeper (Taking care of zoo animals)
Math, Puzzles, and Manipulatives- Playdough and sticks to make animal "cages"
Science - We are preparing to have a special visitor from the Science Center.
Rug- Safari jeeps, animals, and people
Science/Social Studies/Math Circle Concepts
-What is a pattern?
-Patterns in nature
-Day and Night animals
-Patterns in sounds
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 Language2. 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?)
-Our Good Morning Chant
-Down in the Jungle
-Five Little Monkeys
-Rhyming Identifying games
-Jungle Movement
-Five Little Monkeys
-Rhyming Identifying games
-Jungle Movement
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 behaviors.
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 behaviors.
