Turkeys and Thanksgiving

We had a busy few weeks.  We spent time reading several books about the first Thanksgiving, learning songs and poems about turkeys, and reading books about being Thankful.  We played the Thankful Game where we went around in a circle and we each had to say something for which  we're thankful.  The catch was it had to be something you couldn't buy!!  We got ideas like I'm thankful for the stars, butterflies, the moon, the grass, playing outside, friends, family, and bunnies.  We had fun making butter on Tuesday.  We poured whipping cream into a jar and passed it around in our circle while we each shook it as hard as we could!  It went around about 3 times before it had turned into butter!  We each got some on our plate and spread it on a graham cracker for our snack.  Yum! 

One of the Thanksgiving songs we learned

Spreading our homemade butter on our graham cracker.

We made the letter of our first name using do a dots.

This was a glueing project.  We had to count out 6 feathers, figure out where to glue them, then added eyes, a beak and feet.  Finally we added our message...the kids couldn't wait to share these with their family!

We had fun making our own art with do a dots when we finished making our letters. 

Our homemade butter.  

Having fun playing with cars and trucks.

The train table is always a favorite station during center time. 

Legos, preschool k'nex, puzzles, ponies....just some of the choices during morning quiet time.

Fairy Tales

We heard 3 great fairy tales this week.  On Tuesday we heard Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, Wednesday The Three Little Pigs and on Thursday we heard The Three Dassies by Jan Brett.  This is a contemporary fairytale based on the 3 Little Pigs.  Here is the link to the video in case you'd like to watch it and share it at home with your child.  The Three Dassies

Other highlights of the week:

• We played outside extra long all week and enjoyed the beautiful fall weather!
• Mrs. Swietlik came in on Wednesday and helped us build various materials...we used duplos to try and make the brick house from The Three Little Pigs.
• We had music with Mrs. Jenkins on Tuesday.
• We held a mock election to vote for leader of the stuffed animals.  The candidates were Barry Bear and Mousie.  Barry Bear won in a very close vote of 7-6.
• We used do a dots with Mrs. Chyko to  create letters, numbers and other designs.
• We used stencils in the morning with Mrs. Gould to create various scenes.  Often we tell Mrs. Gould about our pictures and ask her to write down words to go with them. 
• We celebrated Max's 5th birthday!

After we heard The Three Little Pigs we each decided which pig we'd like to make.  Some kids chose the little pig who built his house of sticks, while others chose the one who built his house of straw or bricks.  Our favorite part of the story was saying together "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in!!"  We read the James Marshall version of this fairytale.  

We finished our "counting hens" project.  This activity is an example of  how we accommodate the different developmental levels of children we have in our class.  Some of the kids can count to 10, put the matching number of dots on their hens, and write their numerals independently. Others need various levels of  help while grasping the concept of one to one counting, how to hold a marker, and writing numerals. Our goal is to meet each child at their current developmental level and gently lead them as they grow in their learning.

Happy 5th birthday Max!  We loved the ice cream sandwiches you brought in for a treat.  Hope you had a great day!

Numbers

We had fun learning about numbers this week.  We read several counting books but the kids favorites were My Very First Book of Numbers by Eric Carle and Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin Jr. 

link to video

The weather was nice this week so we made sure to spend some extra time outdoors. 

During activity time Joan asked the kids what numbers they'd like to write.  She helped them write the number and then go over them with do a dots.  The art center had a project where the kids used

Q-tips dipped in paint  to put dots on hens.  Then we counted the dots.  When the kids finished with that they had fun painting on blank paper with q-tips!

Other fun things we did this week:

• learned the nursery rhyme 1, 2 buckle my shoe
• used the flannel board to count different objects
• read a big book about math
• used an abacus
• heard the story 10 Little Puppies with a special abacus attached to the book so we could count and add

We celebrated Matthew's 5th birthday on Thursday.  He brought in a special snack to share with us and brought in treat bags as well.  Thanks, Matthew...Happy Birthday!!

The kids love celebrating birthdays!! 

Matthews birthday treat....super, delicious sugar cookies!  We loved how they fit in with our number unit!