WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY 10-8-14

ASK ME ABOUT...

...what the question was on the Morning Message.

...where I went and what I did for Work Stations.

...what I practiced drawing and writing during handwriting.

...what letter sound we learned and practiced.

...what we used to decorate the letter "A".

...what story Ms. Oeth read to us in the library.

...what book I checked out from the library.

MORNING MESSAGE~

Check out the question below on today's Morning Message.

 FREE CHOICE LEARNING~

Today we introduced the "counting basket".  Periodically throughout the school year, we will change the item and amount of the item in the counting basket.  Students can visit "Math Magic" and choose to do this activity, where they count the number of objects in the counting basket using a 100's chart.

 

 In the Book Nook, children can hold on to a "special stuffed friend" while enjoying a Mo Willems book.

 At the Fine Motor Station, children can strengthen their fine motor muscles/skills and eye-hand coordination by doing a "pin prick" activity.

 At the Creation Station, children can do a "color by number" page of Elmer the Elephant.

 We have a new activity at the Alphabet Station--sound drawers.  Children choose 2 sound drawers which are filled with objects beginning with those sounds.  They mix the objects together in a basket and then sort the objects according to the sound they make.

 HANDWRITING~

Children learned and practiced making squares and also the upper case "F" today.

 EXTENDED DAY~

Today was a Discovery Day!  After lunch, we went on a leaf hunt to collect leaves of different sizes, shapes and colors.

Later in the afternoon, we read a story called, Why Do Leaves Change Color?  In the book, we learned that leaves make sugar which is food for the tree.  The leaves need air, sunlight and water to make the sugar.  In Fall, when there is less daylight and colder temperatures, the leaves stop making the sugar for the tree.  The tree is also getting ready for Winter when it will rest.  Since the leaves are no longer needed, they fall off the tree and change color.

 After our story, the children examined their collected leaves with magnifying glasses and did leaf rubbings.

TERRIFIC TUESDAY 10-7-14

ASK ME ABOUT..

...the new greeting we learned at Morning Meeting.

...where I went and what I did for Work Stations.

...what I did in Drama.

...what I did in Music.

... the "Colors" poem we learned.

...the story, Elmer.

MORNING MESSAGE~

Today we introduced something new on our morning message.  At the end of the message is a question for the children to answer.  Beginning tomorrow, each child will have a turn to answer the question on the morning message when he/she arrives at school.  Today we explained and modeled what to do when answering the question.  

 COLORS~

Today we introduced and practiced reading a poem called, "Colors".  We hung the poem for the children to practice reading using a special pointer during Free Choice time.

 FREE CHOICE LEARNING~

Teddy Bear Bingo is a new activity at Games Galore!

 Color goggles are available to experiment with at the Discovery Station.

 Kaleidoscopes are now available for experimenting at the Discovery Station.

 Avery and Lianna work together to order numbers from 1 to 50!

 STORYTIME~

Today we read the book Elmer, a story about an elephant who is patchwork colors instead of gray.  Be sure to ask your child how and why Elmer changes his color and how he returns to patchwork colors!

 

  The children helped us retell the story of Elmer on the flannel board with props.  This activity will now be available for the children to do in the Book Nook during Free Choice time.

 EXTENDED DAY~

Today we did another lesson in "Empathy Training".  Using the photo below of the two children pictured in the tree, we discussed how each child felt about being in the tree based on their facial expressions.  We also discussed how we can still be friends with others even if/when we don't like the exact same things.

Using a "thumb ball" with letters, we played a game of identifying letters and the sounds they make.

MARVELOUS MONDAY 10-6-14

ASK ME ABOUT...

...what I did in Spanish.

...where I went and what I did for Work Stations.

...showing you what I did with my 2nd grade buddy(ies).

...the new Star of the Week.

...what I can wear on "Academy Spirit Day".

...the class book I will bring home to share with you.
...the new password.

CLASS BOOK~

Today we began sending home a class book called, Peekaboo.  Guess Who?, which includes all of the Pre-K students in our class.   Your child has one evening to share this class book with you.  After sharing it with you, your child should sign his/her first name on the last page of the book and return it in the "Book Buddy" bag to school the next day.

Happy Reading! 

WORK STATIONS~

Today we introduced "have-to" activities at the Work Stations.   A "have-to" task means that the child must do that particular task when assigned to that Work Station.    Below are description of the "have-to" tasks at Work Stations for the next 2 weeks......

At the Word Work Station, children color in our 3 previous passwords according to the "key".

At the Alphabet Station, children find and string the letters in their names to make a name necklace.

At Math Magic, children are given a tree with a number.  Children add leaves to the tree to match the number.

When finished with a "have-to" task, children place it in the basket pictured below for the teacher to review.

 

 BUDDY TIME!~

We visited our buddies today!  With our buddies, we did an activity to help us get to know our buddy(ies) better and to help them get to know us better.  Be sure to ask your child to share his/her "Get To Know Your Buddy" sheet with you.

                

 STAR OF THE WEEK!~

Our new Star of the Week is Lianna!  Today Lianna told us some of her favorite things including:  pink (favorite color); horse (favorite animal); and riding a bike (favorite activity).  Lianna also shared photos with us and her teddy bear, which she told us how to say in Spanish!  Thank you for helping us get to know you better, Lianna!

 COLOR STORY~

We have officially begun our study of "Colors".  We have many lessons, activities and experiments planned to help us learn more about colors.

CALENDAR~

We added 2 more special dates to our October calendar.  This Friday, October 10th, is Spirit Day at Columbus Academy.  Students can wear any shirt, T-shirt or sweatshirt with a Columbus Academy logo.  Dress code should still be worn from the waist down.  Go Vikes!

 On Thursday, October 23rd, our Pre-K class, along with our 2nd grade buddies, will travel into the Academy woods for special stories and s'mores around the campfire.  This annual event in the Lower School is done by our Lower School Librarians.  Children do not need to wear dress code clothing on this day.  Rather, please dress your child in clothing appropriate for "hiking" into the woods and sitting around the campfire.