Autumn Fun!

We began the day with a nature walk.  The mission was to collect small, medium and large acorns, some with caps and some without caps, and yellow, green, brown and red leaves all different shapes and sizes.

We lined up leaves to measure the length of each student.  Then we counted and recorded the data on a white board.  This is a great way to encourage writing names and numbers.

  

We created an actual leave graph, then we estimated which color leaves had the most and least.  We estimated that we had the most brown leaves and the least yellow leaves.  Our estimation was incorrect!  We had 30 red leaves, 22 brown leaves, 10 green leaves and 7 yellow leaves.  We recorded our findings on paper graphs.

Question: Do acorns and acorn caps sink or float in water?  Predictions: 2 acorns will sink and 1 will float, the big acorns will float and the little ones will sink, all acorns will float, all acorns will sink, acorn caps will float.  We discovered that acorns with caps and acorn caps float.  Acorns with out caps sink.

This one floating acorn was the ONLY acorn with out a cap that floated.  The interesting thing, this student predicted that 2 of his acorns would sink and 1 would float:)

 
The following day we predicted if a walnut would sink or float water.  We predicted that the walnuts would sink.  We discovered that the dry walnuts floated, however, after the walnuts absorbed the water, the walnuts sank to the bottom of the cup.

On the nature walk we each found 3 - 5 very special leaves to paint.  We layed the leaves on wax paper then squirted glue, shaving cream and paint on the leaves, then used q-tips to swirl the ingredients to create beautiful leaves to decorate the class room.

We painted with acorns.  We placed paper inside a container, added 3 acorns, squirted paint on the acorns and paper.  Next, secured the lid on the container and went banana's as we shook the container rapidly.  We opened the container to view the creations.  Finally, we glued the acorns on the papers.  Fun! Fun! Fun!

 

September 2013

Name Stamping

In September we learned the letters A B C D. Explored apples, clouds and rain. Excerised fine motor skills by using scissors to cut, paste, write and draw.  Practiced eye-hand coordination by stiring, using dot-art bottles and tracing. WE ALL LEARNED how to spell first names!!! 

Learning letters A B C D:

~ We played "I Spy the letter...." and found hidden A, B, C and D around the classroom.

~ We built letters with blocks and giant toy beads.

~ We traced letters with our fingers on tables, carpets, in shaving cream and paint.

~ We used dot-art bottles to "dot" letters.

~We used makers to trace and create rainbow letters.

~ We practiced using pencils to trace and write the letters. 

~ We learned the phonetic sounds of letters by participating in show and share coinciding with the letter of the week and consant repetion with letter-sound related activities.  For Example: A is for apples - we experimented to discover if apples sink or float.  We tasted and graphed red, green and yellow apples.  A is for Alligator - we made alligator A's.  B is for bumble bee - we created bumble bee B's.  B is for bubbles - we explored bubbles.  B is for balloons - we wrote the letter Bb on balloons and named a letter B word before playing with balloons in the classroom.  C is for cat - we made cat C's.  C is for colors - we used primary colors to discover green, orange and purple.  C is for clouds - we used shaving cream and water to create clouds, then added food coloring to make it rain.  D is for Dalmatian - we made dalmatian D's and visitied a fire station.  D is for dinosaurs - we used toy dinosaurs to introduce addition.  D is for dominoes - we played dominoes.

Show and Share Dd.

Writing the letter Cc in shaving cream



Magic C!!!



Building the letter B

Building the letter d.

"I Spy the letter B"



"I Spy the letter C"

Bumble Bee B!







Cat C.



Dot art Dd and Dalmatian D.



Science Exploration:

~ We made predictions!  We predicted if apples and apple seeds would sink or float.  Then experimented!

~ We experimented with primary colors to create new colors.  We learned that red + blue = purple, blue + yellow = green and yellow + red = orange. 

~ We created clouds and rain clouds!  The students squirted shaving cream into a container filled with water.  Then, added red and blue food coloring on top of the clouds and discovered purple rain.

~ We experimented with shaving cream!  We squirted the shaving cream on the table and used our hands to rub the shaving cream on the table until it disappeared.  We learned that the shaving cream made our table sparkling clean.

Apple Experiment!

Apple Graphing!

Rain Clouds!



Blue + Yellow = Green

Blue

Watching the Rain!

Arithmatic

~ Bowling is for letter B.  We bowled and as we bowled we counted and added bowling pins.

~ B is for bugs.  We counted and added bugs.

~ C is for caterpillar.  We counted and added caterpillars.

~ D is for dinosuars.  We counted and added dinsaurs.

Bug Addition!

Dinosaur Addition

Bowling!

Preschool - Week 1

We had an AWESOME first day of school!!  We began the day with centers: kitchen, blocks, train table etc... Following centers, we read the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"  Then engaged in playing an "I Spy" game.  We searched and found each character from the book, then counted and recorded each dot held by the character.  Next, we traced our names with liquid glue, then decorated our names with glitter.  Then, Pastor Rigg visited our classroom and shared the story of "The Parable of the Lost Sheep".  The most popular activity was next, painting!!  The hidden agenda was to engage the students in tracing their names with paint.  IT WORKED!!!!  During circle time, Deacon and Luke shared the job as "Weather Helpers"  they dressed the weather frog and completed the weather activities.  Luke assisted in teaching "The Pledge of Allegiance".  Finally, Sofia and Gia were the counting helpers and assisted with taking attendance.. Upon completion of morning exercises (push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, windmills, etc...) there was an unanimous cry for snack :-). During snack,  Ms. Kirsten read "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn.    We learned that some animals sleep when we play and are active during the day, and, other animals do the opposite, and are called, nocturnal animals.  We also learned, that some people need to talk with their hands, as their ears do not work.  We discovered and created sign-language for "I love you".  Outdoor play included an animal search and acorn throwing/rolling contest. The "Question of the day" was: "What was your favorite part of the day?"  Responses: Painting and cutting!!! Kristen and I are grateful for an AWESOME first day of school!!!!!

Summer Camp: July 30 - August 1 2013

Glow In The Dark Science

Science exploration was a blast!!  

We made Glow in the Dark puffy paint, sand, water beads and bubbles!

Glow in the Dark puffy paint recipe:

1 cup flour

1 cup salt

3/4 cup water with highlighters (break open highlighters and squeeze the liquid into the water, or break open glow sticks and pour the liquid into the water (cut both ends of the glow sticks to insert liquid, if using highlighters, cut the insert in half to release liquid.)

CONTINUE READING......

Recipe for Glow in the Dark water beads

Water beads (3 pack purchased at The Dollar Store)

Water

Highlighters and/or Glow Sticks -repeat the same process stated above....

Recipe for Glow in the Dark bubbles

Bubble Solution

Highlighters and/or glow sticks- repeat the same as stated above....

My observations conclude that smashing highlighters and breaking glow sticks was the favorite part of the day!