This week we dove into our Polar Bear unit.  We explored together through non-fiction stories, videos, activities and a blubber experiment!

In morning meeting, we discovered that polar bears have a thick coat of fur and blubber under their skin to keep them warm in the Arctic environment. We made blubber gloves using Crisco and tested to see if they could keep our hands warm in icy water. One hand had ‘blubber’ and the other did not.  The kiddos were quick to see how the blubber glove kept their hand warm and insulated. 

CENTERS

Language Arts— We filled in the blank.. Polar bears can, are, and have.  The children did a great job brainstorming words together and we compiled a list of the words. 

Letter match and memory-

Art- The children had fun getting messing using shaving cream to make an Arctic environment for the polar bears. 

Next, the PK kiddos painted an Arctic scene with watercolors. 

Math- Addition race where the polar bears had to race to their iceberg based on the number they rolled on the dice. 

Also, the children measured polar bear paws using a variety of materials such as: marshmallows, blocks, paperclips and cubes.  They practiced counting and comparing the numbers.

Decorating an igloo!

Chloe’s mother came in to teach the children about the Chinese New Year.  She read a story and the children transformed into a dragon parading around the classroom.  

Reading buddies

 Lunar New Year Celebration

This week we had a fantastic time finishing up our Mitten unit.  The Pre-K kiddos enjoyed acting out the story with puppets and we met our zoo friends Robbie Rabbit and Sammie Snake. 

We continue working on being a leader in the classroom and problem solving with our bugs and wishes.  I have seen the children working hard taking initiative and talking to their friends first before coming to a teacher for help! 

The kiddos went on a letter hunt in a similar version of the story, The Mitten. 

Relaxing and reading books around the classroom.  

Music

P.E

Next week we will dive into our Polar Bear unit. The kiddos will take the role of scientists and participate in a blubber experiment!

 

Morning Meeting

This week we focused on the stories The Mitten and The Hat by Jan Brett. We worked on sequencing and recognizing the characters in the stories. The children enjoyed sharing their predictions as they followed along with the story. 

Centers

In the language art center we worked on retelling the story of the mitten. The kiddos colored the animals from the story and used them to retell with their friends. In math, we used felt mittens and snowflakes to practice counting. Also, I stretched their learning by practicing addition and subtraction. The children used plastic tweezers to pick up and count snowballs (pom poms) and make a picture for the fine motor center.  Finally, the children made mittens using tissue paper to resemble stained glass.  

P.E- Mr. B showed the children how to use the parachute.  They had a blast lifting it up and running underneath!

Reading Buddies~

 Spanish