What another great week in Pre-K! This week we learned about weather and clouds. Here is a look at the week:

                                            

Morning Meeting

This week I read the story, The Little Cloud by Eric Carle. In the story, Little Cloud turns into different animals and shapes in the sky. The children enjoyed brainstorming imaginative creatures and animals they would become. This story was also the basis for the language arts center where they created their own little cloud picture with cotton balls! Also, we learned why clouds are important and focused on the three main types; stratus, cumulus, and cirrus.  The kiddos had fun pointing out the different clouds at recess! I was impressed with how quick they were to apply this new knowledge. 

 

Centers

Language Arts- The kiddos made cloud pictures with cotton balls based on the story, Little Cloud.  Next, they stretched out the word and wrote the sounds they heard.  These pictures are up in the classroom to view!

                                                   

Also, we did a beginning sound picture sort.

Math- We played a fun game of number bingo. Also, we had a variety of shape mats with pictures of trains, butterflies, and fire trucks that were comprised of all the shapes. We went more in depth and explored how some shapes can be combined to make other shapes. For example, one kiddo discovered that six triangles or two trapezoids made a hexagon. Very impressive!

Art- The children played with shaving cream and made their own cumulus, cirrus, and stratus cloud. 

Observation table- The kiddos made predictions on what would happen with a demonstration of a rain cloud. They drew pictures to share their ideas. 

         

Sensory table- The kiddos continued to dig for dinosaurs and fossils. 

                                 

Also, the sensory table in the JK room was opened and filled with Orbeez.

                

A birthday celebration for one of our friends! His mom came in to read a story to the class.  

                                       

This week we finished our dinosaur unit! The kids were excited to dive into the sensory table taking on the role as paleontologists. Also, we continued to explore a variety of dinosaur stories and stretched our minds learning new dino facts!

Here is a look at our learning this week!

Centers

The sensory table was a blast for the kiddos who were digging for fossils, skeletons, and small dinosaurs. The children dressed in their hats and badges and used their tools to find these hidden treasures. 

Language Arts- In Language Arts we did a shared reading with a dinosaur poem.  The children found letters and sight words in the poem.  Next, they drew a picture of a dinosaur and created a story from their picture.

Also, we read an emergent reader about the role of a paleontologist. The children finished the story and drew a picture of themselves as paleontologists.

Math- Counting the close pins adding plates to their dinosaurs. 

Art- Making fossils!

We mixed together flour, salt, and warm water to make our own fossil dough. Then the kiddos created their own fossil with an imprint.

 

Fun with friends :)

Mr. Stanley came to visit and share about their adventures at Dinosaur Ridge!

P.E

Next week

We will begin a Clouds and Weather unit.
No School- Monday, April 17

This week we began our Dinosaur Unit! We explored a variety of dinosaur stories and videos and stretched our minds learning new dino facts!

Here is a look at the week:

Morning Meeting

We read a variety of non-fiction and fiction texts about dinosaurs.  We focused on the T-Rex and Stegosaurus and described the characteristics of this dinosaur compared to other animals.  We talked about what dinosaurs eat and their daily life.  Also, we saw a few videos from the program BrainPopJr and Dino Train. The kids are always captivated by these videos because the narrator is a robot and takes them back in time when dinosaurs roamed the earth!   

Dancing to a dino stomp on the rug!

 

Centers

Language Arts- The children read a story about dinosaurs which reinforced the words, ‘I see the…”For the unknown words they would sound it out by stretching out the letter sounds or use the pictures as clues.  Have your child read this story to you at home!  

Math- The children played with dice and had to find the dinosaur with the corresponding number.  Some of the children used two dice to add together and used manipulatives to help them solve the addition problem.

Art- The children cut a variety of foam shapes to build their own dinosaur.  They were so imaginative about what their dinosaur looked like and even created their own dinosaur name. They will present their pictures to the class during circle time. 

In the fine motor center the children used scissors to cut out 10 strips of a puzzle.  There were numbers and pictures on the puzzle to guide them in putting it together.  They did this independently!  .

The children completed their April monthly self-portrait.  It is so fun to see how much these pictures have changed from the beginning of the year! 

Reading Buddies

We always love catching up with our 5th grade friends! This week we focused on Earth Day and how we can be helpers by keeping our planet clean. Together, the buddies painted Earth, made flower handprints and drew a picture of them helping the environment.  The 5^th graders really guided the PK kiddos and were great leaders and teachers!

Next week we will dive into the role of a paleontologists digging for fossils and dinosaur bones in the sensory table!  Also, we will make our own fossils!