Monday, April 22, 2013
We survived the great waters... how about you?
Our unit on rain could not have been timed any better! The children learned all about the water cycle and the basics of storms. They were lucky and you were unlucky enough to have had the pleasure of seeing big storms first hand. It was quite the experience. I hope they have been sharing with you.
We recently moved on to the plant cycle. We learned about seeds and then onto the parts of a flower. We are growing seeds now. We hope to see some growth later this week. In another week or 2 they will bring them home. This is something great to do at home. It gives them responsibility for something they want to see do well. Get them a cup or pot, some wild flower or grass seeds and a spray bottle. Watch them learn through real life activities.
We started with The Tug of War last week. This is a story taking placing in the rainforests of Africa. Needless to say they are all excited about that. We looked at the parts of the world where rainforests exist and why they are there and not say, here, in Chicago. We are learning the animals and other life that lives primarily there. It's been pretty awesome. In this unit we introduced Rr, Ss, Tt. We are nearly done with the alphabet.
Our recent Artist was a revisit from Van Gogh. This time, we used impasto paints. We put flour in paint to thicken it up and used a couple of different tools and stiff brushes. Our inspiration was "Sunflowers". They talked to each other about how it was a little harder to just PAINT using this thicker paint.
JG and his mom made OOBLEK. We talked about liquids vs. solids. Each child was able to explore the oozey gooey substance with different materials. We also had science with TS and it was a hit. He and his mom made chocolate clay. It was pliable like playdough and then they could eat it. We sent home a recipe, but here are the basic ingredients for a large batch: 1 can frosting (any flavor), 1 small jar of creamy peanut butter and approximately 4 cups of powdered sugar. The sugar keeps it from being sticky.
I sent home a field trip slip. Please have that with the payment back on or before May 6. Finally, Open Houses have been very well received. If your plan is to return to prek next year, be sure to turn in your registration. Space is limited to 24 and we already have 16 registered!
Until next time....
TBoyle
We recently moved on to the plant cycle. We learned about seeds and then onto the parts of a flower. We are growing seeds now. We hope to see some growth later this week. In another week or 2 they will bring them home. This is something great to do at home. It gives them responsibility for something they want to see do well. Get them a cup or pot, some wild flower or grass seeds and a spray bottle. Watch them learn through real life activities.
We started with The Tug of War last week. This is a story taking placing in the rainforests of Africa. Needless to say they are all excited about that. We looked at the parts of the world where rainforests exist and why they are there and not say, here, in Chicago. We are learning the animals and other life that lives primarily there. It's been pretty awesome. In this unit we introduced Rr, Ss, Tt. We are nearly done with the alphabet.
Our recent Artist was a revisit from Van Gogh. This time, we used impasto paints. We put flour in paint to thicken it up and used a couple of different tools and stiff brushes. Our inspiration was "Sunflowers". They talked to each other about how it was a little harder to just PAINT using this thicker paint.
JG and his mom made OOBLEK. We talked about liquids vs. solids. Each child was able to explore the oozey gooey substance with different materials. We also had science with TS and it was a hit. He and his mom made chocolate clay. It was pliable like playdough and then they could eat it. We sent home a recipe, but here are the basic ingredients for a large batch: 1 can frosting (any flavor), 1 small jar of creamy peanut butter and approximately 4 cups of powdered sugar. The sugar keeps it from being sticky.
I sent home a field trip slip. Please have that with the payment back on or before May 6. Finally, Open Houses have been very well received. If your plan is to return to prek next year, be sure to turn in your registration. Space is limited to 24 and we already have 16 registered!
Until next time....
TBoyle
Sunday, April 7, 2013
International Week in Prekindergarten
INTERNATIONAL WEEK! Thanks to all who came and helped to share information: IE, DF, TS, EV. We learned about Mexico, Puerto Rico, Norway, Ireland, Poland, Italy, Phillipines and Korea.
It's SPRING!!!
Well, I hope you are all nice and rested. We are in the home stretch of the 2012/2013 school year. We Still have one quarter to go, so keep your children excited each morning and I will keep them engaged all day.
This week is very short. We have conferences all day from 12:30-8 on Thursday and I have hours on Friday morning from 8:30-11:30 am. Please sign up to see me. I am eager to show you your child's progress.
We will be working on RST very soon. Please keep encouraging them at home as they try to sound out or identify letters and numbers. They are very excited about this new knowledge. Asking them to read a story to you while you encourage left to right tracking is a great bit of "homework" you can do with them. Remember, homework does NOT have to be worksheets and workbooks. Make learning exciting and part of their real life. Have them stack cans or count boxes or open mail and "read it " to you.
We will be singing in church at St. Paul at the end of April. Please keep watch of news on that. We will have a field trip to Lincoln Park Zoo in May, so I will be looking for chaperones on that trip too. Remember with field trips, no siblings may join us. Finally Prek will present chapel at the end of May as well. That went very well last year and I am looking forward to the children sharing Jesus with the rest of the school.
That's all for now. I look forward to these last few weeks together. I can't believe how much your children have grown and how much they will continue to grow and learn this last quarter.
Blessings,
Tanya Boyle
This week is very short. We have conferences all day from 12:30-8 on Thursday and I have hours on Friday morning from 8:30-11:30 am. Please sign up to see me. I am eager to show you your child's progress.
We will be working on RST very soon. Please keep encouraging them at home as they try to sound out or identify letters and numbers. They are very excited about this new knowledge. Asking them to read a story to you while you encourage left to right tracking is a great bit of "homework" you can do with them. Remember, homework does NOT have to be worksheets and workbooks. Make learning exciting and part of their real life. Have them stack cans or count boxes or open mail and "read it " to you.
We will be singing in church at St. Paul at the end of April. Please keep watch of news on that. We will have a field trip to Lincoln Park Zoo in May, so I will be looking for chaperones on that trip too. Remember with field trips, no siblings may join us. Finally Prek will present chapel at the end of May as well. That went very well last year and I am looking forward to the children sharing Jesus with the rest of the school.
That's all for now. I look forward to these last few weeks together. I can't believe how much your children have grown and how much they will continue to grow and learn this last quarter.
Blessings,
Tanya Boyle
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