Thursday, November 10

Group Meeting:  Tomorrow is Veteran's Day.  Our story and Let's Find Out magazine is about how to celebrate this special day, so I thought we'd better talk about it a little.  A few children knew that they had family members in the military.  We are so thankful for them and their families.

Story:  The story for today was Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Valerie Pfundstein.  This book gives a simple description of Veterans Day for children to understand.  It tells about people in our daily lives that have served in the Armed Forces.

Small Groups:  The children made the snack for today.  It was Birthday Day, but we didn't have any November birthdays in either class.  We made Pumpkin Pie Pudding.  Every child had a task.  We mixed vanilla pudding mix with milk, pumpkin, and cinnamon sugar.  Then we put it in the refrigerator while we went outside for play time.

Let's Find Out Magazine:  The video was about Veteran's Day.  We also played the video game in which the children had to complete a pattern.  This game is available online as well at letsfindout.com  Login as a student and use the password redeemer.

Snack:  The snack for today was Pumpkin Pie Pudding, milk, water, and Birthday Brownies.

Wednesday, November 9

Group Meeting: We started our day by doing a little yoga.  We stretched along with the video and learned how to breath.  Starting the day with a little exercise gets our body and brain ready to learn.

Story:  The story for today was Stick and Stone: Friends Forever by Beth Ferry.  This is the second book in the Stick and Stone series.  Stick has always wanted to find his family tree.  With stone, they set out on an adventure to find it.  They walk through forests and up mountains but cannot find his tree.  When they return, Stick tells Stone to not be sad.  He has a family.  Ask your child to tell you who is Stick's family.

Study:  The study question for today was: Do rocks sink or float?  We used tubs of water and different kinds and sizes of rocks.  We also found out what happens when you drop a big rock into the water.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was O.

Snack:  The snack for today was Life cereal, milk, and water.

Tuesday, November 8

Group Meeting:   Our rock collection keeps growing.  It's interesting to see all of the different kinds.  Today, we are starting experiments with the rocks that I have gathered.  We will keep our rock display going.

Story:  The story for today was Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry.  This is a book of friendship.  Stone is alone.  Stick is lonely.  When Stick sees Pinecone teasing Stone, he steps in to help.  This creates a friendship between Stick and Stone.  When a storm comes, Stick gets blown away and lands in a puddle of water.  How can Stone help?  Ask your child to tell you.

Study:  Our study questions for the day were; do rocks roll, do all rocks roll, and what makes rocks roll?  I gave the children wooden ramps and various rocks to see if a rock would slide or roll.  We also tried raising the ramps and lowering the ramps to see if it would change the outcome.  

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was C.

Snack:  The snack for today was wheat bread, sugar free jam, milk, and water.

Monday, November 7

Group Meeting:  The preschool is decorating a tree for the Festival of Trees.  We will be working on the ornaments all week.  We are making peppermint pigs.  If you've never heard of the peppermint pig tradition, ask your child to tell you.   I shared the story with the children at Group Meeting, and a few children started making the ornaments during play time.  I'll be sending home more information about this next week.

Story:  The story for today was A Rock Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas.  Before we read the book, I asked the children to help me make a list of words that describe rocks.  The book was about all of the things that a rock can be such as a beach (sand), a statue, a bridge, etc.  After the story, we added to our list.  

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was U.

Study:  We've received a good variety of rocks to start our study.  I'm attaching a picture of our display and a picture of the rocks in our sensory table.

Snack:  The snack for today was cottage cheese, Wheat Thins, and water.

Thursday, November 3

Group Meeting:  We had more rocks come in today, and we are getting a nice variety.  We spent a few minutes exploring them with our magnifying glasses.

Story:  The story for today was It's Mine by Leo Lionni.  Before I read the story, we talked about what it means to quarrel with someone.  In this story, three frogs quarrel over everything; the water, the pebbles, and the sky.  A wise toad from the other side of the pond comes to tell them that he can hear them quarrel every day.  He wishes there was a way for them to find peace.  It begins to rain and a flood forces the frogs to gather together on one rock.  When the water subsides, they find that the rock was really the toad.  Now, they know that they can share and the peace that comes from sharing.

At the end of the story, we talked about sharing.  I had several students say "sharing is caring".  When I asked them what that meant, they couldn't tell me.  We decided that sharing with someone is a way to say "I like you.  I want you to be my friend".  

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was I.

Let's Find Out:  The magazine that we used today was actually a leftover from October.   It was about Autumn changes.  If you'd like get more resources, go to letsfindout.com  sign in as a student and use the password redeemer.

Snack:  The snack for today was Belvita bars, milk and water.

We spent all of play time outside today.  This is our Thursday plan from here on.  Unless it is raining, snowing, or very cold, we will be going outside for play time on Thursdays.

Group Meeting:  A few children brought rocks to show.  We are setting up a display area for the rocks that the children want to bring in.  We will have them labeled so that the rocks are returned to the right owners.  We're getting a good variety so far.  We'd love to have more.

Story:  The story for today was If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian.  This is a book of photographs of different kinds of rocks that children have found.  Some rocks are for skipping, some for splashing, some rocks make chalk drawings on the ground, and some are for memories.  We are hoping to find all of the kinds of rocks in our study.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was T.

Large Group:  The children went to the Outdoor Classroom.  We took paper and crayons to make leaf rubbings.  Our play area is filled with leaves right now.  

Snack:  The snack for today was waffles, maple butter, milk, and water.

Monday, November 1

Group Meeting:  We are starting a new month today was well as a new study.  I told the children that we would be starting a study of rocks this week.  Please read the note that was sent home in the folders today.

Story:  The story for today was Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig.  Sylvester can’t believe his luck when he finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. But when a lion jumps out at him on his way home, Sylvester hastily wishes that he was a rock so that the lion could not eat him.  How will Sylvester return to being a donkey again?  Ask your child to tell you how this ends.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was H.

Large Group:  The children went to the Outdoor Classroom.  It looks like we have been blessed with another week of warm weather.  We'll take advantage of that as much as we can.

Snack:  The snack for today was sliced peaches, milk, and water.