Monday, November 28

Group Meeting:  We started our day by talking about the Thanksgiving Break.  The children shared stories about going to relative's homes or staying home with their family.  It sounds like everyone had a good time with good food to eat.

Story:  The story for today was Dakota, the Therapy Dog by Lara Clear.  Dakota, the dog, is going to school.  He wonders what school will be like.  Will the children like him?  Will the children be nice?  Dakota finds that school is a nice place where friends play together.  I read this story today because Scout, our therapy dog, will be coming to school this week.  We will slowly introduce her to the children.  The children will learn how to approach a dog, how to let the dog sniff first, and how to give gentle pets.  Later in the month, Scout will be joining us for story time and play time.

Gift of Kindness:  We will be counting down the days until Spring Break by opening a Gift of Kindness each day.  Please read the note in your child's folder that came home today.  The gift for the children to give today was a smile.  We encouraged the children to smile at their classmates and teachers throughout the day to help everyone feel welcome.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was B.

Gross Motor:  The children played "Kindness Musical Chairs".   The variation in this game is that when a child does not have a chair, he or she shares with another child.  By the end of the game, many children are sharing the same chair.

Snack:  The snack for today was bagels, cream cheese, juice and water. 

Tuesday, November 22

Group Meeting: Everyone seemed a little more excited today as the Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner.  Some of the children shared their Thanksgiving Day plans.

Story:  The story for today was Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dave Pilkey.  A group of children are on their way to a field trip when they discover a small turkey farm.  The children enjoy playing with the turkeys until the farmer tells them what will happen to the turkeys on Thanksgiving.  When the children start to cry, the farmer and teacher run to the well to get them water to drink.  When they return, the children are no longer crying, but the turkeys have disappeared.  Ask your child to tell you where the turkeys are hiding.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was P.

Let's Find Out Magazine:  How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  The magazine gave examples of things that people do to celebrate Thanksgiving.  The video was about being thankful.  More resources are available at letsfindout.com  Login as a student and use the password redeemer.

Snack:  The snack for today was Mandarin oranges, milk and water.

Happy Thanksgiving!  We will return to school on Monday.  A December calendar was sent home today.

Monday, November 21

Group Meeting:  The children noticed that Mrs. Crawford was absent today.  I explained that she is in Texas to visit her daughter who is having a baby today.  She will return next Monday.

Story:  The story for today was Who Will Carve the Turkey This Thanksgiving? by Jerry Pallota.  In this story, a boy is waiting for his grandparents to arrive for Thanksgiving dinner.   While he waits, he wonders who will carve the turkey.  His imagination takes over as he thinks of interesting animals that could carve the turkey.  Ask your child to tell you who will carve the turkey for Thanksgiving.

Study:  We watched a video about things that we can do with rocks.  Rocks can be used for sidewalks and roads.  Rocks can be used to build houses, fireplaces, and countertops.  We also learned that rocks are not good for beds, are not good to eat, and should not be thrown at someone.  

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was J.

Large Group:  The children played a gross motor game called "Farmer and the Turkeys".  This is a chasing game.  Ask your child to tell you how to play.

Snack:  The snack for today was corn chips, salsa, juice and water.

Thursday, November 17

Group Meeting:  We watched a video about turkeys.  We learned what turkeys eat, how they find their food, and that they can fly short distances.

Small Groups:  The children were given rock dough which is dough made with flour, coffee, and salt.  When it dries, it looks like a rock.  They molded the rock dough to make a turkey body and added things like beads, googly eyes, feathers, colored sticks, and pipe cleaners to make a turkey.

Let's Find Out Magazine:  We watched a video about a boy who belongs to the Tsimshian tribe in Alaska.  His family has a tradition of wood carving.  We watched Tain leave to carve wood with his dad.  Please help your child complete the back page of the magazine.

Field Trip:  Before leaving for the food pantry, we reviewed the story from yesterday.  I hope everyone learned a little about how the food pantry helps those in need.  If you want to make donations to the food pantry, you are welcome to send them to preschool with your child.  We will send them with the church donations.  

Snack:  The snack was Scooby Snacks, milk and water.

Thank you to those who provided transportation to the food pantry for us.  It was a short trip but I hope it will help the children see the importance of helping those in need.

Group Meeting:  Thanksgiving is a time for thanks and for giving.  We are hoping our conversations about this holiday will help the children be thankful and willing to share with others. 

Story:  In preparation for our field trip tomorrow, I read Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt.  This is the story of two friends, Maddi and Sophia.  After playing on the playground, Sophia wants to go to Maddi's house for a snack.  When she opens Maddi's fridge, she discovers that Maddi only has milk and bread.  Maddi tells her that they don't have much food but doesn't want Sophia to tell anyone.  Sophia promises not to tell.  Sophia struggles knowing that she has so much food, but Maddi doesn't have any.  Ask your child to tell you if Sophia keeps Maddi's secret.  

Large Group:  We prepared for our trip by talking about where our food comes from.  The children knew that parents go to the store to get food and that they have to pay money for it.  I explained that some families don't always have enough money to buy food.  We can help them by taking food to the Food Pantry.  

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was S.

Snack:  The snack was Belly Bears, applesauce, and water.

Tuesday, November 15

Group Meeting:  This week, we have been starting our group meetings by talking about things that make us happy.  Everyone gets the chance to tell about something that is making them happy.  We have a lot to be happy and thankful for.

Story:  The book that I read today was If Rocks Could Sing by Leslie McGuirk.   I started at the back of the book with the picture of the author.  Leslie McGuirk search the Florida beach by her home looking for rocks that were shaped like letters and familiar items.  She put them together to make this alphabet book.  For example, the letter B is rock shaped like a lowercase b along with a bird shaped rock.  It was fun to read through the book and decide if we could figure out the shape that went with each letter.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was G.

Large Group:  The children watched a video that explained how rocks are formed.  This was a children's video which described the forms in simple language.  Igneous rocks are formed from volcanic lava.  Metamorphic rocks are made when the earth moves causing the rocks to be pushed and pulled.  Sedimentary rocks are formed when water and wind moves the rocks.  While I don't expect the children to remember the names, they could tell me different ways rocks are made.

Snack:  The snack for today was Sun Chips, milk and water.

Monday, November 14

Group Meeting:  The children noticed a turkey on the wall when they came into the room today.  For the next two weeks, we will be learning about Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful.  We will be continuing our rock study as well.

Story:  The story for today was Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes.  This is a picture book in which children are telling about the things for which they are thankful such as family members, pets, rain, toys, etc.  

Small Groups:  Following the story, the children were asked to think of something for which they are thankful.  After we shared a few ideas, the children were given paper feathers.  They drew their ideas on the paper feathers and added them to our classroom turkey.

Letter Learning:  The letter for today was Q.

Snack:  Our snack was Goldfish, string cheese, and water.