IED PRE-K NEWSLETTER FOR THE WEEK OF

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2  

  This week the Pre-K classroom became the realm of the senses as we dedicated each day to one of the five. Monday was Seeing and there were a variety of hands-on activities that engaged the sense of sight, including color mixing using droppers and ice cube trays; Tuesday was Hearing and kids made tamborines, played rhythm changer (sound pattern recognition), and listened to and identified everyday sounds using their sense of hearing; and Wednesday we explored the sense of touch with oobleck (cornstarch and water), the Feely Box, shaving cream, and a guessing game in which children closed their eyes, reached into a bag and by touch, drew out items that matched the words, scratchy (sandpaper), fluffy (a cotton ball), hard and smooth (a flattened marble), bumpy (corrugated cardboard) and squishy (a sticky hand)Thursday was Smelling and children took the smell test, guessing at the scent on each of four baby food jars then drawing a line from the number on the canister to a picture of the scent. They also painted with kool-aid watercolors, and made applesauce cinnamon dough ornaments. Friday featured Tasting and the children took a taste test with foods that represented the categories salty, sweet, bitter and sour (we know, savory is the fifth category but we didn’t have the Nori on hand). We finished off the day by sharing our favorite and least favorite things to taste. 
             

Children continued to play with the different activities throughout the week as we placed components from each sense on the science table to allow them to explore them at their leisure. On several occasions, a group of children took out the circle time mats and called everyone over to the carpet to read a story because they were playing teacher, it was great fun! 
        

Next week will begin our change-out of the Pretend Area from Home Living to a Hospital. We set up a light table on which to examine real x-rays, an examining table for babies and shelves full of doctor bags and instruments. 
             

Over the next two weeks, we’ll be looking at bones, skin and muscles as well as the circulatory, respiratory, digestive and nervous systems. Children are welcome to bring in books, models and any other materials that relate to the study of the body for their sharing times.  

* There will be NO SCHOOL this coming Friday, October 9 as it is a Teacher Inservice Day.

* If you have wrapping bandages, child-sized hospital garb or any other hospital accoutrements that you can donate or lend, we would be grateful. Thanks so much for all of your ongoing support!