PRE-K NEWSLETTER FOR THE WEEK OF:

OCTOBER 19-23, 2009

              The leaves, seeds, fruits, and changing weather of fall were highlighted this week as we began our exploration of the fall season. On Monday we took a leaf walk around the block at the end of Outside Time and graphed the different colored fall leaves during Choice Time. The children had a great time filling their bags with their buddy partners and noticing how some trees went mostly red or orange or yellow and yet others carried all the colors.

             On Tuesday, children made painted leaves and explored color mixing, and book making has continued to be a favorite during choice time.

             Wednesday, we emphasized how in fall the mature and falling seeds, nuts and fruits complete one growing cycle and are the start for the next growing cycle. Children participated in gutting and removing seeds from two larger pumpkins. Then the seeds were counted.

              Thursday was apple-tasting day, and children ate a slice each of a Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp apple. Choosing their favorite taste of the three, they dipped an apple that had been sliced in half into the appropriate color of paint and placed them in one of three categories. They counted them together as a group to get the totals for each category. The final result was quite close between the Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples, with the Golden Delicious apples winning out.

              Friday we wrapped up the fall theme by reading Margaret Wise Brown’s Little Scarecrow Boy then provided the children with the materials to make their own Scarecrow collages. It was an Everybody Project and it was great to see some of the children who rarely choose art sitting and making something with their own hands. 

            On Monday we will begin to change out the Pretend Area from the Hospital to a Spider’s lair in preparation for our study of spiders. We can't wait!

Reminders:

*******************CONFERENCE INFORMATION ********************

* The sign-ups for conference times are now out near the Parent Sign-Ins. They will take place on Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25 and will run approximately 15-20 minutes long. If you cannot make it during the regularly scheduled conference times, please let us know and you can request an e-mail version. We look forward to talking with you about your child!

* Our program policy does not allow costumes to be worn to school. This is for a variety of reasons, including safety and concern for the costumes themselves. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

The Week In Review:

                            TODAY IN PRE-K MONDAY OCTOBER 19^{TH, 2009}

^{Books we read today:}

^{Fall Leaves Fall}

^{We learned how to sign the letter “Ee” today in sign language! We also reviewed all the letters we have learned thus far.}

^{We are focusing on FALL this week so the children went on a nature walk around the block and collected all different colored leaves. Each child had a partner and shared a bag with them. They all did a wonderful job and seemed to enjoy the walk and collecting leaves with one another. For our special project the children were able to pick two leaves they liked and graph them by color on the chart.}

^{At the beginning of circle time each child had a chance to share with the class something they did over the weekend! We did the weather and calendar.}

              ^{TODAY IN PRE-K TUESDAY OCTOBER 20TH, 2009}

^{Books we read today:}

^{The Reasons For Seasons}

^{The Teeny Tiny Ghost and the Monster}

^{The children were also able to make paper plate sunflowers. They glued precut yellow rays onto a small paper plate and clued small dark sunflower seeds in the middle. They were also able to decorate the letter “E” using googly eyes.}

^{We also sang Squirrel, Squirrel, Squirrel, Shake Your Bushy Tail and recite the poem, "Down, Down, Yellow and Brown, Leaves are falling All Over Town!"}

^{TODAY IN PRE-K/Wednesday, October 21, 2009}

• ^{We started our day singing and signing the Letter Ee song as well as singing our A, B, C’s with a shout out on E! We also sang The days of the week}
• ^{Children then did their Letter Ee sharing.}
  
• ^{We did the Weather and Calendar, counting up to and down from twenty-one.}
• ^{The children planted magic pumpkin seeds in the garden in the hope that the pumpkin fairy would visit.}
  

^{TODAY IN PRE-K/Thursday, October 22, 2009}

^{* We sang and signed the Letter Ee song as well as the alphabet through Ee.}

^{* The books we read today were: Apples, Apples,Fall For All, and What Will Fat Cat Sit On}

^{* Today’s Special Project was an apple tasting. Children ate a slice from a Granny Smith, a Golden Delicious and a Honeycrisp apple, then added an apple print of the appropriate color to represent their personal favorite on the “Apple-O-Meter”. Those who were able to signed their names next to their prints. During lunch, the AM kids counted up the totals for each category and at the end of the day the PM and full-day kids counted up the grand totals}

^{* Choices today included puppets, Duplos, the treasure chest and cash register, the light table with a tree and fall leaf cutouts, and the sand-filled sensory table.}

                             ^{TODAY IN PRE-K FRIDAY OCTOBER 23RD, 2009}

^{Books we read today:}

^{The Little Scarecrow Boy}

^{We signed the letter “Ee” and sang the letter “Ee” song!}

^{For our special project today the children made there own scarecrow using different art materials. There were pre-cut shirts, hats and circles for faces. The children were able to use buttons, straw, leaves and other materials to decorate their scarecrows. They all did a wonderful job. The children had a chance to show the fiercest scarecrow face they could make.}

^{The harvest fairies left the children each a pumpkin in the place where they planted their pumpkin seeds yesterday. We all went to visit the spot and found that there was a pumpkin in place of the seed.}

^{The children were also able to work on other art projects that we did this week!}