PRE-K NEWSLETTER FOR THE WEEK OF 
NOVEMBER 2-5    

This week in Pre-K our room was filled with the sounds of hooting owls, chirping crickets, howling coyotes, and croaking frogs. We read both fiction and non-fiction books about nocturnal animals and learned a great many new things; it was surprising to find that many of the kids already knew quite a bit about nocturnal animals! 
We started off the week by talking about the things that the kids already knew about nocturnal animals, and by sharing stories and experiences relating to the subject. On Tuesday, we learned about how raccoons like to touch their food and rinse it in water when available. For the rest of the week the kids had a great time pretending to be raccoons, rinsing and dunking a variety of raccoon foods (plastic eggs, fish, fruits, crayfish, etc.) in the sensory area. On Friday, the kids had a great time learning about bats! We learned that bats are warm-blooded mammals like humans, and that their wings are flaps of skin stretched between finger-like bones. We also learned about how bats hunt using echo-location to find their food. It was quite a sight to see the children racing around the playground with their bat rings on and pretending to bounce sound off of one another, gobbling up their friends who served as insects. All in all, it was quite a fun and busy week. 
    Next week we will begin our exploration of space, starting with our solar system and moving outward. The children are welcome to share anything from home related to the topic, space week is always a favorite in Pre-K! 
    
A few reminders: 
 
It's that time of year again! The weather has turned cold and rainy, and it is important to send warm, rain resistant clothing. Many of the children are quite cold during recess and may need hats and gloves as well. 
 
Please remember to turn off your cell phones while you are in the classroom. 
 
Thanks again! 
 
 
The week in review: 
  Monday: Owls 
 
Books We read: Night Animals, Little Hoot, Owl Moon 
 
    At the art table today the kids made paper owls, by cutting out various shapes, and adding circular eyes and feathers. We learned several new fingerplays today; The Wide Eyed Owl, Five Little Owls, and Owls In A Tree. During circle time we shared stories of nocturnal animal sightings, and talked about the things that the children already knew about nocturnal animals. 
 
Owl discussion –

Owls come out at night because many of the animals they eat are also nocturnal, mice and other small animals.  Owls eyes are very large which make it easy for them to see at night.  Owls are silent fliers.  Their feathers are specially designed to be very quiet.  The owl surprises his prey and swiftly flies down feet first to grab it.   

Tuesday: 
 
Books we read: The Kissing Hand, Raccoon Tune, Night Creatures 
 
 
Art Activity: The kids made paper masks and tails, they had a great time looking at various photos of raccoons and trying to get the stripes and masks just right! After they were done, the kids had a great time crawling around the room, and checking out their tails in the mirror. 
 

We learned that:

* Raccoons are mammals. 
* Lives in woodland forests or urban areas. 
* What does it eat? The raccoon is not a picky eater.  It can eat just about everything.  It has very agile hands to pick up food and are super climbers.  It eats berries, acorns, honey, eggs, worms, grasshoppers, and other bigger animals like chicken.  In towns and cities they eat garbage. 
* The raccoon is generally nocturnal - active at night 
* Raccoons can spread diseases, such as rabies - be careful and never touch a raccoon. 
* A young raccoon is called a kit.  Kits are born in tree holes way up high where they can be safe and dry.  

Wednesday:

Books we read: Starry Safari, Forrest Light, Forrest Night, Night Creatures, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat 

We talked about a variety of nocturnal animals including skunks, foxes, coyotes, wolves and porcupines. During circle, we talked about the different noises that each animal makes which led into our special activity; a game in which the children each made the sound of a nocturnal animal and then their friends had to guess what animal it was. The kids had a great time, and there were a few wildlife experts who were able to guess correctly each time! 

 
 Art activity: Folded paper crocodiles 

 Thursday:

Bats

Books: Amazing Bats!, Bats At The Beach, Bat Loves The Night, Scaredy Squirrel, Five Little Bats 

Special Activity:

Night Animal sounds CD. Children will listen to a recording of a variety of night animals and try to identify them by sound.

At the art table today the children had paper bats, and a variety of drawing and collage materials available to use as they wished. We have some very ambitious artists in the class and the kids came up with many different ways in which to use the cut-outs. Some used them as stencils, some decorated them, some drew and cut out their own bats, and some even made hats and clothing for their bats. 

We learned and sang the song Nocturnal Animals, and since the class was so knowledgeable on the subject, we even added our own verses to the song!