IED PRE-K NEWSLETTER FOR THE WEEK OF: 
FEBRUARY 22-26

 
    This week in Pre-K our focus was on oviparous, or egg-laying animals. We kicked off the week by reading Ruth Heller's book, Chickens Aren't The Only Ones, which is a great introduction to this exciting concept. Each day of the week we focused on a different group of oviparous animals: birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The children also had opportunities to compare and contrast the various oviparous, and non-oviparous animals. On Friday, we celebrated our special person of the week; Landon! We learned that Landon is five years old, he loves to eat avocados and cake, and that he would like to be a motor cross rider when he grows up. If Landon had three wishes he would wish for a dragon, a knight, and to have four Grandpas, and four Grandmas! Hooray for Landon! 
    Next week we will be celebrating Dr. Suess' Birthday! We will be doing a variety of fun Suess-related activities, and reading as many Dr. Suess books as possible!

 
Monday February 22 
 
Today we counted the calendar, sang our letter Tt song, and talked about the days of the week. During circle we learned a new term, oviparous; which refers to animals which lay eggs. We read the book, Chickens Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller, and then talked about which groups of animals commonly lay eggs, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and insects. 
 
Our project today was to make book pages for our special person of the week, Landon. Landon also helped the teacher fill out his all about me page for his memory book. 
 
We sang the days of the week song and checked the weather. 
 
Maggie shared her book Hello, Tilly! a book about a girl named Tilly who plays the trumpet, and has a little rabbit friend named Tiptoe. 
 
In the Afternoon the kids played with bubbles outside in the sun, it was a gorgeous spring-like day, and everyone had a wonderful time. 
 
During choice time, we introduced the creation station, and the children were able to improvise using a variety of recycled materials: cardboard tubes, boxes, ceramic tiles, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, drinking straws, and more! Thank you  to Antonia for bringing in the cardboard tubes, the kids loved them! 
 
Books we read: Chickens Aren't the Only Ones, Round Robin 
 
Tuesday February 23 
 
Today we talked about a specific group of oviparous animals, birds. We learned that birds are warm blooded vertebrates, and that their bodies are covered in modified scales called feathers. We talked about the different methods of locomotion which birds use: Flight, walking, and swimming; then we named a type of bird that uses each to get around. For flying birds we came up with robins, hummingbirds, eagles, robins, and falcons. For walking birds (flightless birds) the ostrich, kiwi, and the penguin. Then, for swimming birds, ducks, geese, and 
penguins. 
We counted the calendar, checked the weather, and sang On top of Spaghetti. 
 
*Reese shared a flyer from her Tae Kwon Do class, and told the kids about how her sister James has earned a red belt in Tae Kwon Do and is working toward a black belt. 
*Hannah shared a tree branch she found while walking home with her babysitter, a bag of cherry tomatoes, and a stuffed Tigger. 
*Jack Twining Freeman shared his copy of The Giving Tree. 
 
Books we read: 
The Perfect Nest, Daisy and the Monster, Minerva Louise 
 
Wednesday February 24 
 
Today we talked about reptiles, and learned that reptiles have scaly skin and are cold-blooded, which means that they are the same temperature as their environment. We learned that lizards, turtles, tortoises, and snakes, and alligators are a few examples of reptiles. Later in the day, we talked about the fact that snakes use their tongues to smell; flicking them out and pulling in scent particles to "taste" the air. We also counted the calendar, and sang A Sailor Went to Sea. In the afternoon, we talked about reptile nests and eggs, and read the book, Reptile Facts and Photos. The kids learned that reptile eggs are often tough and leathery, and that most reptiles hatch out looking like miniature versions of their parents, able to fend for themselves. 
 
Our special project today was leather snakes. Each child had an opportunity to decorate a leather snake using sharpies, googly eyes, beads and buttons. 
 
*Emmett shared a plastic T-rex 
*Ian shared an eyeball bouncy ball, the book Daddy Snores, and a balloon from Trader Joe's. 
 
Books we read: Slinky, Scaly, Slithery Snakes, Froggy Goes To Bed, Daddy Snores 
 
Thursday February 25 
 
Today we our focus shifted to amphibians, and talked about how they begin their life-cycle in the water. We read the book The Common Frog and viewed pictures of each stage in the frogs life. During choice time the children were able to look at books with photos of frogs and play with models of the frog life-cycle. In the afternoon we talked about frog habitats, and looked at other types of amphibians, like newts, and salamanders. During the second half of the day we had a fire drill, and the kids were amazing! Everyone lined up quietly, and walked single file to fence without saying a word! 
We counted the calendar, checked the weather, and sang Five Green and Speckled Frogs. 
 
Books we read: 
Frog and Toad, The Common Frog, Little Tad Grows Up, and, What Do you Do with A Tail Like That? 
 
*Sam P. shared a toothpick 
*Landon shared his tag blanky 
*Jack Peterson shared his stuffed turtle from Hawaii 
 
Friday February 26 
 
Today we reviewed the concept of oviparous, and talked about which animals we know to be egg-layers. During choice time, a variety of nature magazines were available for the children to cut out pictures. The kids were then able to categorize the animals which they had cut out into two groups by gluing them onto a chart; oviparous and non-oviparous. We also made a list of words beginning with the letter Tt: T.V., Telephone, Trader Joe's, Tiger, Tilly, Toe, Trevor, Tree, Three, Tea, Turtle, Time, Tom, Toad, and Toothpick. 
 
*Everett shared a picture of himself at the duckpond standing next to a sign that read: Warning! Toxic Algae!