Physical Education

During P.E. class, Coach Nicole introduced a new activity involving balloons. Each child received a balloon and was instructed to keep it in the air using only their hands, heads, shoulders, or elbows. This exercise not only brought laughs and smiles but also provided numerous developmental benefits. It encouraged the children to enhance their hand-eye coordination, balance, and motor skills.

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Celebrate Learning: Sand Unit

To conclude our sand unit, we wrapped things up with an enjoyable keepsake activity. Throughout our exploration of sand, we addressed several topics, including:

1. What do we know about sand?

2. What are the characteristics of sand?

3. Where is sand found?

4. What do we create with sand?

5. Who works with sand?

6. How can we make our own sand?

This engaging activity helped strengthen their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they scooped sand with spoons and transferred it into funnels to fill their containers. It was fun to see their creativity shine through their color choices—some opted for a few colors, while others utilized every color of sand available. Many children remarked on the patterns they were creating, such as AB, ABBA, and ABC sequences, as they filled their containers.

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Valentines

Valentine Exchange Party

Valentine Exchange Bag Decorating

In class the children got to decorate their own exchange bags with all different stickers. This was a fun activity while using the small muscles in their hands as they had to peel and place the stickers, strengthening those muscles which aids all kinds of things such as their grip.

Number Dice

Rolling a number dice and matching it to the correct number card offers preschoolers educational benefits. This activity enhances numeracy skills, such as number recognition and counting, while improving fine motor skills. It also supports cognitive development through pattern recognition and memory reinforcement. In a group setting, it fosters social skills like taking turns and sharing, promoting both academic and personal growth. This was a very fun activity from our curriculum we participated in this week.

Name Caterpillars

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we created heart-shaped name caterpillars. This activity was more than just a fun craft; as we assembled the caterpillars, we discussed each letter and identified them while forming the names. This approach not only enhanced letter recognition and identification but also provided a deeper understanding of constructing their own names.

WaterColor Hearts

Continuing our Valentine's festivities, I asked each child to share something they loved which I then wrote on their hearts in a white crayon. They were so mesmerized to watch the letters emerge as they painted their hearts with watercolors. This engaging activity not only provided an element of surprise but also contributed to the development of several important skills, including fine motor skills, name recognition, and letter identification.

Sand Letter Review

In class, we combined our sand unit with letter practice by having the children write letters in the sand. This hands-on activity not only allowed them to practice forming each letter we have learned so far this year but also reinforced their ability to identify each letter and its corresponding sound. This activity offered a perfect blend of reinforcing literacy skills while exploring the textures and themes of our current sand unit, creating a dynamic and interactive learning environment.

Beach Landscapes

The children engaged in a fun craft where they created a beach landscape using real sand. This activity not only enhanced their fine motor skills but also deepened their understanding of the various species that inhabit sandy environments. Before adding these animals to their landscapes, we had a discussion about the creatures that reside at the beach.

Buried in the Sand

Digging in the sand to find shapes of various colors and sizes offers young children a fun way to learn about size, color, and shape. This hands-on activity boosts cognitive development, enhances fine motor skills, and encourages problem-solving. Socially, it promotes teamwork and communication among peers as children share findings and collaborate. Overall, it turns learning into a playful adventure.

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Letter of THE WEEK

During our focus on the letter "P," we explored it in various creative ways. Our first activity involved pointillism with the letter "P." Using Q-tips for painting not only enhances letter recognition but also fosters hand-eye coordination, grip, and fine motor skills.

Opposites

Teaching preschoolers about opposites is vital for their cognitive and language growth. Concepts like big and small or hot and cold enhance critical thinking and vocabulary. This foundational knowledge helps them categorize their world and communicate effectively. Learning opposites also fosters problem-solving and curiosity, setting the stage for more complex development later.

During circle time, we explored various examples of opposites through an engaging book we read together. After finishing the story, we played a game where each child received a card and was challenged to find their opposite partner. Finally, the children were given the cards to sort, aiming to create as many correct opposite pairs as possible.

Sand Exploration

As we begin on a new unit, what better way to engage the children than by introducing a sand table in the classroom? The children have really enjoyed playing at the sand table, unearthing creatures like crabs and turtles that inhabit the sand. Sensory bins offer numerous advantages for three- and four-year-olds, including: fine motor skill development, cognitive growth, enhancing social skills, and learning emotional regulation.

Sand Writing

An exciting activity we did this week involved having the children trace their names with glue, followed by sprinkling sand over the glue. This not only provided a fun experience but also served as an excellent practice for writing their names and letters.

Letter D

In our exploration of the letter D, we enjoyed special visits. Our visitors included a dog and duck hunter, who shared various items that begin with the letter D. The hunter also brought along additional items, including duck calls and decoys, all starting with the letter D.

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Celebration Learning: Tree Unit

We did this activity as a celebration of our learning, wrapping up our tree study. The children discovered that food could originate from trees, and today, they witnessed exactly how that process unfolds.

Tree Unit:

Building Christmas Trees

What better opportunity to introduce Christmas trees into a math lesson than during the holiday season when the tree unit is happening! The children not only enjoyed crafting but also engaged in measurement as part of the project, organizing from longest to shortest.

Counting Bows

Each child was given a number, and they had to pull the corresponding number of bows out of the bag, this is a fun activity that helps with number recognition and value recognition all while soaking in the Christmas spirit!

Leaf Rubbings

Making a leaf rubbing allows the children to engage their senses and enhance their understanding of trees in a tactile and visual way. By placing a leaf under a piece of paper and rubbing a crayon over it, children can observe the patterns and veins that are unique to each type of leaf. This activity helps them recognize the differences of trees and connects them to nature. The process of creating leaf rubbings also aids in improving fine motor skills.

Christmas Caparisons

For one of our math lessons this week, we included Christmas ornaments as a fun tool to get into the spirit. Each child was given two ornaments and then was instructed to examine the ornament, answering questions like:

• “Which one is larger?”

• “Which one is smaller?”

• “What are the similarities?”

• “What are the differences?”

• “Is one smooth while the other is rough?”