Moving On!

Theme 8 ~ Moving On!

Dear Families,

For our final theme, we will look back on the year to celebrate children’s accomplishments. And because children are getting ready for kindergarten, this theme will prepare them for moving on by talking about new experiences, especially going new places for the very first time. Be sure to acknowledge what a BIG Year your child has had in preschool...here are a few suggestions

• Look at photos and schoolwork from the beginning of the year. Talk about how much your child has grown and learned.

• Help your child write a thank you note to a special teacher or helper at school.

• Point out examples in stories and children’s programs of people trying hard to complete a job or accomplish a goal.

• Set new learning goals with your child, such as reading a page in a favorite book or counting even higher.

Our class will also focus on how it takes persistence to be successful. This will encourage children to finish the school year by remembering to always try their hardest. Thank you for being a partner in your child’s learning and personal development this year!

Literacy Tip

When reading books with your child, ask your child to make predictions about what will happen next, which will increase comprehension.

Connecting School to Home

Practice writing the letters in your child’s name with him/her at home, including identifying letters by their sounds in words.

Tip of the Week!

Ask your child what he or she thinks kindergarten will be like. Encourage your child to share his or her emotions about moving on to kindergarten.

Take a Field Trip!

Visit a Cultural Arts Center - learn more about different customs, languages, and traditions of people from different countries.

Visit the Library to find out more about people and places around the world.  Have children read books, watch videos, and learn songs in different languages.

Great Books to Read at Home ~ BDPK Suggestions

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

Let's Try It Out with Towers and Bridges: Hands-On Early-Learning Activities by Seymour Simon

Augustine by Melanie Watt

Elmer by David Mckee

I'm Special, I'm Me! by Ann Meek

Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara E. Barber

Little Quack by Lauren Thompson

You're Too Small! by Shen Roddie

Yes, We Can! by Sam McBratney

Unsinkable! (Rookie Choices) by Larry Dane Brimner

The Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Eric Carle

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

A Child's Day: An Alphabet of Play by Ida Pearle

Me! Me! ABC by Harriet Ziefert

Theme 7 ~ Nature All Around Us

Dear Families,

Over the next few weeks, children will investigate nature with a new theme called “Nature All Around Us.” This theme covers many of our favorite science topics, such as plants and how they grow, the sun and the moon, and weather and the seasons. Take advantage of all that nature has to offer to help your child learn about the world around us.

• Try your hand at family gardening by planting something (indoors or outdoors) and watching it grow.

• Observe and discuss the weather every day and how it relates to the clothing your child wears and outdoor play activities.

• Watch the national weather on TV with your child and talk about the weather in different parts of the country.

• Point out signs in nature that show what the season is.

• Do sky gazing with your child to look for pictures in the clouds during the day and twinkling stars at night.

This is also going to be the perfect theme for encouraging curiosity, because asking questions is an important learning tool for young children. Experience nature and the outdoors with your child!

Literacy Tip

Spend time in conversation with your child to develop vocabulary and knowledge of the world. Label what you see and explain how things work.

Connecting School to Home

We will learn how the weather affects our daily lives, which is a concept in social studies. You can reinforce this concept by letting your child help choose what to wear every day based on the weather.

Together plant a fruit or flower seed in a window box or window sill flower pot. Have your child water it each day and observe what happens.

Take a Field Trip!

Tour a Plant Nursery - Make arrangements with a plant nursery to have children tour the grounds and explore different kinds of plants and how they grow. Ask if a nursery worker can provide a hands-on demonstration showing how they care for plants and what the different plants require.

Visit a Flower Shop - Make arrangements to visit a local flower shop so children can look at all the beautiful flowers. Ask the florist to make a flower arrangement and to describe the characteristics of each flower in the arrangement.

Big Day for Pre-K Book Suggestions

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

A Day in a City by Nicholas Harris

It's Fall (Celebrate the Seasons) by Linda Glaser

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Kipper's Snowy Day by Mick Inkpen

Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray

Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyette Lewison

Seasons 123 by Patricia Whitehouse

Because I Love You So Much by Guido van Genecthen

Heat Wave by Eileen Spinelli

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson

The ABCs of Fruits and Vegetables and Beyond by Steve Charney

Weather ABC: An Alphabet Book by B. A. Hoena

Miss Becky

Healthy Bodies ~ Healthy Teeth

Yesterday we had a special visitor from Dental Associates of Walpole.  Miss Liz, a dental hygienist, talked to us about dental health.  We learned about proper tooth bushing, flossing and the importance of eating healthy foods!  Miss Liz also talked about “what happens” when you visit the dentist for the first time.  We explored dental tools and even got to meet Dr. Petrie (in puppet form).

Miss Liz, Dr. Petrie and Charlie the Dog!

 We loved taking turns brushing Alex the Alligator and Spot the Dog’s teeth and playing a fun movement game “The Freeze”!

Healthy Foods Music & Movement Game ("The Freeze")!

What tools does a dentist use?

Everyone got to take home a special backpack filled with brand new dental
hygiene items (i.e, tooth brush, tooth paste, floss, etc.).

Thank you Miss Liz for a wonderful presentation.  Everyone had a great time!😀

For more information please check out their website below!

Dental Assoc. of Walpole

Happy Brushing!!

Miss Becky, Miss Deb & Miss Tara

Theme 6 ~ Growing Up Healthy!

Dear Families,

Because there is nothing more important than your child’s well-being, our next theme is all about “Growing Up Healthy.” Children will learn about nutritious eating, exercise, and other positive ways of taking care of themselves. We will also learn what to do in case of an emergency.

Health and safety begin in the home, so please help your child by supporting what our class will be learning.

• Make and discuss healthy food choices during mealtime and when shopping for groceries or eating away from home.

• Cook with your child to teach him/her about the ingredients in foods.

• Review family safety procedures, especially what to do in case of a fire and how to exit the home.

• Teach child-appropriate safety guidelines to use at home, such as never turning on the stove or lighting a match.

• Help your child memorize his or her home address and phone number.

Children must develop self-awareness at a young age in order to be healthy for life. It is one of our year-long goals, but will be a special focus during this theme. Help your child develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime!

Literacy Tip

Teach your child how to read/recognize exit and other emergency signs and symbols.

Connecting School to Home

Tap into the activities your child will be doing during this theme, such as making a self-portrait, to help your child become aware of personal characteristics, strengths, and limitations.

Help your child explore his/her five senses in and around your home.  For example, smell food cooking, look out the window together, taste new foods, listen to music, or feel different fabrics.

Take a Field Trip!

Go Grocery Shopping ~ Have your child vote on a favorite healthy snack to prepare.  Make a list of ingredients that you will need and take a trip to the local grocery store so children can purchase the ingredients. While you are there, walk through the store and ask children to identify the healthy foods they see.

Big Day for Pre-K Book Suggestions

Noisy City Day by Sara Anderson

Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis

Favorite Foods: Colors and Shapes by ticktock Media, Ltd.

Max Cleans Up by Rosemary Wells

Sleep Is for Everyone by Paul Showers

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore

Strega Nona's Harvest by Tomie de Paola

From the Garden: A Counting Book About Growing Food by Michael Dahl

No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids by Jean E. Pendziwol

You Are Healthy by Todd Snow

How Do You Know?: A Book About the Five Senses by Lisa Jayne

Alphabites by Charles Reasoner

An Alphabet Salad by Sarah L. Schuette

More Classroom Pictures!

(Pictures from our Previous Unit ~ Imagine It, Make it!)

We're going on a Space Adventure!

What did you see when we landed on the moon?

During  Ms. Linda's language lesson, we talked about how to use our imaginations!  Students worked in pairs using a variety of shapes to create their own unique design.  Do you see a birdhouse?  A mailbox?  Maybe you see a house?
When we used our imaginations we all saw something different!

In the block center, we worked on our building skills.
"THINK it, PLAN it, CREATE it"

Working hard in the writing center ~ Drawing/coloring, cutting and using a new "tool"

(a hole puncher)! 

Math Center ~ Counting (1-10) and 1:1 Correspondence

Play-doh fun during Table Tops! 

Have a GREAT Weekend!

Miss Becky, Miss Deb & Miss Tara