Discovery Centers ~ March 2015

March 27, 2015

What a GREAT month!!  Everyone enjoyed our Eric Carle ~ Author Study unit. The students had many opportunities to create amazing artwork and explore various art materials such as paint, crayons, markers, chalk, play-dough, glue, scissors, paper, etc.

One of our favorite discovery centers this month was the Writing Center.  In the writing center, children are able to practice their pre-writing skills of drawing, coloring and cutting.  Younger children may just explore with the materials and learn to efficiently grasp crayons and how different motor actions create varied lines and shapes.  Soon, they begin to draw simple images of people, buildings, animals, trees or weather and explore adding details of color to make their picture more interesting.  By drawing, coloring and using scissors regularly, children are building the strength of hand muscles to support efficient use of these classroom tools.  Here are some fun activities you can do at home to encourage these skills; color pictures at the kitchen table, cut small pieces of paper then glue onto a collage, draw with chalk on the driveway or paint with water outside.  

Thank you to everyone who attended our ECDC Art Show & Expo!!

It was an AWESOME night!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Miss Becky and Miss Terri (Occupational Therapist)

Miss Terri works with students at the Writing Center

Drawing with markers on the dry erase boards 

Students worked on following a multi-step art activity (draw, color, cut, glue)

Drawing pictures from some of our favorite Eric Carle stories!

 

Animal stencils (tracing and drawing)

Working on our scissor skills (cutting)

Wikki Sticks - We used waxy, bendable sticks to outline bugs and flowers

**We are having a lot of fun in Preschool learning about Eric Carle**
March 2015

The Very Hungry "KIDS" Sharing Snack Day!

Finger Painting with Friends - Re-creating some of Eric Carle's work

Sponge Painting at the Easel - "Polka-Dotted Parrots"

From Head to Toe - "Can you move like a .........."

"I am a Seal and I clap my hands.  Can you do it?"

"I am a crocodile and I wriggle my hips.  Can you do it?"

"I am a donkey and I kick my legs.  Can you do it?"

"I am an elephant and I stomp my feet.  Can you do it?" 

Our Very Hungry Caterpillar - Tissue Paper Art

Upcoming Events

ECDC Art Show & Expo

Thursday March 26, 2015

5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

We hope everyone can join us for a fun night of creating and exploring using a variety of art mediums!!   Our Art Show & Expo is inspired by our unit on the work of Eric Carle.  Parents will have opportunities to complete projects with their children in each classroom.  Some of our activities will include, Sponge Painting, Watercolors, Tissue Paper Collages and Recycled Art.

Dress for a MESS!

Bags will be available to collect all your wonderful works of art!

Hope to see you there!

Miss Becky

We are looking for some donations of "Recycled" art materials!!

Brown Paper Bags (with handles)

Plastic Egg Cartons

Plastic milk caps

Yogurt and fruit cups

Newspapers

Kid Magazines (i.e., Ranger Rick, Disney)

Various colors of tape (i.e., masking or duct)

THANK YOU!!

"Our Classroom Artwork"

The Very Hungry Caterpillar ~ Week of February 23, 2015

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by: Eric Carle

 Preschool News

Week of February 23, 2015

This week we began our new Author Study unit focusing on Eric Carle.  We learned that Eric Carle writes and illustrates children’s books.  Some of Eric Carle’s most recognizable children’s books include “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See?”, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, “The Very Busy Spider”, “The Grouchy Ladybug” and “From Head to Toe”.

During our circle time discussion we talked about how Eric Carle loves to use a lot of different colors in his illustrations and many of his stories are about animals.  We also learned about collages.  A collage can be made using magazines, newspapers, ribbons, paint, paper, portions of other artwork, photographs, and other found objects.

If your child has a favorite Eric Carle book at home that they would like to share with their classmates please feel free to send them in (please label your child’s book)!

Next Wednesday (3/4) and Thursday (3/5) we will be having a VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR Sharing Snack Day!

Your child will be given 2 choices of a fruit or food item that they are invited to bring into school on that day to share with their friends.

We hope everyone has a great weekend!

Miss Becky

hackneyr@franklin.k12.ma.us

Let it Snow....Let it Snow!!

Miss Becky's friends LOVE to play in the SNOW!!

We try to go outside every day, weather permitting.

Please REMEMBER to send your child into school every day with his/her SNOW GEAR!!

(Coats, snow pants, hats, mittens/gloves, snow boots, etc.) .

Don’t forget to LABEL all your child’s belongings!!

If you send your child into school wearing snow boots, PLEASE don’t forget to pack a pair of shoes/sneakers in his/her backpack to change into (a pair of extra socks is also recommended).

For Safety Reasons, we ask that you NOT send in slippers.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Class

Tuesday, Thursday Class

Preschool News

Week of February 2, 2015

This week we had a special guest visit us from Dental Associates of Walpole. Miss Liz, the dental hygienist talked to the children about dental health. We learned about proper tooth brushing, flossing and the importance of eating healthy foods. Everyone also had the opportunity to practice brushing the teeth of either Spot the Dog, Alex the Alligator or a BIG model of teeth. Miss Liz also talked about “what happens” when you visit the dentist for the first time.

Each child got to take home a new toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and a story book!!

Miss Liz from Dental Associates of Walpole (With Charlie the Dog, Spot the Dog & Alex the Alligator)

"Doctor Petrie" and Charlie the Dog