Down on the Farm

Preschool News

October 2017

Throughout the month of October our curriculum unit is focusing on “Life on a Farm and Harvest".  During our group discussions the students were able to identify a variety of animals that live on a farm (e.g., cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, horses, chicks, etc.) as well as the different fruits and vegetables that can be harvested (e.g, corn, apples, carrots, pumpkins) on the farm.  Everyone enjoyed sharing their own personal stories about visiting local farms!  We talked about going on bumpy hayrides, picking apples from tall trees and picking big pumpkins from the pumpkin patch!

Take a peek at some of our fun classroom activities from the past 2 weeks :)

 Art - Muddy Pigs!

Fine Motor - Wikki Sticks

 We made ORANGE play-doh!

Sensory Table - Cooking Fun!

Click this link to get our favorite "no cook" play-dough recipe!

What's Missing??

"The Donkey is missing his ears"

"My horse needs a tail"

"I am making a fence to keep the sheep in the grass"

"The cow has big play-doh spots"

"I'm making feathers"

"It is a turkey.  He needs more feathers"

Farm Math Mats - We worked on counting (rote 1-10), matching
and 1:1 Correspondence 

 Feather Painting - Ducks, Geese and Chickens

 Scrap Art Farm Animals - We used a variety of scrap art materials (Popsicle sticks, pom poms, cotton balls, google eyes, beads, buttons, etc.) to make textured farm animals!

 Scooter Boards - Working with a friend to complete a farm puzzle.

During circle time we read the story Mrs. Wishy Washy (written by Joy Cowley).  This is a silly story about a cow, duck and pig who LOVE to play in the mud on the farm!  But what happen's when Mrs. Wishy Washy finds them covered in mud?  Ask your child to tell you :)

 As an extension to this story the students had a lot of fun washing dirty farm animals with Miss Sandra during our OT skills group!  We first scrubbed the animals with soap (shaving cream) using brushes and sponges then we rinsed them off with water-filled spray bottles!!  What a fun way to work on strengthening our hands!!

During Language Lesson, Miss Linda (speech) read us the story
 Barnyard Banter (written by Denise Fleming).

Students listen as Miss Linda explains the rules of her game!

Can you name all the farm animals that live in the barn?

 Students take turns answering "FARM trivia questions"

Did all the animals make it back to the barn before the rain came??

 Home-School Connection

Explore Pumpkins!!  Carve out a pumpkin and save a few seeds, dry them and set them aside until spring.  In the spring, plant them in your garden or yard and hopefully by summer time you will have a nice pumpkin plant!

ECDC Curriculum Night ~ Save the Date

Thursday October 19^th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

 Click here to view our Curriculum Night Flyer!

Hope to see you there!!

Miss Becky

A Look Back...September 2017

What a busy month!! We can’t believe September has already come to a close.

Throughout the past month, we have been very busy learning about the school rules and routines, getting to know our new friends as well as getting re-acquainted with our old friends, but most importantly we are having fun in PRESCHOOL!

We know how to play at each center, but are still learning how to share and take-turns, and how to be a “Good Whole Body Listener” at circle time (Eyes watching, ears listening, voices quiet, body's calm, brain's are for thinking and hearts are for caring).  Each day we have classroom helpers.  Some of the different jobs are: Schedule Helper (this person tells us about our daily schedule), Friend Counter (this person counts the number of friends in school), Weather Helper (this person gives the class the daily weather report), Clean-up Bells (this person rings the bells to indicate it is time to clean-up), and Lunch Helpers (these friends set the tables for lunch), Line Leader and Caboose.

"We line up and get ready to go inside"

"We walk safely up the stairs"
(Hand on railing and eyes forward)

"We complete our Arrival Routine"
(Backpack off, snack/lunch out, hang up belongings)

"We Sign-in"
(Move our picture from home to school)

"We wash our hands"
(Complete our hand-washing routine)

Here are our classroom/school rules we talked about

We use our walking feet in the classroom

We use kind words with our friends

We share and take turns

We have kind actions with friends (i.e., high fives, thumbs up, hand shakes)

Pete the Cat ~ Rocking in My School Shoes  by:  Eric Litwin

Our favorite story this month was Pete the Cat.  Rocking in My School Shoes.  This is a story about a silly cat named Pete that takes his first day of school in stride as he discovers his school and new places such as the library, the cafeteria, and the playground.  Everyone enjoyed singing along!  As an extension to the story,  we watched the video (click on the link below) and everyone had an opportunity to make their very  picture for our "ECDC Friends ~ Rocking in our School Shoes" bulletin board! 

What is your favorite activity to do in your school shoes?

Pete the Cat ~ Rocking in My School Shoes

Next week we will start a new unit “Life on a Farm”.  Some of our topics of discussion will include:  learning about all the different animals that live on a farm (cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, horses, chicks, etc.), what are some fruits and vegetables that can be grown and harvested on a farm, as well as learning about how a Farm works and operates (i.e., people that live and work on a farm).  The children will also have opportunities to share personal stories about their own experiences when visiting local farms (i.e. going on hayrides, apple and pumpkin picking).  We are looking forward to a fun-farm-filled month!!

If your child has any favorite Fall or Farm story they'd like to share, please feel free to send it in!  Don't forget to label all books.

Save the Date!

ECDC Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday October 19th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

More information to follow!

All are WELCOME!

Have a wonderful day!!

Dramatic Play ~ Bakery

Writing Center ~ Learning how to use stencils, scissors and
various writing implements! 

Nurse Mary read us a story about GERMS (Germs are NOT for Sharing!)  We learned all about how we can stay healthy (e.g., washing our hands before and after we eat, after we use the bathroom or wipe your nose, etc.) and we also practiced washing our hands!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Please check us out on Twitter too!!

Miss Becky's Room