The final center comes to life for our camping theme ...

The kids have patiently waited for something to appear in our math center related to our camping theme. I have been waiting for the right cardboard box to show up ... I think this will get some kid-made wheels (or not) and be some sort of cabin or RV or camper trailer. Anyhow, it'll be fun to play with the last few days of preschool!

We have dedicated family volunteers that fill  a variety of needs in our classroom. Sometimes, one shows up magically at the exact right moment and knows just what to do to engage the kids. Like Jill ...

Thank you for all the classroom support, whether it is getting your kids to school on time, listening to reports of their days after school, reading their play plans, or coming in to the classroom and on field trips. We have all greatly benefited from it.

Beach Trip

To support our dramatic play camping theme, which includes a beach center, Pre-K went on a field trip to the beach today. The weather was stellar, with enough of a breeze to keep bugs away and to keep kids from wanting to immerse in the chilly water. Wading up to one's ankles was permitted, and kids and chaperones found some green crabs, lots of shells and beach glass, and quite a collection of deceased jellyfish that had been stranded on the sand. There was an old boat and lobster trap to explore. We enjoyed making s'mores around a campfire, and having cantaloupe and blueberries for snack. I think we all came home with sand between our toes. Lots of fun!

recent photos

This is a collection of recent pictures from class, including the amazing graphics practice session we had using shaving cream. Practicing letter formations was never soooo much fun!

A few pictures from dramatic play in our camping theme

The camping theme is our final play theme of the school year. Where has the time gone? Our traditional centers have transformed into the Ranger Station, 2 campsites, a camp store, the beach, and a hiking center. We'll add to this slide show eventually.

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More pictures from our dramatic play camping theme ..

Field Trip to Sewall Woods

The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust has some amazing properties under their stewardship. We were invited by one of their naturalists, Becky K., to go on a hike in Sewall Woods, and see the sights. It dovetailed nicely with our camping theme in class, and the sun was shining as well. Just getting on the big yellow school bus was very exciting. But the walk in the woods, with lovely accoutrements by Miss Becky was really fun. She invited us to use (almost) all of our senses to enjoy this walk. We listened to birds, sniffed wintergreen plants, matched textures and colors of man-made items with natural items, and observed bracken ferns, nurse stumps, star flowers, trail blazes, beech leaves, maple leaves, hemlock trees, a pond, collected treasures and walked across bog bridges.

Pre-K has been lucky to have several visitors recently. Becky K., a naturalist from Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, has been teaching us about some local birds, specifically the types represented by osprey, loons and sandpipers. The shape of their beaks and feet gives us clues as to what these birds eat and where they hang out. We made a bird costume (head and feet) illustrating these features - so much fun! Many kids proudly told their parents what they knew, as they met them at noontime.

Our other visitor was Miss Bethany from SASSMM. She brought Penny the Porcupine (a puppet), who helped us talk about safety issues around being touched. This was so age level appropriate and very engaging for the kids.

Cucumbers for the community garden

On Thursday, April 17th, our last day before April vacation, the class planted cucumber seeds, the seedlings of which will be planted in the RSU1 L.O.C.A.L. community garden. (The L.O.C.A.L. Garden is RSU #1's district garden where students, teachers, and community members grow organic fruits and vegetables for use in schools.) The kids did a great job mixing water into the potting soil, helping each other determine how much soil to use, and deciding whether to put one or two seeds in each little spot. The trays of six packs followed me home for tending over our time away from school, and guess what? They are starting to sprout today! Here's what they look like ...

Update from May 15th - those cucumber seedlings are doing well. The kids water them daily. We'll be transplanting them into the garden next week ...