Theme Building for Pets and Vets

Hi Pre-K Families,

The kids are just starting our new play theme, Pets and Vets. Starting a new theme takes a bit of time. New props have to be made and added to our centers. We need to learn about the roles of folks that would usually be in each place, and what they would do and say. We read books to learn, and go on some virtual field trips with online eBooks that are helpful. We discuss and model situations that would normally happen at the different centers. 

So, we are developing five new centers to go along with Pets and Vets. The Vet Office, the Humane Society, the Pet Bakery, the Pet Groomers, and the Dog Show. The dramatic play area is still the kitchen, with the addition of a dog, cat and pretend aquarium. 

Here's a quick pic of a pet getting clipped, shampooed, be-ribboned, you name it, from the Pet Groomers today. More to come as we get into our theme!

Venger Collage

Dear Families,

One of our Tools of the Mind math activities is called Venger Drawing or Venger Collage. The kids look at a geometric shape on a piece of paper and brainstorm aloud with each other. "This triangle could be part of a ..." Then they proceed to make it into their idea with crayons or collage materials.

This activity helps us practice identifying shapes and making pictures by combining shapes, thus learning that a shape can be placed within another shape. In addition to understanding shapes, the Venger activity promotes creative thinking and asks children to pretend that the shape is something other than the shape. It also involves self regulation ... the child cannot create just any picture, but must incorporate a specific shape into her or his drawing, which requires monitoring of the picture he or she intends to make and planning the drawing or creation. (And did I mention that using glue and scissors and collage materials are really engaging activities for pre-k kids?)

The results of today's activity are proudly displayed on our bulletin board in the hallway.

Recent happenings in Pre-K

Big news. All of our students can get on their winter clothing (that is snow pants, boots, jackets, hats and mittens - phew!) independently. We made a batch of Kick the Can ice cream to celebrate this huge accomplishment. In the following slideshow, you'll see the kids rolling the cans on the rug with Mrs. Ricciardone to make it cool down and thicken. It was delicious!

Mrs. Vose came to read to us this past week, part of the Read to Me Challenge event. We brainstormed what to do to make her feel welcome in our classroom. Smile, listen, use inside voices, sit quietly and .... flowers! Pre-K kids were determined to give her some flowers, so we made a bunch of the coffee filter variety, and they were lovely.

Syringe Painting

Free choice time (the first 20 minutes of our morning when kids are arriving in the classroom), was really exciting today. Mrs. Ricciardone created a wicked fun project called syringe painting. The kids (two at a time) filled plastic syringes with a primary color paint, took aim, and squirted it at their papers. You can envision the significant backdrop behind the papers to catch the splatter ... Colorful results are drying overnight, but you can get a preview here.

Dear Families,

The Hospital theme continues to be engaging in many ways for our class. We have read some great books that help us connect to and enhance our understanding of people who work at hospitals. For Science Eyes, we looked very closely at many types of bandages, and drew what we thought was interesting. And in our familiar math game called Making Collections, we have new items to count like stethoscopes, teddy bears, and syringes. Your kids have patiently learned the rules about using our (somewhat fragile) rescue helicopter, and self regulate themselves nicely when using it.

New Dramatic Play Theme -- Hospital!

I wonder if you've heard the news? Our dramatic play theme has changed to Hospital. We have an Operating Room, X-Ray Department, Gift Shop, Hospital Room 100, and a Newborn Nursery. Very exciting and engaging for the kids. Here's a peek at what it looks like ...

And a few more pictures, after we added our rescue helicopter center ...

Pre-K Winter Weather Policy

If there is No School for RSU1, that means No School for CHOICES (Pre-K) students.

If there is a 1 hour delay for RSU1, Pre-K will have a 1 hour delay as well (except on Wednesdays ... read on).

If there is a 2 hour delay for RSU1, Pre-K will be cancelled, the thought being we don't want Pre-K families out driving in bad conditions for one and a half hours of preschool.

Wednesdays are an exception, because of the late start. A 1 hour delay on Wednesdays actually equals a 2 hour delay, when one factors in the late start time. So any delay on Wednesdays, means no school for Pre-K students.

Seems a little complex, but we are doing our best to put kids first.