Miss Christine's Preschool Page: April 2017

During the second and third weeks in March, we studied nursery rhymes. Each day the children were introduced to one nursery rhyme. We recited the rhyme as a class, talked about the meaning of the rhyme, looked for rhyming words, and acted it out. Since we've been talking about letters, I pointed out that letters make up words and each day we looked for the words in the rhyme. We also worked on sequencing the nursery rhymes, counting, name practice and drawing techniques.

We began with Humpty Dumpty.

Children are playing a game where they remove pieces from a wall and try not to be the one that makes Humpty Dumpty fall.

As a class, the students built a wall for Humpty.

All the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Humpty together again.

Students completed a Humpty Dumpty craft that required them to cut, fold, draw shapes, glue and follow an example.

Next up was Jack and Jill:

At the end of the first week, we recited and acted out Hey Diddle Diddle.

During the second week, we sang Mary Had a Little Lamb during circle time and each student had a chance to carry the lamb. Also, during circle we sang the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and acted out Jack Be Nimble.

Next, we recited and role played Hickory Dickory Dock and Baa Baa Black Sheep.

Our final nursery rhyme was Little Miss Muffet.

Here is a graph of our class' favorite nursery rhymes:

Dramatic Play:
Acting out our nursery rhymes and creating stories were encouraged in our dramatic play area this week as well. The students were able to put on their own puppet show or use the felt board to retell nursery rhymes.

Sensory Table:
Lots of fun playing with sand in the sensory table!

Science:
At the end of the week, the class conducted a science experiment. Once again, everyone contributed a brick to build a wall for Humpty Dumpty. Next, I placed a hard boiled egg on top (Humpty). I had several items for Humpty to fall into- sand, feathers, marbles and pom poms. The students predicted whether or not the materials would cause Humpty to crack when he fell, or if they would help to keep Humpty intact. First the students felt the materials, next they made their predictions which I recorded on a sheet and finally we tested the materials and recorded what actually happened.

Name Practice:
This week the students have a new sign in procedure. They are required to write the first letter in their name to indicate that they are present.

Gym Class:

We also carried our nursery rhyme theme to the gym. The students rotated through stations.

They rolled down a hill like Jack and Jill:

Balanced on a wall like Humpty Dumpty:

Jumped over "candlesticks" like Jack Be Nimble:

Tried to catch the Cow Jumping Over the Moon:

Collected Little Bo Peeps Sheep:

Mystery Reader and Play Time:

This week was Read Across America week. At Memorial, we kicked the week off with a whole school assembly, the first for our class. It was great for the children to see the Kindergarteners and First Graders perform a few songs they had practiced and to hear a reader's theater version of One Fish, Two Fish put on by the teachers. The entire school was energized by the event.

In our classroom, our dramatic play area was turned into Seussville. Children were able to serve or get a meal at the Green Eggs and Ham cafe. Items on the menu include Pink Ink Drink, green eggs and ham and schlopp with a cherry on top. Students could also practice balancing by stacking different sized hats (cups) or seeing how many turtles high they measure.

In the playdoh center, children built Truffula Trees.

This week at the sensory table there was rice with funnels and tubes.

We read several Dr. Seuss books this week and sang a song in his honor. After reading Green Eggs and Ham, the children helped to make this dish so that we could all try it together. While most agreed the eggs didn't look very appealing, many of the students were pleasantly surprised with how good they tasted (just like the book!).

The Cat in the Hat came to visit, greeting the children as they arrived. Although some of the children were unsure when they first met the Cat, he visited our classroom and everyone was excited to give him a high five.