Our final week of Winter, we studied Polar Animals. The children learned about the penguins that live in the Antarctic and the many animals that live in the Arctic; polar bears, Arctic hares, Arctic foxes, snowy owls, etc. We discussed how animals in the Arctic adapt to their surroundings in the winter. We also discussed physical features of the animals that allow them to survive in the cold, predators and prey, and family life.
Our literacy concepts for the month included story sequencing (beginning, middle and end), beginning sounds of words, compound words and a review of rhyming and syllables.
Our math concepts always integrate number recognition and counting, but this month we looked at the characteristics of basic shapes (sides, corners, curves) and where shapes could be found in the world.
Dramatic Play
At the Dramatic Play center the children had the opportunity to go "ice fishing" and play inside an igloo.
Sensory Table
At the sensory table, the children enjoyed using hammers and safety goggles to free Arctic and Antarctic animals caught in the ice.
Writing
The classroom was rearranged a bit to include a writing center this past month. Below children can be seen writing on "ice" and also creating their own books that include a beginning, middle and end.
Fundations
This past month the children have been learning how to correctly form several uppercase letters of the alphabet including L, F, E, H, I, and U in addition to practicing their names. Games and activities are woven into our day to practice letters, letter sounds, letter writing, as well as beginning and ending sounds.
Noah is playing Feed the Penguin. He is matching the letter rolled on a die to one found on a fish, which he then feeds to the penguin.
Math
Students practiced measuring and counting as they measured one another in mittens.
Block Center
At the block center, children built habitats for polar animals.
Art
We had several art projects during our polar animal theme including painting with ice cubes, playing with shaving cream, making penguins, a directed drawing of a polar bear, painting at the easels and glitter snowflakes.
