Monday 27 October 2014

This week in the classroom

It has been a very busy week for all! With the pumpkin patches and Diwali our little preschool has been buzzing. 
This week, the 3's and 4's in the Unicorn room came into a house corner that did not look like a house corner anymore. With straw, pumpkins, tombstones, spiders and fabric for texture the children have been creating their own "Spooky" environments.













On Monday, they also came into see that the corn they had added to water the Friday before had begun to sprout!  By Friday this week the sprouts are turning green and some are wondering what might happen next! Questions pondered were:   How did this happen?  What do they think the sprouts were called?  Should one touch them?  When questioned, "What helps a plant grow?"  the students concluded that it was due to all the sun we had over the weekend.  Also, that it should be left alone because they might break, and  it takes water, light and Love to make a plant grow.  We are definitely giving the corn lots of these 3 things to help our sprouts out.







Pumpkin Dissection took place on Friday. Children were able to touch and feel the seeds, as well as pulp. Some words that were used by the 3's were; "Squishy", and "slimy," to describe the guts. The 4's started to separate the seeds from the pulp so that next week they can roast the seeds and taste in class. A few spent most of class sorting through the slippery pulp with their fingers, pulling out the seeds and placing them in another bowl.  A lot of work and fine motor skills were used to fill our bowl with just seeds.




The classroom was also up to their elbows in bubbles while washing pumpkins! The great thing about this activity is that not only does it teach life skills, but it also gets the children involved in the process. It shows them what goes into life requires concentration and caring for the environment.



Diwali

We have been very lucky to have had the chance to celebrate Diwali. Ms Shivonne has been sharing stories and organized clay room time with Rachel for the 4's to create Dyas, while the 3's were able to decorate pre-made ones.
 
Some classes took part in making roti and were able to enjoy this with snack. As well Ms. Amanda brought in her sari and the children were able to see how much fabric is used and watch Ms Shivonne wrap Ms Rosie at cycle time. 







 For more on Diwali follow the link bellow.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/diwali/

Pumpkin Patch


This week our 4 year olds in both rooms enjoyed their first field trip which was to the Pumpkin Patch!
The whole group listened and sang to music while on the hay ride to the pumpkin field, where pumpkins could be seen as far as your eyes could see.



The children were able to choose a pumpkin from the field. They were all encouraged to choose pumpkins they could carry, but for some their eyes were stronger then their arms and a few dragged and pushed the pumpkins all the way to the bus. After learning about pumpkins the week before the 4's were able to see some of the life cycle on the field from vine, flower, green pumpkin to a full grown orange pumpkin.



Back at school the pumpkin patch was brought to the center! Bales of straw, stalks of corn and pumpkins were set up for the 3's to explore and choose a pumpkin of their own. They shared the ones they found with each other and were able to touch, feel and smell the freshness of the farm that had been brought to them.



Tuesday 14 October 2014

October Poems and Fingerplays

Thanksgiving

We are thankful for the food we eat,
We are thankful for the friends we meet,
We are thankful for the golden sun
For the trees
The breeze
And everyone!

Pick a Pumpkin

Pick a pumpkin orange
Pick a pumpkin green
Pick one with a smiley face
Or a face that's mean
Pick a pumpkin BIG
Pick a pumpkin small
Pick a pumpkin skinny
What's your favorite one of all??

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!"
The second one said, "There are witches in the air!"
The third one said, "But we don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run"
The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!"

Whoooosh, went the wind,
And out went the lights
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Monday 13 October 2014

Autumn Happenings....

Pumpkin Pie making.....
 
 

 

 
 
Our Autumn Sensory Tub
Coloured, dry rice with glitter and scented with cinnamon!
The children had a great time scooping and pouring, pretending to bake
and tracing lines through the rice.
Lots of imagination, opportunities to take turns
and finger dexterity!
 
 
 
Thanksgiving Turkey Art!
 



 
 
 

Friday 3 October 2014

October 2014

Happy October, Everyone!

Welcome to our school blog!! As we are teaching the children to be environmentally aware and friendly, it is important to us to be conscious as well.  For this reason, we are moving towards a paperless newsletter.  Each month, we will send you an email with this blog link when our newsletter is published.  Don't forget to check in during the month as well, as you will find some observations and documentation too!

It was a whirlwind September as we welcomed children and headed full force into learning All About Me, Apples and Autumn!  Before we knew it, the grew colder, the leaves began to change and October is now upon us!





Important Reminders for the Month

Photo Days- October 8th/ 9th  
Send your child to school in their best, as we will make sure our art and activities are not messy on those days!
 
Wednesday October 8th- Orca 4am, Orca 4pm
Thursday, October 9th- Orca 3am, Orca 3pm.  Unicorn 3's, Unicorn 4's.
 

Thanksgiving- Monday, October 13th  School will not be open.

Professional Development Day- Monday, October 20th  Classes will not be in session.

FOURS CLASSES

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip- Wednesday, October 22nd. 
 
Please return your permission slip to the classroom teacher, as soon as possible.  Remember that regular ORCA ROOM 4 AM class will NOT be in session that day.  ALL Four Year Old classes will be meeting in the Douglas Lounge at 11:00am.

THREES CLASSES

Douglas Park Pumpkin Patch- Thursday, October 23rd
 
Our very own Douglas Park will be turned into a Pumpkin Patch on this day, complete with real pumpkins and bales of hay!!  Come prepared to explore and take part in some exciting activities. This is an event that has been specially planned for our preschool and will not be a public event. 

 
Weather
 
As the weather has begun to turn chilly, please don't forget to send your child to class in weather appropriate clothing.  Warm jackets and hats, as well as raincoats and boots when it is drizzling. 

Don't forget to check your Pick Up files!  There is often artwork to be taken home and, sometimes, there will be important notices or forms waiting for you there too!

Illness

The Cold & Flu Season is most definitely upon us again, and quite a few students have been away from class.  Our school policy is that a child needs to stay home if they have had a fever, vomiting and/ or diherreah in the last 24 hours.  If they haven't, we ask that you use your discretion in sending them to class.  If they still seem tired, run down and cannot participate, or if it will be hard for them to keep on top of wiping a continuously runny nose, it is probably best for them to stay in another day and rest.
 
 
 
 
 
Some of our classes will be exploring CONSTRUCTION this month!!  During classes, the teachers have observed a keen interest in the block corner where the students have been busy working together to construct elaborate buildings!  When we went for a neighbourhood walk, the students were very interested in observing a house being built.  There will be digging in our sensory bin and blue prints on the wall as we discuss different construction vehicles and  tools that are used.

 
 
Some classes, have been expressing in interest in upcoming holidays, such as Halloween!  There have been a lot of questions and dialogue about monsters and zombies (the friendly kind, of course!), so we will spend October gearing our curriculum towards relevant celebrations.  There will be much scientific exploration of pumpkins, as well as baking activities!
 
 
 
As always, if you have any questions, please give us a call or chat with us before class.
Orca Room: 604-257-8138  Unicorn Room: 604-257-8139