On Monday everyone had a turn chopping bananas, measuring yogurt, counting frozen strawberries and running the blender to create a delicious, healthy treat!
Wednesday they mixed equal parts water and Elmer's glue, added a splash of watercolor and a sprinkle of glitter, and then the final ingredient (Sta-Flo liquid starch) to make "Valen-slime". Some kids wanted to play with theirs at the light table and some put it directly into their school bags. Either way, everyone had a little portion to keep for fun at home. (And just in case it gets on clothes or other fabric, you can use a little vinegar on it and it should come right out!)
Our other parent-led activities for those days were building structures with a "Stick-and-Ball" building set and handing out Valentines.
Following written diagrams, each group chose a structure to build. They did such a great job problem solving and working together! Then they had a chance to play inside their structures. We kept these builders in the classroom all week.
It was so sweet to see the excitement around passing out Valentines on Wednesday! They definitely enjoyed dropping them in each others' bags and we hope that they all had fun opening them at home 💟.
On Friday everyone practiced writing their names on their NEW sign-in cards. Each card has a child's name written two different ways: one is in all capital letters and the other is with only the first letter capitalized. The latter is the way they will eventually learn to write their names, but it is appropriate and perfectly fine if they mix capital and lower case letters for awhile. These will be out on the sign-in table on the next school day and for the rest of the year.
We also did a magnet-painting project on Friday. After rolling two magnetic balls in green and gold paint, children placed them on a piece of paper in a tray. Then they moved magnet wands beneath the tray so that the balls danced and spun around the paper making all kinds of different designs. These are hanging in our classroom so come in and take a look!
Around the room we enjoyed many of the same activities from last week and then switched things up a bit for Friday.
Our texture table went from Chinese take-out containers, spoons and bowls to vases and flowers. The flowers were quickly incorporated into activities all over the classroom!
The snakes, fish and critter carriers at the water tub were replaced with gems, flower petals, cups and scoops.
At the play dough table it was fun to make "candy" for the Valentine boxes.
There were ponies and blocks at the light table at the beginning of the week, and then Friday there were fairies, jewels and numbered hearts.
Here are some of the other fun things kids were doing around the room this week:
During our time together at the carpet we have been doing some "air writing" every day. The teachers write one letter at a time in the air while everyone mirrors their motions. After each letter is written the air, the children try to guess what it was and we model writing it on a card which is then placed in the pocket chart. As letters are added, we model putting the sounds together until someone reads the word. They are really doing well with this and it's exciting to see them figuring it out!
After air-writing "hugs" and "slug" on Monday, we read Norman, the Slug with the Silly Shell. We also read Hugs & Kisses, There's a Monster in Your Book, Crankenstein, Franklin's Valentine's Day and Vegetables Wear Underwear. We also had fun with some homemade drums and did our February yoga flow series.
On Friday we took our first trip to the library!! We were SO proud of the way everyone walked up the stairs and through the halls in a line and then were such a nice audience for Miss Katrina up in the library! We are going to do this every Friday from now until the end of the school year.
Our other Friday tradition is our Friendship Circle. This week we read a story called, When Panda Came to Our House and told the class about OUR Panda, who will begin taking trips home with the kids very soon. Everyone was very excited about this news and our Friendship Circle topic was about what we each want to do when Panda comes to our house.
We love ending each day outside. We're definitely ready for some spring weather but even with the clouds and sprinkles, it feels great to run and play in the fresh air :).
We look forward to conferences next week and to having a chance to visit with you about your wonderful children!
We'll see you all either Wednesday or Friday,
Lisa and Sheri
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