Spring Break

See you tomorrow!

Andres Amador

This is the temporary art of Andre Amador. 

http://www.viralnova.com/beach-art/

http://www.andresamadorarts.com/

Take something and make it beautiful.

The First Day

No matter how long the winter, 
spring is sure to follow. 
Proverb

Welcome Spring!

The Owl Babies

Our TTh class listened to the book Owl Babies on Tuesday and created their own owl baby.  Did your child make Sarah, Percy or Bill?  You will have to ask.  We had some white textured paper place-mats donated to our program and we used the paper for the owl.  Scissors use!  Each child snipped around  the white oval to make their owl feathery.  Listening to teacher directions and some glue and it's an owl baby!

Student Work

Student Work

Student Work

Students can also count (we are using numbers 4-10) and put birds in a bird house.  After a teacher checks, the child presses the 'easy button'.
 
Tomorrow we are making bird-feeders.  We will also learn some more about birds.  The dictation activity will be sent home after break.

Space...the final frontier

These are the voyages of Metamora Community Preschool.  U is for universe and the MWF classes will have many opportunities to 'walk on the moon'  and learn about our universe this week. 

The dollar store is a preschool teacher's best friend.  I found these cute die cuts for our universe unit.  Each rocket has a number.  The child counts out stickers, a teacher checks and the child gets to press the easy button. 

The MCP Rocket Ship---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/03/to-infinity-and-beyond.html


Science Centers---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/03/deep-space.html

Rocket Booster How to---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/10/air-tanks-and-rocket-boosters.html

One Fish, Two Fish

Do you see a red fish, blue fish?

Our MWF preK classes have been tracing, coloring and cutting out many sea creatures for our bulletin board.  Next they make a tally mark so we can count how many sea creatures are swimming in our deep blue sea.  More bulletin board ideas under the 'Bulletin Board' label.

A Kitchen Garden

Spring is less than a week away (yea...say it again YEA!).  I was inspired by an activity in the February Family Fun magazine.  Our MWF classes have been watching some fruits and vegetables grow.  We started with garlic, a potato, a sweet potato and celery.

 The sweet potato and potato never did grow (we will try again).  The garlic made our room smell like a pizzeria but did sprout.  The celery has started to root and this has given us discussion on which was placed into water first.  Ask your child...how can they tell? 

At our Super Summer Seashore Safari we ate pineapple so we put the tops into water.

We are also watching baby carrots and carrot tops.  Will they root?

 Will romaine lettuce sprout in water?  It does!

 Super easy activity for you and your child to do at home.  You can measure the growth, create a gardening journal and more.  See the full article from Family Fun
http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/indoor/gardening-with-kids-plant-an-odds-and-ends-garden/

St. Patricks' Day 2014

We have got our Irish up and going in our MWF classes!  Here's what has been happening this week with our preK students.

We are counting, sorting and making patterns. 

 

The children made a leprechaun.  Each student cut out their own circle. 

 

Student Work

Student Work

We learned how to draw a leprechaun, too!  Aren't we lucky?

Student Work

Student Work

 In this center, we color the Irish flag and then press 'the easy button'.

 Want to do more?  Play some Irish tunes on your favorite Internet radio station! 

It's all about the wearin' of the green at MCP!

Take Something & Make It Beautiful

Art is when you take something and make it beautiful. 

 Ella, age 5

We started an art unit a few weeks ago with our MFW preK classes.  My first question was "What is art?"  Typical four and five year old answers---coloring, markers and paints.  Our friend Ella said, "Art is when you take something and make it beautiful."  I just love that comment. 

We started with drawing together.  Each child had a small clipboard, paper and a pencil.  I had an easel, gave oral directions and demonstrated.  The kids liked guessing what we were going to draw.  Demonstrating with 'rainbows', the letter V, the number 1 and other basic shapes, the children were able to draw many animals!  We drew one and then drew a second.  I also wrote the word and noticed that many of the children were writing the words, too!

Teacher Drawing

Teacher Drawing

Teacher Drawing

Teacher Drawing

Student Work

Student Work

 

Student Work

 During Seashore week, we drew sea creatures.

Teacher Sample

Teacher Sample

Teacher Sample

Teacher Sample

Teacher Sample

We are now working on our sculptures.  We have glued, painted and are adding the finishing touches

 

 

. 
When your child brings their sculpture home, they might have a story to tell you.  There were bulldozers, airplanes, robots, fairy castles and more.  Your child can add more to their sculpture at home.  For pictures and past posts, search "Sculpture" on our blog.  Want some ideas for drawing?
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-drawing-room.html

Check out some local sculptures with your child!

Lucky Charms

Buy a box of Lucky Charms 

for sorting, counting and patterns!

 

An Octopus

Our MWF afternoon class had a visitor today!  An octopus!  We wrote about our experience and  the sheet will be sent home on Monday.  Ask your child what they learned.

 

Under the Sea

Our MWF preK classes are filling up the ocean with fish, octopus and sharks.  This is an activity children can do during centers.  Stencils, crayons and markers are always available in our art center.  Children trace, color and cut.  They make a 'tally mark' for their class and press 'the easy button'.  I will be posting pictures as the 'sea' begins to fill with 'life'. 

Need more ideas for bulletin boards?  Check the BULLETIN BOARD label.

Past boards---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/03/changes-in-attitudechanges-in-latitude.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/03/surfs-up.html

North America

This center is for our MWF preK students. Remember centers in our classroom are a personal choice for the child so not all children will bring this sheet home.  Since the beginning of the school year we have been learning about many different countries around the world.  This is a concept we are introducing to the children.  Planet, continent, country, state and city is a complex concept for the young child.  Some get it and some don't...no worries.  It is a simple introduction to geography and the world around them.

Student Work

Student Work

 

The children LOVE maps and globes.  Look at a globe or map and explore the world with your child!

Mahalo!

Our MWF afternoon class had a fun surprise this afternoon.  An auntie of one of our students sent us a box of treasures from Hawaii!  She has to be the favorite aunt in this family.  First I set the box on our Discovery table.  It sparked a lot of discussion as the children arrived.

During our group time, we passed the box around to each student.  It was heavy.  We guessed what could be in a box from Hawaii.

Finally, we opened the box.  It was packed full of so many fun things!  We passed all the treasures around for the children to see and we ate a Hawaiian gummi for snack.  We are going to have a LOT of fun with all these Hawaiian treats.  

Ask your child about our package from Hawaii!

Mahalo from MCP!