All About Penguins

Penguin Power

I saw this ad for a facial mask and knew it was going to be an MCP craft. Our MWF classes are learning about polar animals (good timing with our local weather).  Students cut out a black circle...

And listened to teacher directions to create a penguin.

Crafts are an important part of our program.  Why? 

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/09/arts-crafts-2016.html

Art is different but also a vital part of the MCP curriculum.  Why?

http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-importance-of-art-in-child-development/

Discover what your child learned about polar animals.  

Eat 'em with Syrup!

Our annual Pajama Party is always a lot of fun. This week all classes will be learning the 'Pancake Song'.  Here are the words and it is sung to the tune of "Ham Bone, Ham Bone, Where You Been?"---

Pancakes, pancakes hot off the griddle.
Pancakes, pancakes for your middle.
Eat 'em with syrup oh so sweet.
Pancakes they're so good eat.

The Cereal Box Show-CBF 11

CBF 11 is 12' 7" long...

and 8' tall...

and 4' 7" wide. 

How many boxes did take to build CBF 11? 234 

The History of the Cereal Box Fort

2018---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/01/my-imepenetrable-cereal-box-fort.html

2017---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/01/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version_30.html

2016---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version.html

2015---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version.html

2011-2014---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-impenetrable-cereal-box-fort-version.html

Bring Me Chocolate

Valentine's Day is just a few weeks away.  Time to mix up some chocolate play dough!

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/01/valentines-day-playdough.html

How Do Polar Animals Keep Warm?

Blubber!  Today we learned that many polar animals are covered in blubber.  Blubber keeps polar animals warm. 

Our MWF students  have spent the week learning about polar animals. Here are some of the things we talked about-where the North and South Pole are, the North Pole and South Pole are covered with snow and ice, the North Pole and South Pole are really cold all the time, we identified polar animals and where they live, learned penguins live at the South Pole and polar bears live at the North Pole.

Today I asked the children, "How do polar animals keep warm?" After a variety of answers, I told them polar animals are covered in blubber. This brought lots of giggles especially when I asked them to say the word 'blubber'. I had a five gallon bucket filled with ice and water. Very, very, very, very cold.  One at a time, each child had an opportunity to put their hand in the water. After they quickly pulled their hand out, I told them I was going to 'turn them into a polar animal'. Each child chose a polar animal and told me where that animal lived. Then I covered their hand in 'blubber'. Inside a large zip-loc bag I have put lots of shortening and another zip-loc bag is inside the shortening bag (because really who wants to be covered in blubber). The children put their hand inside the blubber and then put their hand back into the water. Now they can feel how blubber keeps polar animals warm.

I Am a Paleontologist

Time to dig for 'dinosaur' bones.

Penguins 2019

This week our TTh class will be learning about penguins.  Here are few of the concepts we learned-penguins are birds, they have feathers but don't fly, penguins lay eggs, penguins swim, they eat fish and penguins live at the South Pole.
Each child also created a penguin.  They did a really good job listening to teacher directions.  The penguin has many pieces and the children have to be really attentive to get it right. This craft is also an opportunity for us to discuss ovals

We sang 'I'm A Little Penguin'  
(tune-I'm A Little Teapot, of course)

I'm a little penguin black and white.
I swim all day and waddle all night.
I follow my friends wherever they go
Over the rocks and into the snow!

What Did You Do To Change the World Today?

Today we celebrate and honor a man, Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked hard in his time to change the world.

We have paper napkins for our daily snack with many different images. The children love this one. It makes them laugh.  They call it 'the stinky feet' napkin.  I like this one because it reminds me that we can all make small changes to change our world.  We can change the channel, change a diaper, change the sheets, change a light bulb, change your order and change our mind.  Small changes layered one on top of the other can result in big change. 

You might not be able to change the world but you can change your corner of it.  What will you do to change the world today?

Past posts:

2013---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/01/change-world.html

2015---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-to-make-difference-in-world.html

2016---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-right-thing-to-do.html

2017---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/01/2017-year-of-being-kind.html

Morning Meeting-January

Last week we asked all classes if they prefer mittens or gloves.

MWF AM

MWF PM

TTh 

Our MWF preK classes had to decide which is their favorite-kangaroo or koala?

MWF AM

MWF PM

How to Draw Polar Animals

We have several 'How to draw...' books and cards for the children in our art center.  Step by step and  using shapes, letters and numbers simplify the drawing process.  

Want to do more?  I love Ed Emberly.  Check out his step by step drawing using fingerprints. Don't want to use a fingerprint? Draw an oval.  

http://edemberleydrawingpages.blogspot.com/

You can also use YouTube to draw with your child.  Choose a polar animal-say 'walrus'. Search 'how to draw a walrus for children/kids/preschool or easy'.  Many animals are available.  As with all things YouTube  check out the video before you share with your child.  

Have fun drawing polar animals with your child!  

Aboriginal Dot Art

Australia and Aboriginal Art

This week our MWF preK students will be 'traveling' to Australia.  Children will learn that Mrs. Q is terrible at accents but that an accent is when someone sounds different than what you are used to.  We have an accent!  We would sound different to someone from Australia. 

Students will be able to locate Australia on a map.  We will talk about the equator and Australian animals. 


Australia and Masterpiece Monday mean that students will be creating aboriginal art.  We will work on a canvas and also do a hand-print. 




Lots of fun in our classroom from the Land Down Under!

I Am a Paleontologist ---an awesome song

Never Forget You Are Loved

Valentine's Day is one month away.  I love, love, love making Valentine's cards for parents with our MCP students.  Last year we created an elephant that you'll never forget!

 

Past MCP Valentines---
Puppy Love
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/01/puppy-love.html

The Purr-fect Valentine's Card
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/01/its-purr-fect-valanetines-card.html

Let's Not Monkey Around
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/01/mommys-little-monkey.html

Whooooo Loves You?
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/02/whoooo-loves-you.html

Fun Food Friday---Hot Chocolate

What a fun way to practice writing our name, our letters and numbers!  Hot chocolate powder and a pointer finger!  Dee-lish!  You and your child can do this at home.  A cookie sheet provides more surface for letters and numbers.  Older children can practice spelling words or math!  

Marshmallow Math

Here's a winter boredom buster to try at home....mugs, mini-marshmallows and dice.  Younger children can count with one or two dice.  Older children can multiply or add dice.  Count out marshmallows and add to mug.  Make some mugs of hot cocoa and have fun counting with your child!

The Mitten by Jan Brett

We Dig Dinosaurs!

There are dinosaurs everywhere in our classroom except the bulletin board!  Our MWF preK kiddos can trace, color and cut dinosaurs to create a Jurassic world for our classroom. Thanks, Mrs. U.  She rocks!

Counting to 100

Our MWF classes have been practicing counting to one hundred.  We have also introduced counting by tens so that this concept will be familiar to them when they enter kindergarten.  The kids love it!  Wednesday is 100 Wednesday and students have the opportunity to work in small groups with a teacher counting to one hundred using stickers. We have been doing this all year.   

Now we have a center activity that the children can do independently.  Craft sticks, marker caps, playing cards and more will be available for counting.  Children will take their one hundred things home and will be able to count again!

Walking with Dinosaurs

Our preK students will learn about dinosaurs this month.  All MCP students will have fun 'digging' for fossils in our dramatic play center.
How to---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/01/dinosaur-dig.html


Dinosaurs are BIG so big numbers are on dinosaur die cuts for our preK students.  Count, check and press 'the easy button.'

The Polar Express

We have new sensory tub in our classroom. Polar animals!  Animals from the North Pole and South Pole in one fun filled place!

Easy breezy to do at home! 4-5 bags of white crinkle paper (used in gift bags) and 2-3 bags of cotton balls. Small clear plastic tubs create floating ice for penguins and polar animals to rest. 

Messy tub---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-messy-tub.html  

Snow Balls

Simple activities keep our preschoolers happy and active during winter months.  Empty popcorn tins make a fun tossing game.  Have children stand a few feet away and toss bath scrubbers into the can.  Easy breezy fun!

All you need at home are some bath scrubbers which are available at your local dollar store. Toss into a pan, a bucket, a basket or large bowl.  Have some fun this winter with your child!

Let's Build a Snowman

A fun way to count and work on our letters!



How to---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/01/do-you-want-to-build-snowman.html

Winter's Coming

We are prepping the classroom for some winter fun. We have lots of ways for your child to learn this month!  Let's learn letters!


Melt! is our ABC game...


Roll the dice and count the caps...


Winter lacing cards...


Winter books to check out...


http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-to-read-this-winter.html