Jelly Beans-sorting, counting and patterns

 

Why use worksheets and printables to teach math when you can use jellybeans? Sort, count and create colorful spring patterns. Practice easy addition and subtraction problems.  

Find out why sorting and patterns are an important part of your child's math curriculum:

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/using-patterns-to-boost-your-childs-math-skills

More info:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2021/11/sorting-patterns-and-counting.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/04/easter-sort-count-create-pattern.html

Pearly Shells

Winter Boredom Buster

 

How sweet! Mini marshmallows, dice and coffee mugs are fun way to count! 

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2020/01/marshamallow-math-game.html

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Out in the Cold

So much to do in the classroom in 2022!!!

Our friends will have lots of fun with their ABC's and 123's in January.  

Build a snowman! 

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

Games, lacing cards and much more are in our Discovery Center.

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/01/snowmen-abcs-123s.html

Crinkle paper, cotton balls and polar animals create a cool winter sensory tub.

There is a ton of winter fun for our friends! 

Snow Man Dance

Snow Country

 

It's the first big snow of the year.  If you and your child can't get outside bring the snow inside! 

I WIN!

 

Playing games is so important to your child's growth and development.  Your child has to learn the rules of a new game, follow the rules, cooperate with others and so much more.  Find out why playing games is more than just fun and games. 

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/07/games-people-play.html

Christmas Cookies

 

Dramatic play. Pretend Play.  Whatever you want to call it is a HUGE part of the MCP curriculum and an important piece to your child's early childhood education. 

In December, our students will have fun playing in Mrs. Claus' Bakery. Why is dramatic play important to your child's development?  Find out more and how to set up a bakery in your home---

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/12/mrs-claus-and-her-bakery.html

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/kids-activities-and-printables/activities-for-kids/arts-and-craft-ideas/importance-pretend-play.html

You Would Even Say It Glows

 

Our students are learning a lot about moose, elk and deer.  Simple shapes with teacher directions and we have Rudolph.  He's so cute. What did your child learn about moose, elk and deer?  A lot!

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/12/our-mwf-prek-classes-know-so-much-about.html

Fun Food Friday?  Moose Munch Mix!

The Missing Piece

 

Puzzles are an important piece of the MCP curriculum.  Hopefully you have a wide variety of puzzles at home, too.  Puzzles are meant to be hard.  Puzzles are meant to be challenging. Children get a real sense of accomplishment in completing a puzzle on their own.  

We start off the year with four-to-six-piece puzzles, puzzles with knobs and handles.  Super easy puzzles with a low level of frustration.  These pictures are our more difficult puzzles.  We move to more difficult tray puzzles and then 24–46-piece puzzles.  

Puzzles provide a lot of learning for your child.  Puzzles help with eye/hand coordination and small motor skills. Puzzles are great for logic and problem solving.   The children often try to just randomly put pieces together without any thought.  We teach them use the picture on the box for 'clues'.  Some children already know how to look for the straight edges pieces to form the outline of the puzzle.  

If you have a spot in your home, set up a puzzles area this winter.  Puzzles are great for all ages, a fun family activity and fairly inexpensive.  For more information on why puzzles are important in preschool---

https://illinoisearlylearning.org/blogs/growing/puzzle-play/

Good Manners

 "Good manners reflect something from inside-an innate sense of consideration for others and respect for self."  

Emily Post

Good manners aren't just for Grandma's house at the holidays.  Good manners are life long skill.  

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-importance-of-good-manners.html

Turkey Dance Freeze

Circle Up

 

"The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing and arithmetic...music dance, painting and theater are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment."   

William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education

Our MCP students have learned about the works of Wassily Kandinsky. We have learned Kandinsky was born in Russia and are able to find a Russia on a map or globe.  Kandinsky loved to listen to music and saw his art in the music.  He loved circles and his work is describes as abstract.  

Have some fun at home with Kandinsky!  Easy breezy with crayons and paper!

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/12/happy-birthday-wassily.html

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/12/kandinskys-colors-black-lines.html

-Color and add black lines-

Our next Masterpiece Monday artist creates some yummy art!

Dinner's Ready!

 

Gathering around the  dinner table for a family meal is super important for your child's growth and development.  Find out more:

https://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-most-important-thing-for-your-child.html

Sorting, Patterns and Counting

 

November lessons are all about food, family and fun.  MCP math lessons do not rely on worksheets but hands-on activities like sorting with these food shaped erasers.  We have thousands (I don't think we're exaggerating) of items for the children to sort, create patterns and count.  What can you and your child do at home?  A lot!  

We have sorting trays at school.  

These are readily available at most dollar type stores or your favorite superstore.  Look in the party section.  Or just use a napkin or plate...

Or even the floor!

What can you find at home? A lot! Coins, buttons, cereal, Hot Wheels, shoes, action figures, blocks, LEGOS---use your imagination.  Anything you have a lot of your child will be able to sort, create patterns and count. 

We start with an AB pattern and will continue to introduce additional patterns throughout the school year (AAB, ABB and ABC).

More info:

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/using-patterns-to-boost-your-childs-math-skills

Make math fun at school and home!  

Witch's Stew 2021

 An MCP favorite!  Witch's stew and Halloween gives us an opportunity to talk about what is real and what is pretend.  Some silly fun without being scary for our little ones!  

The recipe and song:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2018/10/witchs-stew-2018.html

Pumpkin Power!

For the health and safety of our students, there are lot of MCP activities that we will not be able to have in the classroom this year.  You might want to try some these ideas at home with your child!  

One of the easiest is just to get a pumpkin and cut it open.  Have your child look, touch and smell.  If you have a magnifying glass let your child look up close.  Pull seeds out and count.  How do the seeds feel?  Estimate.  Do you think there are ten seeds or more than ten?  One hundred?

Mix up pumpkin playdough!

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/10/dough-boy.html

More playdough recipes:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/10/perfect-playdough.html

Easy breezy pumpkin muffins!  Yummy!

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/93290/easy-pumpkin-muffins/

It's just a can of pumpkin.  Cover up your child with a smock or old t-shirt. Use a plate or cookie sheet and draw shapes, numbers, and letters!

or just have some messy pumpkin fun!

Lots of fall fun for you and your child!

This Is Halloween

 Patterns with push pins and a pumpkin!

What a fun way to practice patterns.

So pretty with all the push pins!

A fun way to practice our letters---

and Halloween I SPY bottles to keep us busy.

Jack-o-lantern Jars

 

Over the years, we have made hundreds of these jack-o-lantern jars with our little ones. These jack-o-lanterns are inexpensive and easy which is an ideal combination for a preschool project.  Whether it's your first child at MCP or your last, it brings us great joy when we hear that they are displayed in your home for Halloween!