MCP Christmas 2018 part 2

Paper chains are great for scissor practice.  How to at home---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/12/chain-chain-chain.html

We sort, count and create patterns with Christmas erasers.

We love our lacing cards!  Recycled Christmas cards make great lacing cards for our small motor skills.

Smells like cookies!

Our kiddos love to sort and match Santa's socks!

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/12/santas-socks.html

MCP Christmas 2018

We love celebrating Christmas and the holidays at MCP.  Here's a peek at what is happening in the classroom.  Ask your child about the Candy-land Messy Tub.  Our MWF students are cutting paper chains to decorate our room.  Naughty or Nice?  It's an ABC game in our Discovery Center.  Take a look-



Santa's sleigh is ready for deliveries!  More info-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/11/santas-sleigh.html

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/12/down-through-chimney-with-good-saint.html

Super safe chimney for our preschoolers!


Christmas I SPY bottles are easy to make.  You and your child can make some for friends and family.
How to---http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-i-spy-bottles.html


When Christmas bows get to a 90% discount, I buy them up.  They are great for sorting, counting and patterns.

Additional info---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/01/christmas-bows-2015.html



We love our 'messy tub'.
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/12/candyland.html



Naughty or Nice?  Either way it's a fun way to practice our ABC's.


In the art center a box is filled with red, green and white items for holiday collages.


Many of these ideas are easy enough to do at home.Here's how-

• You are probably not going to create a giant glitter covered sleigh for you home but you can create a Christmas 'prop' box.  Buy a Santa hat, an over sized red shirt or red robe will work as Santa's coat. Your local dollar stores have lots of decorated boxes for presents.  Add old phones, a notebook and pen, binoculars, maps for some holiday fun. 
• Items for I SPY bottles can be found at your local discount store or craft supplier. Look for miniature ornaments and items small enough to push through a bottle.  A fun activity for a children's party!
• Take alphabet flashcards and put inside a stocking for your own Naughty or Nice game.
• Buy a couple bags of bows for sorting, counting and patterns. 
• Fill a small storage container with lots of red, white and green craft supplies. Pom poms, fabric scraps, ribbon, lace, felt, paper and more. Recycle cracker and cereal boxes for sturdy support for your child's art. 

Christmas is a great time to be creative with your child!

C is for Cookie!

A Christmas Story

I hope your child is receiving a book or two for Christmas.  I love reading books to our preschoolers. I use different voices, get very animated and engage the children in the story.  It is so important to read to your child every day.

Here are some lists to give you some ideas---  

My Top 108 plus I have to include these three---The Jolly Postman, Lately Lily and I Like Myself

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-top-108-childrens-books.html

More ideas---
http://www.scholastic.com/100books/index.htm

https://www.earlychildhoodeducationzone.com/best-books-for-preschoolers/

https://www.parents.com/fun/entertainment/books/best-toddler-books/

https://www.parents.com/fun/entertainment/books/the-all-time-best-books-for-preschoolers/

MCP Staff---Thank you! You Rock!

The three ladies that work with me at MCP are just the best...THE BEST.

To say 'thank you' for all that they do for your children and me personally doesn't seem like enough but it will have to do for today.  They are absolutely dedicated to the MCP program and put in many extra hours to make sure that everything that needs to get done gets done.

So R, D and A:
Thank you all for your creativity and talent.  Thank you for singing and dancing with our kiddos.   Thank you for making my job a little easier. Thank you for attending fund raisers and always stepping up and helping out where you are needed. Thank for everything.

Thank you for being there when I needed you the most.
Thank you.  You're the best.  THE BEST!

2017-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2017/11/my-happy-place.html

2016-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/11/thank-you-for-everything.html

2015-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/11/gratitude.html

2014-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2014/11/be-thankful.html

2013-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-have-plenty-to-be-thankful-for.html

2012-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/11/thank-you.html

Pass the Cranberries

We spend the month of November talking about all the foods our students may encounter on Thanksgiving.  On Monday, we had our Thanksgiving dinner.  We are hoping your child might take a taste of something new at your holiday gathering.

Fun Food Friday was ice cream.  Did your child like the ice cream?  It was a little too sweet for some.

Morning Class

Afternoon Class

Our friends were very busy with scissors this month.  We are thankful for so many things!

Morning Meeting-TTh

Brain Freeze

Our MWF students are learning about liquids and solids.  We learned that temperature will change solids and liquids. We are using the words-experiment, observe and predict.  We will continue to use these words throughout the school year.

We created an ice cream cone craft.  We noticed the waffle cone had a texture to it. Students added texture to their paper with a brown crayon.  A simple ice cream shape was cut, glued and then more texture! Sprinkles (office dots and cut labels), sticky jewels and pom poms finish the work.

What can you do at home?  A lot...it's water and containers.  Easy breezy!  Experiment with different containers, sunny windows or place a container with ice outside where it is still cool and a container with ice inside.  Ask your child to predict which will melt faster.  Why? Place different sized plastic containers in the freezer and predict which will freeze faster.  We also discuss that dish soap, gasoline, shampoo, bubbles, etc. are liquids. Have fun exploring liquids and solids with your child!

Turkey Hill

Our friends are busy dressing our turkey!

More info and 'how to'-

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2015/11/wild-turkey.html

Screens + Time = Poor Grades

https://www.gainesville.com/lifestyle/20181012/screen-time-poor-grades-health-risks-associated-with-kids-overuse-of-electronic-devices

Snow Fall

 We couldn't take the kiddos outside 

so we brought the snow inside!

Pizza My Heart Field Trip

Life Long Learners

"The beautiful thing about learning 

is that no one can take it 

away from you."

B.B. King, musician

An Italian Feast

The MCP Pizza parlor has reopened!


More info and how to---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/11/pizza-parlor.html

Why is dramatic play important to your child's development?

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

Your Preschooler and Art

We realize the great value of art in our preschool program.  Why is art important to your child's education? 

PBS-

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

Michigan State University-

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/the_art_of_creating_why_art_is_important_for_early_childhood_development

Hey, Seymour! Balloon Launch

From Walter Wick's book "Hey, Seymour!"

I SPY 2018

Today we start working on I SPY bottles with our TTh 3 y/o class.  Our MCP students love I SPY bottles and they are easy to create at home (especially if you have a crowd booked at your house for the holidays).

We will explore the Walter Wick I SPY books.


Make a giant I SPY board.


There's an I SPY messy tub!


And each student will make an I SPY bottle for home!
How to---
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-spy-bottles.html


We also have Halloween and Christmas I SPY bottles.