AIR

Our MWF classes started a unit on AIR today.  Here is today's experiment.  Super fun and super easy. This would be a great at home activity but requires adult supervision. 

I gathered a variety of items from around our room and put them on the table.  I asked, "Does air move things?"  Yes, air can move things. From there each child came up and picked an item.  Next we predicted  (new vocabulary) if the item would move or not. I turned on the blowdryer and we watched. We charted each item under yes or no.  Ask your child why some items are under yes and no. 

Happy 2nd Birthday to the MCP Blog!

Happy Birthday to the MCP Blog!  Two years ago I started the blog for our preschool parents. Parent communication is a very important of our program.  It has been fun to be able to explain and share many of the things we do at school. I love posting the crafts and activities we do at school. I love posting things to do at home.  I love posting things to do in our  area.  One thing I did not expect is that anyone else would be reading our blog.  Although we have few followers, we have readers in  the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Russia, India, Australia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Latvia, Philippines, Austria, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, Honduras, Brazil and Columbia.  I know there are others. My one regret is that I didn't keep track of all the countries---it just never occurred to me. 

Where ever in the world you are...Thanks bunches.  Thanks to our MCP parents, homeschoolers and all of you.  Have some cake and ice cream to celebrate!

Today's Weather Report

We love to talk about the weather.  Too hot, too cold, just right-it is probably the one thing many of us talk about every day.  The weather reporter is one of our classroom helpers.  This activity is a great way to discuss the seasons, the weather and introduce new concepts and vocabulary. 

The weather reporter goes to our classroom window and checks the weather while we sing-
(Tune-Oh Dear What Can  the Matter Be?)
(NAME) what will the weather be?
(NAME) what will the weather be?
(NAME) what will the weather be?  Can we go out to play?
Rainy or sunny or warm or cool?  What will the weather be like at school?
Cloudy or snow or cold or hot? What is the weather today?  HEY!

Our first step is the season.  When summer was ending I asked if we were at the beginning or end of summer.  What season is next?  Now that we have entered fall,  I ask what happens in the fall.   Leaves will turn colors (what colors?). The leaves will fall.  Mommy and Daddy will rake leaves.   It will get colder.  We will start to wear long pants and jackets. You get the idea.  This line of questioning is done for each season.  We also focus on the word-SEASON.

These past few days we have made a point to discuss summer weather does not mean it is summer.  It is still fall and it is still going to get colder.

Next, the child is to choose a weather word and temperature word.  Our weather reporter reads the weather report (The weather is sunny and cool.) and decides if we can go out to play.

The MCP Castle

Children love castles.  They are central theme in fairy tales and movies. Children are very familiar with the concept and look of a castle.  We have removed the 'kitchen' and replaced it with a castle in our room.  Very simple but very fun for our preschoolers.  I have used a lot of cardboard for a wide variety of dramatic play.  We like to use large boxes because they fold flat for easy storage.  We have a sleigh, a rocket, a castle, a house of sticks, stones and bricks and much more stored very compactly.  

The castle is very simple but the play is very complex. We have the castle, dresses, capes and 'armor'.  There is also gold, pouches for the gold, beads and medallions for the knights (this is what I did with all the medals my boys received for sports).  Finally, you can see the table and chairs plus there are  pots, pans and play food.

AND THE LEARNING THAT IS HAPPENING!!!  The children are using a wide range of vocabulary and their imagination provides the rest.  There is communication and cooperation.  This is learning through play.

Want to do more?  This is probably the best website I found http://www.castles.org/  Let me know if you find more. There are also many books at our local library.  A word of caution about castle books-some have some violent illustrations of medieval times.

BFF's

There are lot of great BFF's out there-Monica and Rachel, Calvin and Hobbes, Harry, Ron and Hermione and of course Sesame Street favorites...Bert and Ernie!  Last week, our MWF classes talked about friends and friendship and we created these two crafts.  The photos are actual student work.  We do a lot of crafting in our room.  Crafts and art are very different.  

Our art center is a space for the children to express themselves creatively however they choose (we do try to control the glue flow).  Crayons, markers, scissors, paper, glue and much more is readily available for the children to use freely.  Their work is totally their own.

Crafts?  Well, now we have to listen and pay attention.  Very important skills for school.  Many crafts will also incorporate some sort of scissor use.  We start with snipping and move to cutting basic shapes.  Some of the children are able to cut very intricate shapes but that is another post!

For Bert and Ernie who are just pretty darn cute, the children had to snip the hair. Next step by step we put the craft together.  When we give them a piece and  place it onto the craft, I ask about colors, shapes, inside/outside, between and talk about shapes, colors and spatial relationships. Please know that we do not move pieces so the craft looks correct.   

Make room on the refrigerator for lots of arts and crafts! Need some ideas on what to do with your child's art when you run out of room on the frig? Here you go-http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/10/art-galleries.html

FALL-ing in Love with Autumn!

The next few days are going to be absolutely gorgeous.  If you are looking for something to do check out Spindler Park on Illinois Route 116. 

I have driven by this park for ten plus years. This past weekend, it was so pretty and we were looking for something different to do. We decided to explore Spindler Park.  There are nice wide trails and lots of room for little legs to run. Most trails are rocky like an unpaved driveway. You could push a stroller depending on the type you have. The trail by the playground goes down to the riverfront. If you leave from the marina, there is a fun bridge and some marshy waters. I was told one of the trails from the playground goes over to Jonah's.  It's a fun spot for walking, a picnic and some preschool exploration! For info and directions-http://fondulacpark.com/?q=node/17

So today I am running errands and decided to cut down Grandview Drive to head to Chillicothe.  I have not been on the WMBD (world's most beautiful drive) in a long time.  This would be a great spot for some family fun, too.  Or even a fun site for a group play date at the playground. http://www.peoriaparks.org/grand-view-park So pack a picnic, pick up some Jimmy John's or Subway.  Grab some water bottles and head out for some outdoor family fun! 

Dough Boy

Click here for the recipe I use for our classroom playdough.  Make a batch for home. Make a batch for a homemade gift for some little cousins with some Christmas cookie cutters.  Make a batch to keep at Grandma's house-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/10/perfect-playdough.html
I would recommend either buying a cheap pan for cooking playdough or finding one at a resale shop. 


Pumpkin Pie Playdough
1 can pumpkin
3  4 oz. cheap cinnamon
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1-1 1/4 cup flour

*Mix.  Keep adding flour until stiff.  This dough smells so good!

Play Clay
1 cup cornstarch
1 pound baking soda
1 1/2 cups cold water

In medium pan, mix cornstarch and baking soda.  Add water all at once and stir until smooth.  Cook over medium heat until consistency of dried mashed potatoes.   Cover with damp cloth and cool. Turn out onto cornstarch covered surface and knead.

Wood Dough
1 cup sawdust
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon liquid starch or white glue
Sieve or piece of screening

*Sift the sawdust through the sieve.  Use only the dust-not the splinters or chunks of wood.
*Mix ingredients.  Add more water or flour as necessary.
*Knead dough until workable and pliable.

Use this dough for pots and bowls.  Roll flat for cookie cutter shapes.  Let projects dry for 2-3 days.  Sand and paint or seal with acrylics.  I am gathering sawdust and will be making this dough soon. We will probably use this dough around Christmas and try to make ornaments.  We'll see how it goes!

Coffee Clay
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup used coffee ground (ask at Starbucks and they will bag some up for you!)
1/2 cup cold leftover coffee

I don't think I have ever made this recipe but we might try this one, too.  My notes indicate this project will look like 'stone' when dried.

*Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir until blended.
*Gather and mix w/your hands.  Good child job!!!
*Knead on a floured surface until dough is smooth.
*Store in sealed plastic bag or plastic container.

Soapy The Snowman Dough
Super soapy dough!  You can also turn this dough into soap on a rope.  A good handmade gift for Grandpa!
Click on the link for the recipe and snowman instructions. 
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2011/01/soapy-snowmen.html

One idea for soap on a rope-
http://www.kitchenlink.com/cookbooks/1999/0811823237_1.html

or use one yard of cord. Tie the ends together w/a large knot.  Press good soap size amount of dough on yarn just above the knot. Form into a shape.  Let dry for several days.  Tie an additional knot where the cord comes out of the soap.  Squeeze dough so it will hang securely from knot.  Form a shape or you might be able to press into a mold

Sandy Dough
Never have attempted this recipe...if you try it let me know.  It might be fun for our seashore unit :-)
1 cup sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon alum
Mix over low heat.  Add 3/4 cup hot water (or colored water).  Stir rapidly and knead until smooth.

Molding Sand
Haven't tried this one either. 
2 cups sand
1 cup water
1 cup cornstarch
Mix and cook until thickened.  Form castle shapes or mold.  Let set until dry.

Peanut Butter Playdough
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-playdough/detail.aspx  YUM-O!

Can't get enough playdough recipes??? Here is the website for you- http://www.playdoughrecipe.com/ Go ahead and try a few of the recipes.  Have some creative fun with your child.