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!