What Did You Do At School?

Green Eggs & Ham

The three year old classes celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs & Ham.

 
Do you like green eggs and ham?

 

 
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

 
I do not like green eggs and ham.

 
Would you like them here or there?

 

I would not like them here or there.

 
I would not like them anywhere.

 
I do not like green eggs and ham.

 
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

 
You do not like them.

 
So you say.

 
Try them! Try them!

 
And you may.

 
Try them and you may, I say.

 
Sam! If you will let me be, I will try them.  
You will see.

 
Say!

 
I like green eggs and ham!

 
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!

 
I do so like green eggs and ham!

 
Thank you!

 
Thank you, Sam-I-am!

A Visit from the Dental Hygienist

Why should we take care of our teeth?

Because we use them for eating, talking, and...

smiling!

We take care of them by brushing...

and by using something called floss.

The children watched a video with Kirby the monkey showing them how to brush

and floss.

They listened attentively as the hygienist showed them how to brush using a model

and then using some of them as models.

She even flossed the model "teeth".

They talked about foods that are good for you and for your teeth.

Like apples.

Apples got a big thumbs up!

Skittles?

Thumbs way, w-a-y, w--a--y down! (Double bad -- sugary and sticky. That's the worst!)

Bananas?

Carrots?

What about milk?

Milk is a sideways thumb. It's good for making your bones and teeth strong, but it has sugar. Did you know if you eat a carrot after you drink your milk that it will help remove the sugar from your teeth?

And, the very, very best thing for you to drink?

That's right. Water. You can even drink water after you brush your teeth at night.

The children saw another short video about going to visit the dentist. Buddy and Andy showed them about the cool chair that goes up and down, getting x-rays,

and all the tools the dentist uses -- like the suction-thingy that helps to keep your mouth dry while the dentist works.

 
One of the children helped show the things the dentist and his helpers wear...

 
the "sneeze-guard" and the gloves.

Then all the children helped count Joey the Kangaroo's teeth while the hygienist used the special tooth-counting tool.

 
Some of the classes extended what they had learned from their visit with the dental hygienist, back in their classrooms.

All of the children who attend school on Monday or Tuesday (except for the toddlers) visited with the dental hygienist and brought home a little bag of goodies to help them apply what they had learned. Thank you to our friends at Laxer, Long, and Savage for helping teach the children about the importance of taking good care of their teeth!   

Doughnuts for Dad: The Event

 

The tables were set.

The doughnuts in place -- 7 dozen for Monday, 12 dozen for Tuesday.

The guests of honor sat in little chairs.

And interacted with their children in fun ways. 








Some classes had special presentations for their dads and then gave them a card or a picture or a story or a bookmark to take home with them.

The children enjoyed showing the dads their classrooms and their morning routines.

A fun time was had by all!   

Doughnuts for Dad: Preparations

We start the month of March with Doughnuts for Dads.

The children have been busy preparing. They started by drawing pictures of their daddies. Here are a few.

Dad, do you recognize yourself?

 

Rivers and Ponds

The three year old classes spend some time talking about bodies of water. What lives in the water? What lives on the land? Do plants grow in the water? What does water look like on a map?

3C recently made their own little rivers.

The supplies were put on a tray and instructions were given. "First you need a light green rectangle and a dark green rectangle." (Teachers are always assessing. Does the child follow this simple direction?)

"Tear the paper to make some plants that live in the river." (Tearing paper is a great finger-strengthening activity.) 

"Glue your plants so they're growing in your river."

"You need a sticker frog and a sticker fish. Which ones do you want?"

Peeling stickers off the paper backing and applying them to a project is another good fine motor activity.

The last step involved applying glue to the stick and attaching the big fish (on which they applied the sticker eye) to make a puppet fish that could swim in their river. (Another discussion at this point involved why the fish only has one eye... )

 
3B has also been talking about rivers, ponds, and lakes. Here is some of their artwork that is currently on display in the hall.

Next body of water to learn about? The ocean, of course!    

We had snow.

First it was inside...

2B MWF

 
 

2B TTh

 
T3

Here are some step by step photos of a young 3 year old painting his snowman. You may notice the change of hand and the change of grip on the paintbrush -- not uncommon for a child this age, but we would hope to see those things work themselves out during the next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3C

Snowmen are good for seriating size:  small, medium, and large. And for learning position:  top, middle, and bottom.

 

4C

This class used snowman making as a learning activity for the letter S. They labeled each item in the picture that began with their letter of the day.

 

 

 

 

4D

Then we had snow outside, so hopefully the children had the experience of making real snowmen along with their family at home. 

Preparing for Christmas: T3

Here are some of T3's activities as they prepared for Christmas.

Preparing for Christmas: 3C

December photos from 3C as they prepared for Christmas.

Preparing for Christmas: 3B

Photos taken from 3B as they made Christmas preparations.

Thanksgiving Feasts

Many of the classes have "feasts" on their last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday. The children love it! Here are some photos from feast day.

The Monday/Wednesday/Friday 2B class has what they call a sharing feast. Each child brings a fruit to share and they make a fruit salad for their snack.

Good to the last drop!

The Tuesday/Thursday 2B class set the table with their handmade placemats.

They made Indian headbands and went down the hall to visit a teepee.

 
The T3 tables were ready for the children to sit down and eat.

 
They made special turkey hats to wear. Some liked them...
...and some did not.
3B put their tables together into a big square.

 
The 3C children patiently colored Thanksgiving pictures while waiting for their feast to be served.


T4 invited their moms to join them.
4C had a story time before their feast.
Their placemats were doubled-sided. If the pilgrim side was up, the child dressed as a pilgrim for the feast. If the Native American side was up, the Indian headband was worn.
Their teachers set up a cafeteria-style line for serving the food. (Practice for getting hot lunch in kindergarten?) 
A set of parents and their recent "graduate" had come in a week or so ago to do a Thanksgiving activity with the children — a surprise for their teachers. It was proudly hung on the 4C classroom door.
4D also had their tables pushed together for one long feasting table.
After their feast, they played a rousing game of "Pass the Turkey."
TK's feast table had their turkeys lined up in the center.
And they had fun checking them out to see whose was whose. 
That's it for Thanksgiving. Be ready. Since it's December now, it'll probably be all Christmas, all the time!
(3B started before Thanksgiving. Can you tell what these will be? Stay tuned...)