Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, January 31, 2013

Willow Room- Terrific 2's and 3's class

We read "Harold and the purple crayon" by Crockett Johnson
We asked the children " Are you wearing any purple today?"

We fingerpainted with purple paint on crayon shapes.
We had prickly rings and purple paint at the easel.

We did "Who is at the zoo?", "Monkey say, monkey do", and "everybody clap your hands" at music time today.

We did a felt rhyme called "Snowman in the yard" today.

Maple Room- Thursday class

We read another of the Elmer books; "Elmer Again" by David McKee

We did "Alphabet letters", "Take that bean bag" and "Tommy Thumb" for music time today.

We practiced writing our names and we played " Hi Ho Cheerio"- a math game.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "The very cranky bear" by Nick Bland

We used a shaving cream and glue mixture to make snowmen pictures.

We have our dramatic corner set up as a library center. We sort books onto shelves in the correct order and we each have our own "library card" which the children file in alphabetical order.  

We did "5 finger play", "I changed my mind", and "5 smiles/frowns" for music time.

We asked the children "Does you name have the letter R in it?"

Trinity Preschool on Pinterest

http://pinterest.com/preschoolmp/

Follow the link above to see our pinterest page.  I have been posting pictures of many of the art ideas I list here in the BLOG.  

Trinity Preschool Activities for Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Willow Room: MWF class

We read "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr.

We glued foam letters onto tree shapes for art today
We had dab a dot painters at the easel.

We did "who is at the zoo?", "Everybody clap your hands" and "Monkey say, Monkey do" for music time

We thought of words that begin with the letter D and glued our D pictures to our D chart.  We used a prop for the chick a chicka boom boom story as a table activity today.

Maple Room- Morning class

We read "Sadie and the snowman" by Allen Morgan

We cut out snowmen shapes and decorated them with markers and crayons- we will add them to our snowy picture we made the other day.
We had paint at the easel with brushes. 

We did "The January song", "The mitten song", and "Old Mc Donald had a band"

We did letter O activities and played a number game with mittens.
We looked at pictures on the computer that one of the teachers had from her cousin who is studying penguins in the Antarctic  . We also found out the temperature there is -24 degrees.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We read "The letter D book

We worked on the letter D in our alphabet book
We had paint with brushes at the easel.

We did The January song, Mr. Snowman needs song, A-A- A alphabet song for music time today

We read "Mouses first snow" by Lauren Thompson and played a letter game of What letter is missing?  Letters a- D (we put them on the board and take one away- which one is missing)



Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "The magic school bus sleeps for the winter" (about hibernation)

We worked in our journal notebooks on R words and pictures

We had out snap together math blocks, magnetic writing boards and dinosaurs with the block building today.

We did some dinosaur dancing in our room too, we took the dinosaurs and danced all around the room to music.

We did "We are the dinosaurs" using maracas and "I knew a chicken" also with maracas

We played a small group game called Hi Ho Cherry O
We have been reading aloud the 3 bears stories the children wrote.

Stay & Play:

We read "Bravest of the brave" by Shutta Crum

We painted with water colors.

We did "Late last night", and "animal action" for music time.

We made a jungle maze with the wooden blocks and enjoyed playing with the train set. 

Trinity Preschool Activities for Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Willow Room- Terrific 2's and 3's class

We read "White Rabbits Color Book" by Alan Baker

We painted using bottle brush cleaners.  We used the colors red and blue mixing them to make a new color- purple.

We did "Ring the bells, wintertime is here, "Turn around", and the snowman song" for music time today.

We reviewed the colors red and blue and discussed how the two colors mixed together make a new color, purple.

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "Snow Bears" by Martin Waddell

We also read "Big bear, little bear"

We painted with knee socks filled with rice and beans.  We dip them in paint and drop them up and down onto paper.  They make a great print.  We have them hanging in the hall.

We did five green and speckled frogs, today is Monday and some freeze dances for music time.
We did the mystery bag with letter R items today.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Monday, January 28, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "Snowy's special secret"
We are talking about the letter D this week so we asked the children "Do you have the letter D in your name?

We used thread spools to make snowy looking prints on dark blue construction paper with glitter paint.  We had powdered paint mixed with dish soap at the easel.  It makes a great texture that has an oil paint look to it.

We sang "Ring the bells, winter time is here".
"Turn around", and "Snowman song" for music time.
We looked at objects that begin with the letter D and talked about the sound the letter makes.



Maple Room- Morning class

We read "A hat for MInerva Louise" by Janet Morgan Stoeke
We painted with tempra paint and brushes and we had roller brushes at the easel.

We did "The January song", "Leaky Umbrella" and "Mitten for my kitten" for music time.

We made our own "snow" in our sensory table with cornstarch and shaving cream. They loved this.

We did letter O activities today.



Maple Room- afternoon class

We read "Snowmen at night" by Caralyn Buehner

We filled some knee socks with beans and dipped them into paint.  Then we dropped them into a big box to look like giant snowballs had landed.  we did this a a big group project.
We had paint and brushes at the easel.

We did "Deep in the jungle" and used drums, Old MC Donald had a band (using instruments), and "Today is Monday" for music time.


Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "Little Bear's Big Sweater"  and "Sleep Bear, Sleep"

We made a paper snow globe.  We had two sheets of contact paper cut into a circle already made for each child.  They cut a circle shape out of white paper that had a snowman shape drawn on it.  They added eyes, nose, buttons, etc to the snowman and then put the first circle face up on the contact paper. sprinkled some glitter on the contact paper and added the second piece of contact paper over the top.  We added a paper base and put them in  our window to look like winter snow globes.

We did "Deep in the jungle using drums, old MCdonald had a band, using instruments, and we also sang the Bubble gum song.

We area learning about the letter R this week.

Stay & Play:

We read "A bedtime for bear"

We mixed salt paint and painted a picture.  Salt paint was 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp liquid starch, and tempra paint)

"Can you leap like a frog", "5 little ducks" and "This old Man" were our music songs today.

We had out dinosaurs and bristle blocks today.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Friday, January 25, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "Alphabet Adventures" by Audrey Wood

We asked the children "What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?"

We glued alphabet letter cereal onto a bowl and spoon shape.

We had magnetic letters at the easel.
We did "Lettercise", "Marching around the alphabet" and "Tap your toe and follow me" for music time.
We thought of objects that started with the letter C and we did a mitten color rhyme too.

Maple Room: Morning class

We read "Geraldine's Big Snow" by Holly Keller

We did spool painting on blue paper today. We dipped empty thread spools in white and silver paint and pressed them onto blue paper to look like snowflakes.
We had snowmen shapes with glue mixed into paint.  We had eyes, noses and buttons to add to our snowmen.

We did the "January song", "winter song", "white snowman, white snowman", "I'll be wearing.....", and "Tommy Thumb" for music time today

We had a water color painting station today and we had water and sponges in our sensory table.  

We did letter N activities on our dry erase boards, we thought of words that begin with the letter N.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We read "Geraldine's Big Snow" by Holly Keller

We did a cutting activity today.  We did lots of little snips of white paper and glued it onto blue paper to make a snow storm!  We had snowman shapes at the easel with paint mixed with glue and noses, eyes and buttons to add.

We did The January song, 

We had a water color station set up and we water and sponges with buckets and ladles in our sensory table to day.  

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "Goldie and the three bears" by Diane Stanley ( another variation of our Goldilocks and the three bears stories)

We are still working on our three bears books, we were illustrating our stories today.
We had the letter Q puzzle, bear patterning and a wooden peg puzzle out today.

We did a hot and cold sorting activity, 5 little bears a rhyme that counts up from 1 and back down again. and the Mack chicken dance for music time.

We thought of words that start with the letter Q.


Stay & Play: 
We did a story on a CD- The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger
We dipped chalk in water and then used them to color pictures.

We did the "hand dance", "if you are happy and you know it" and "list of dances" for music time.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, January 24, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "The mitten" by Jan Brett

We are talking about the color blue and we asked the children if they were wearing the color blue today.

We painted with fun textured mittens the children wore on the hands and dipped in a variety of blue paint.
We had alphabet magnets at the easel.

We did the mitten song, colors and Tap your toe and follow me, for music time

We glued blue items onto our color train and we did a colors mitten rhyme.

Maple Room- Thursday class

We read "Elmer takes off" by David McKee

We practiced writing letters and words today.
We played candyland today.

We did the pirate ship, acted out the rhyme 10 in the bed, and did itsy bitsy spider for music time.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read a different version of the Goldilocks and the three bears story.  This was was called "Goldilocks Returns" by Lisa Campbell.  It is great to read a variety of versions so children can be given the opportunity to think about things , what did I like?, what do I think would happen?, How would I end the story?

We painted with ice cubes made from watercolors.
We did a sorting activity for hard and soft items.  
We had small, medium and large sorting activities out  and a car graphing game.

We did "Where is red bear?" pretend to sleep when the color is named. and we did the opposites song for music time today.

We asked the children if anyone has the letter Q in their name.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Willow Room: MWF class

We read "The mitten" by Jan Brett
We asked the children "Do you have the letter C in your name?"  We graph the answers and talk about comparisons. How many yes's, how many no's, which is more.

We painted using fun mittens with various textures on them.
We had various sizes of snowmen with hats, scarves, etc to add at the easel today.

We did "If you are happy and you know it" and "Face the facts" for music time.

We introduced the letter C and looked at items that start with the letter C.  We talked about the sound the letter makes.

Maple Room- Morning class

We read "Tacky the penguin" by Helen Lester

We used dab a dot painters on a penguin shape we cut out.

We had mitten shapes with paint and rollers at the easel.

We did "The January song", "The freeze dance", "Tap your toe and follow me", and  "everybody clap your hands",  for music time today. 

We did letter N activities, we did a letter N book, and the monster box (what items did the monster eat that start with the letter N.  A letter N song, and what words can we think of that start with the letter N.

Maple Room- afternoon class:

We read "Sneezy the snowman" by Maureen Wright

We are working on our ABC book with the letter C- writing it and drawing a picture of something that starts with the letter C
We had watercolors and brushes at the easel.

We did bubble gum, bubble gum, Herman the worm, and tiger can't sleep - a book on CD.

We are learning about the letter C.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We retold the story of Goldilocks and the three bears with a felt board version.  We also read "Goldilocks and the three dinosaurs " by Mo Willems 

We worked in our journals , writing the letter and drawing a picture of something that starts with the letter Q.

We took turns acting out the story of the three bears with puppets.
We took the children out of the room one at a time to dictate their version of the three bears story to make their own book.

Stay & Play:

We read "Axle Annie" by Robin Pulver

We did a group art project.  We had a large box and we had cars and trucks dipped in paint.  We rolled the box back and forth to make the cars roll and paint the paper.

We did "Count of 5", "B-O-O-T-S" and action song for music time.

We acted out the story of Goldilocks and the three bears.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Willow Room- Terrific 2's and 3's class

We read the book "When Winter comes" by Nancy Van Loan

We are talking about the color blue now and we took turns looking around the room for something blue.

We made a blue art project today, we used blue glue to glue blue objects to paper.

We did "Tap your toe", "Over the deep blue sea" and "Hello everybody" for music time.

We played a color game at circle time, we had snowmen of various colors and a snow flake was hiding behind one, the children had to guess which color snowman the snowflake was hidden behind.  This is one of our favorite games as the children are learning colors, follow directions, waiting their turn, watching and listening to see what they other children guessed, memory, and fun.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "The three bears" by Byron Barten and "Beware of the bears" by Alan MacDonald

We painted with prickly balls by rolling them back and forth in a box.  These will be the covers to our Three Bears books.  

The children are dictating the Three Bears story to make their own books.

We are talking about the letter Q.

We dud a fun music activity today.  We laid out music instruments in the squares on our group time rug.  We played some music and when the music stopped, the children picked up an instrument and played it.  Then they put it back down and walked around while the music played.  When it stopped again, they picked up a new instrument and played it again.  They had a chance to play several instruments. 

Stippling portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by artist Kate Askegaard

Art created by talented artist, Kate Askegaard.  The portrait is created with tens of thousands of individual dots, all combined to make an amazing art piece that looks like a photo.  

Ice blocks and shaving cream for sensory play

shaving cream and ice blocks make great sensory play for winter or on a hot summer day.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Friday, January 18, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "ABC Animal Jamboree" by Giles Andreae

We asked the children "What is your favorite animal?"

We did golf ball painting- we dipped a golf ball in paint and rolled it back and forth over paper in a box.
We had rollers with dots on them at the easel and we painted on ball shapes.

We did "The button factory", "Hand dance" and "The more we get together" for music time today.

We did a matching game with different size snowmen at circle time and we thought of what words start with the letter B.

Maple Room- Morning class

We read "The hat" by Jan Brett

We made prints today by painting first with foam brushes on shelf liner paper that had a weave pattern.  The the children pressed a piece of paper on top of it and when they pulled the paper up we had a print.  We used purple and blue glitter paint and we will frame them with a hat shape.

We had hat shapes at the easel with white paper and textured stampers.

We did "The January song", "winter song", "5 snowmen jumping on the bed", "way up high in the snowy tree", "snowman pokey", for music today.

We did letter M on the dry erase board.  We played a letter game' What letter is missing?" with the letters A-M.

We had ice blocks with eye droppers, salt and water colors at the sensory table.

Maple Room- afternoon class


We read "The hat" by Jan Brett

We made prints today by painting first with foam brushes on shelf liner paper that had a weave pattern.  The the children pressed a piece of paper on top of it and when they pulled the paper up we had a print.  We used purple and blue glitter paint and we will frame them with a hat shape.

We had hat shapes at the easel with white paper and textured stampers.

We did "The January song", "winter song", "5 snowmen jumping on the bed", "way up high in the snowy tree", and Brown bear for music today.

We had ice blocks with eye droppers, salt and water colors at the sensory table.


Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "Bear feels scared" by Karma Wilson and Bear's New friend" also by Karma Wilson

We glued collage materials on the outline of our first name.

We did bear sorting by size and color
We had a magnetic marble incline ramp with movable blocks to change the path.

"I know a chicken" was a song we did today while we danced with shakers.
We did some hibernation rhymes

We asked the children to think of words that start with the letter P .

Stay & Play: 

We read "Stranger in the woods" by Carl Sams

We painted with big brushes and fun bright colors on big paper.

We did "I like my hat", "Can't sit still" and "snowflakes, snowflakes" for music time.

Paint prints for a cute winter art project

The children used silver, blue and purple paint with foam brushes to paint on shelf liner 

The print they created.

Shelf liner stapled to a foam sheet to paint and make a print

They read the story "The hat" by Jan Brett.  The children made a print from painting the shelf liner paper and then pressing a piece of paper on top.  We will add a hat shape frame .

Back Roller snow art

Plastic back rollers dipped in white paint

This is what it looked like when done

Plastic back rollers have given us tons of art fun 

We got these back rollers at the dollar store year ago and we use them at the easels, at the table and outside for art fun.  They wash easy, are noisy (unless you put a towel under the paper) and the kids love it. They provide big sweeping arm movements and make little dots all over the paper.  Here we used them to make it look like a snowy night picture.  

Shaving cream and glue snowman bulletin board

Great snowman bulletin board

Finger painting with shaving cream and glue

The children had so much fun creating their snowmen with this fun mixture.  It is 2 parts shaving cream and 1 part glue.  We cut out snowman shapes from finger paint paper and the children got messy!  Some children sat there for a long time just moving it all around.  They could use their hands and brushes too.  We gave them buttons, fabric for scarves, pipe cleaners for arms and chenille pieces for the carrot nose.  When they dry they have a puffy, airy texture and the items stay in place.  They made an adorable bulletin board in our classroom.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, January 17, 2013

Willow Room- Terrific 2's and 3's class

We read "All you need for a snowman" by Alice Shertle
We asked the children "Are you wearing the color red today?"

We used red brushes to paint with different red paints on heart, apple, lady bug and strawberry shapes.  
We painted a ball shape with rollers and the color red at the easel.

We did "I can make a snowman", "Snowflake, snowflake", and "Everybody has a face" for music time.

We did 5 little snowman rhyme 

We started our color train, bring in items that are red to attach to our color train.

We are having fun in our grocery store.

Maple Room: Thursday class

We worked on measurement using mittens as the measuring tool. We taped 20 mittens to the floor along the rainbow rug and we measured how many mittens long we were, we measured some toys and we did the standing long jump with it to see how many mittens far we could jump. 

We read the stories, Elmer and Wilbur by David McKee and Emma Kate by Patricia Polacco

We practiced writing our names,  and we did a number recognition game with mittens, We handed out mittens with numbers 1-9 written on them and then we put them on the board in the correct order.  

We acted out the 5 little snowmen, sang the alphabet sounds song and I'm a little snowman.

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "The bears in the bed and the great big storm" by Paul Bright

We used white paint and spools to create a snowy scene.  We had spools attached to handles as rollers to use at the easel.

We brought in an incline ramp with blocks that are movable to create various pathways for the marble to travel.  We had a magnetic shapes maze and some wooden sorting puzzles with pegs to use today.

We did a sing a long book called the Twelve days of winter", very cute.  To the tune of twelve days of Christmas, but winter based and school based.

We also did "I can dance" a fast slow movement.

Do you have the letter P in your name?

Trinity Preschool Activities for Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "All you need for a snowman" by Alice Schertle

We asked the children if they have the letter B in their name?

We painted snowman shapes using a mixture of shaving cream and glue (one of our favorite mixtures!).  We added carrot noses, eyes, mouths, arms, etc. 

We had magnetic letters at the easel.

We did "I can make a snowman" , "Snowflake, snowflake" and "everybody has a face" for music time today.

We did a 5 little snowman rhyme for circle time and we are enjoying the grocery store in our dramatic play area.

Maple Room- Morning class

We read "The mitten" by Jan Brett

For art the children cut out mitten shapes and we are making a mitten story book.

We had snowflakes with glitter paint at the easel.

We did the January song, The mitten song, "If you're happy and you know it", and "tap your toe and follow me"

We did the letter M book, talked about words that start with the letter M, and played a mitten game with numbers.

We used our parachute as a pretend mitten and played a game with the children acting like they were the animals in the story.  We do a song/rhyme to the tune of "Farmer in the Dell" as the children get in and the we do a big "sneeze" and they all tumble out.  It is a great literacy tie in to the book The Mitten. 
   
Maple Room- Afternoon class:

We did "Mouse's First Snow" by Lauren Thompson

We worked on the letters A and B in our alphabet book. 
We had paint at the easel with brushes, rollers and large paper.

We introduced "Letter of the week" we will be learning a couple of letters each week.

Oak Room- Pre-k class

We read "Bear snores on" by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
and "Tiger can't sleep" by J J Fore

We worked in our journals on the letter P.  We wrote the letter and drew pictures of things that start with the letter P.

We went on a "Real" bear hunt around the school. 

We did the letter P book and we talked about cold and how fat keeps the animals warm.  We put some Lard in a plastic bag, then we had each child hold it.  We put an ice cube on top of the lard and they could not feel the cold.

Stay & Play:

We read "The Snowman storybook" by Raymond B

We painted using a variety of scrapers and tempra paint.

We did "What do people do? and "The circle" for music time.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Willow Room- T/TH class

We read "My crayons Talk" by Patricia Hubbard

We played a color game- look around the room for something red.
We asked the children "What is your favorite color?"
We fingerpainted using RED Paint.

We painted snowflake shapes at the easel using stencils with white paint and roller brushes.

We did a song at music time using different colored circles and following directions.

We did Tommy Thumb for music too,

We are learning about colors and today we did many RED activities.  Help us out by bringing in items that are RED for our color train we will hang in the hallway.

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "The hat" by Jan Brett and "Beware of the bears" by Gwyneth Williamson

We drew a snow picture with white crayon on black paper.  Then we did a paint wash over it of water mixed with epsom salts.  It will make it look glistening.

We did snowman, snowman turn around, freeze dance, hands are for clapping and let's count frogs for music time.

We did the Mystery bag with items that begin with the letter N.  We cut out bear foot prints and taped them to the floor to lead to our cave.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Monday, January 14, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "Ice cream Bear" by Jan Alborough
We asked the children "Do you like ice cream?" "Which flavor is your favorite?"

We painted with back rollers dipped in white tempra paint and rolled on white paper.  It looks like a snowy scene.

We painted snowflake shapes at the easel.

We did The sammy songm Tommy Thumb, and a song with letters.

We made a chart of words that we could think of that started witht he letter A.  We also glued pictures of things that start with the letter A that children brought into school onto our alphabet picture chart.

Maple Room- morning class

"Diamond in the snow " by Jonathan Emmett wasdid  our story today.

We did icicle painting today.  We traced their hand and forearms on a paper to make a tree and used watered down paint with eye droppers to drip like icicles.

We painted on pieces of foil at the easel.

We did the January song, letter sounds nad acted out 5 little snowmen for music time.

We did letter M activities , guessed what the letter monster ate that started with the letter M, ans asked if they have the letter M in their name.

Maple Room- afternoon class

we read "The mitten" by Jan Brett

We cut out mitten shapes and had the children drip paint onto half of the mitten with an eye dropper.  We folded them over and pressed the paper together, so we had matching mittens.

We did come and get a mitten, cat lost his mitten, 10 mittens hanging on a line, and read a counting fgogs book for music time.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "The mitten" by Jan Brett and "When will it snow?" by Kathryn White
We cut out a mitten shape and dripped some paint onto one half.  Then we folded it over nad  pressed it togehter to make a matching pair of mittens.

We did "Come andget a smiley mitten", a cat lost his mittens rhyme for music time.

We are learning about the letter N.  We added a tent to our dramatic play as a bear cave.

We had a science activity out today.  We had trays with bakaing soda on them and the children used eye droppers to drip colored vinegar onto it.  It fizzes.  Fun.

Stay & Play:

We read "Ten on the sled" by Kim NOrman ( a book on tape)
We drew pictures with oil pastels.
We did a group game with colors and shapes- a BINGO game.

We did "Ribbons in the air" using bells and ribbons and Loco motion " a train dance around the room.

We have purple sensory sand and a tent for the hibernating bears.

January 2013 Trinity Preschool Newsletter

Trinity Preschool               847-357-1513                   

January 2013 Newsletter

                        

Find us on facebook and pinterest too.    www.trinitypreschoolmp.org                                                      

BLOG: trinitypreschoolmp.blogspot.co

Email: trinitypreschool@aol.com

Important dates:

No school Jan. 21- Martin Luther Jr. Holiday

Trinity Preschool Silent Auction fundraiser: Mark your calendar!

Sunday, February 24, 2013.

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Trinity Preschool Silent Auction:

Our one fundraiser we do at Trinity Preschool will be a fun family event on Sunday, February 24.  We solicit donations from local businesses and families and we then auction the items off to raise money to buy classroom materials and playground equipment for the children to use.

 Tuition alone does not cover these extras so the auction is very important to our budget.  We have the auction on a Sunday morning here in the building so that church members can also attend. We also have a great bake sale. I will send home additional information in a separate newsletter. Please help support our silent auction!

Summer Camp: 

Our summer camp will be June 11-27 and July 9-25, on Tue., Wed., and Thurs. mornings from 9:15-11:45. 

We are closed the week of July 4^th.

We spend the morning outside (weather permitting) and enjoy special activities that we cannot usually do during our school year.  Our summer camp is taught by Trinity Preschool teachers. Children need to be at least 3 years old and potty trained for camp.  Registration for camp will be in February and will fill fast.

Stay & Play:

We are having fun with Stay & Play, the children enjoy their special snack time, small group games, more choice time, story time, music and gym or outside.  You can join stay & play one, two, or three days or just use it on occasion.   See Mary to join.

Vision and Hearing screening:

The state of Illinois requires that all children in preschools and day care centers to have a vision and hearing screening.  We have made arrangements to do the screening at the preschool on March 6 & 7; with the cost being paid by the preschool!  I will send home a permission slip and possibly some practice games to help the children understand the process. We will practice the screening games with the children to help prepare them so they will understand when the screening happens. If your child does not pass either the vision or hearing initial screening, they will come back and do a retest; if they still do not pass, you will be advised to take your child in to a professional for further evaluation.  If your child has had their vision tested by an eye doctor or their hearing tested by an audiologist, please let me know as those children will not need to be screened and we will save money. 

Also- a special note to parents of children going to kindergarten:  This screening does not meet the requirements of vision exam for kindergarten admission.  You will still need to take your child to an eye doctor to be tested. See Mary if you have any questions.

ILLNESS/FLU

We have been fortunate so far with keeping flu out of our school. If your child is sick, please keep him/her home to not only prevent the spread of illness to others, but also to keep them from contracting another illness.  The problem with the flu is that it comes on so fast and you were contagious before it really hits you.  So…if your child is complaining about not feeling good, or is very tired, or just out of sorts, they may be coming down with the flu.  Please err on the side of caution and keep them home.  If your child has a fever, they should be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school. Bad coughs, terrible runny noses should also keep them home.  Help us keep everybody healthy.  Also, frequently hand washing is the number 1 way to stay well.  Kids who wash hands at least 4 times a day miss far fewer days of school due to illness. 

Winter weather reminders:

• Please help us keep the classroom floors clean by bringing your child to school in boots and changing into a pair of shoes here. (We cannot have wet shoes in the classroom and children must wear shoes in the classroom). 

• FLOORS AND STAIRS ARE SLIPPERY WHEN SHOES/BOOTS ARE WET-USE CAUTION!

• Sometimes the parking lot is icy and it is hard to tell due to the black asphalt-walk slowly and hold your child’s hands.

•  IF YOU SEE ME OUTSIDE BY THE DOOR IN THE WINTER WITH MY COAT ON ….. YOU MAY DRIVE UP AND DROP OFF YOUR CHILD AT THE DOOR! If you don’t see me outside and have younger children with you and want to drop off your child at the door - call the school phone to make arrangements!

Snack:

Please remember to check our snack guidelines if you have any questions about what is Ok to send in for snack.  Remember, no sweets, no cookies, and juice must be 100% juice.  Milk is a good choice too.  No peanut or tree nut products please. If you forget snack or your child is sick for their snack day, please send in a replacement snack.  Here are some snack ideas

Milk

Orange Juice

Mini Bagels and cream cheese

Yogurt

Cheese and crackers

Bread sticks

Fruit- canned or fresh

Snacks and juice must all come in unopened, and we need the boxes as some of the children have food allergies so we need to see ingredient lists.  We send all leftover food and drink home. Please remember if you buy juice or food in the refrigerated section, it must stay refrigerated to be fresh.  We cannot serve food that has not stayed at safe temperatures. 

Kindergarten Registration at local schools for fall 2012

Kindergarten registration is for children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1^st.

Registration is handled at the local public school. If you are not sure which school your child will attend, see Mary.

 If your child is in School District 57- they have an online procedure this year which is beginning NOW.  See their website for more information.

http://www.d57.org/

If you live in District 59 boundaries, their registration will be Feb. 21  Check out their website at http://www.ccsd59.org/

District 59 offers some options besides your neighborhood school. See their website for the details.

District 59 also offers the “Ready for Kindergarten “ classes for any parent living in the district with a child ages 0-5.  The next class will be in February, see their website for more information. I highly recommend this free class!

District 25 parents should call the local school their child will attend and ask for a registration packet to be sent to them. 

If you live in a different district than those listed, call your local school to ask about procedures or check out their website.

Most of the districts assess children for “English as a Second Language” or “English Language learners” skills and make a recommendation as to whether or not your child qualifies or needs ESL classes.  You can check with your child’s classroom teachers this year to find out whether or not they recommend ESL for your child.

Early admission to kindergarten:  Every year I have parents ask about getting their children into kindergarten even though they don’t make the age cut off.  You would need to ask your child’s school district for their guidelines, but it not something they are eager to do. They require you to pay for testing, and the children have to test out at a high level, socially, as well as intellectually.  There are many factors to be considered when thinking about this possibility. 

Scholastic Book Orders

Due: January 31, 2013 so we will have books by Valentine’s Day.

I will not be sending book order forms home to everyone anymore, I will place some on top of the cubbies and you can take one if you want it.  Books can be ordered online or by giving me the paper copy, but if you order online you usually receive a certificate for free books.   We have gotten over 100 free books for the school this year due to parents ordering books, so thank you!

"Hats off to winter" bulletin board in preschool

The children used fabric scraps, yarns,  and pom poms to create fun winter hats for our bulletin board.  

Hibernating bears winter bulletin board in preschool

Hibernating bears

The children painted bear shape paper plates, and added google eyes and pom poms for a nose.  We put them in our cave and made a special bulletin board. They won't come out until spring!

Baking soda and vinegar activity

The children dripped vinegar with water colors added onto a tray with baking soda on it.  The result foamed and colored the baking soda.  Great for fine motor play too.  The children were fascinated by this.

Ice play in preschool classroom

The children used eye droppers to drip colored water onto ice blocks,  We also used salt  in shakers to add salt to melt it faster and make crevices. 

Ice Snowman creation in Pre- k class

Adorable ice snowman

We froze three ice filled water balloons and stacked them to make an ice snowman.  We sprinkled salt on each ice ball to make the next one fit on top.  We added some tissue paper buttons, and face features.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Friday, January 11, 2013

Maple Room: Willow Room

We read "Alphabet Mystery" by Audrey Wood
We are beginning to learn about one or two alphabet letters each week with our MWF class.

We did a group art project, we used large letters and tempra paint and covered the table with a large sheet of paper.  We dipped the letters in the paint and pressed them onto the paper.

We had dab a dot painters at the easel.

We did "Dog in school" and "List of dances" for music time.

We looked at items that start with the letter A and talked about the sound the letter A makes.

We asked the children if they have the letter A in their name.


Maple Room: Morning class

We read "The snowy day" by Ezra Jack Keats

We did ice cube painting with frozen water colors on water color paper.
We had snowflake shapes at the easel with blue, purple, and silver glitter paint and a few different style of brushes.

We did a fun activity using baking soda and vinegar with watercolors added to make them colorful.  The children used eye droppers to drip the colored vinegar onto a tray covered with baking soda.  The chemical reaction of the baking soda and vinegar causes a foamy flurry of color.  (see pictures in another blog post)

We practiced writing the letter L on dry erase boards.

We played a roll a snowman dice game to learn numbers. and we did find the snowflake with numbers 1-5.

We did "The January song, "winter song". "5 little snowman" , "Pass the snowball" , "Today is Monday" and "List of dances" for music time.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We read "The snowy day" by Ezra Jack Keats

We did ice cube painting on water color paper.
We had snowflakes at the easel with purple, silver and blue glitter paint.

We did "The January song", "Winter song", 5 little snowman" , "Today is Monday",  and the "Months song" for music time.

We had the baking soda and vinegar activity described for the morning class above.

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "Sneezy the snowman" by Maureen Wright and "Sleep big bear, sleep" by Maureen Wright

We made snowmen today.  The children cut circles out of white paper and glued them onto dark blue paper to make a snowman.  We then used a snowflake stamper with white paint to add snowflakes to our snowman picture.  The children used markers to add details to the snowman too. (see pictures in another blog post)

We built a snowman out of ice balls.  We had frozen water in balloons and cut away the balloons.  Then we sprinkled salt onto the largest one and stuck the middle size one on top of it.  The we added more salt and stuck the smallest one on top.  We added a hat, some tissue paper buttons, and a scarf to make an adorable ice snowman. (see pictures in another blog post)

We had ice blocks and the children used salt colored with powder paint and some water with eye droppers to melt the ice blocks. (see pictures in another blog post)

We had alphabet beads out for lacing today.

We did some snowman rhymes, and some bean bag activities for music time today.

We also measured out frozen balloons to compare it to the balloon filled with water befor ewe froze them.

Stay & Play:

We read "The magical snowman" by Catherine Walters
We mixed powdered paint with dish soap in small cups.  The result looks like oil paint.

We did "The mack chicken dance" and since it was a rainy winter day- we also did "Leaky umbrella" with shakers.

We played the chutes and ladders game.

 

Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, January 10, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "The hat" by Jan Brett
We asked the children "Did you wear a hat to school today?"

We glued fabric pieces and yarn and pom poms on to a hat shape.  We will use them on out bulletin board for winter.

We had chalk to draw with on blue paper.

We did "Finger Boppin", "I like my hat" , "Couch Potato pokey" for music time.

We did a kitten mitten rhyme

We have a grocery store set up in our dramatic corner now.

Maple Room- Thursday class

We read "Katy and the big snow" by Virginia Lee Burton

We practiced writing our names.

We did a math activity- we worked on number recognition and counting corresponding objects.  The teacher wrote the number on a paper, the children said the number and counted out that number of cubes.

We did "count of five" and acted out "the 5 little monkeys rhyme.


Oak Room- 

We read "Footprints in the snow" by Mei Matsoka
and "Tracks in the snow" by Wong Herbert Yee

We cut a cave shape and glued it onto paper.  We used animal foot print stampers and stamped them around the cave on the paper.  We added cotton for snow.

We had snap together number blocks, a letter O puzzle, and pattern block shape pictures as some special table toys today.

We did rock and roll freeze dance using maracas, and B-O-O-T-S - an action song for music today.

We asked the children if you have the letter O in your name?

Trinity Preschool Activities for Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "The hat" by Jan Brett

We asked the children "Did you wear a hat to school today?"

We glued fabric and yarn pom poms to a hat shape for art.

We did chalk drawing on blue paper at the easel.

We did "Finger Boppin", "I like my hat", and "Couch potato pokey" for music time today.

We did a kitten's mitten felt rhyme today too.

We changed our dramatic play into a grocery store, we have food boxes, cash registers, and shopping carts.

Maple Room- Morning class

We read " A little bit of winter" by Paul Stewart

We did cotton ball painting- clip a cotton ball in a clothes pin, dip it in paint and dab it onto paper.

We had ABC stampers with lower case letters at the easel.

For music time- we did the "January song", "The mitten song",  "I'm a little snowman", and "snowflake, snowflake".

We did letter L activities and read an L story, The little lamb who loved to laugh.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We read "A little bit of winter" by Paul Stewart

We made the cover for our ABC book, using ABC stampers
We had painting with rollers at the easel.

We did "animal action" , "cool bear hunt" and some freeze dances" for music time

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "One snowy night" by M Christina Butler and "One winter's day" also by M Christina Butler

We worked in our journal notebooks on the letter O, pictures and words that begin with O.

We did animal pattern blocks, dinosaur sorting and a magnetic ABC puzzle

We did "Cool bear hunt" and some hibernation rhymes for music time.

We took the children to another room to play Candyland in smaller groups. We go to another room to minimize distractions.
We are doing a science activity- we filled a balloon with water and measured it, then we will freeze it and measure it again.  We will see what happens.  Will it get bigger, smaller, burst, ......we will see.

Stay & Play

We read "Clifford's Manners" by Norman Bridwell

We panted with a variety of balls in different size, shape and texture.

We did "The freeze dance" using ribbons to move with, and we did "There is a dog in school" song for music time.

Design made by using a variety of balls dipped in paint and rolled around in a box lined with paper.

Some of the kinds of balls used to make the ball picture

Trinity Preschool Activities for Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Welcome back, and Happy New Year!

Terrific 2's and 3's class -

We read "The dot" by Peter H Reynolds

We had stencils and colored pencils at the easel.

We had brushes with dry tempra paint.  The children dipped their brush in water, then into dry paint.  Then we painted on paper to make a beautiful colorful picture.
We did "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear", "Put your finger in the air", and "Little fish" for music time.

Oak Room:

We read "Bedtime for bear" by Brett Helquest and Animals in the winter" by Henrietta Bancroft
We made bird feeders using biscuits and bird seed and then baking them.

We did "animals actions", ABC song, "Freeze dance" and "Miss Mary Mack" for music time today.

We did the alphabet mystery bag with items that start with the letter O.
We played Candyland
We are learning about hibernation. 

Trinity Preschool Activities for Monday, January 7, 2013

Welcome back and Happy New Year to everyone.

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "The dot" by Peter H Reynolds
We also had a sharing time talking about what the children did over the holidays. Everyone had a chance to share.

For art today, we dipped our paint brush in water and then into dry paint.  We created beautiful masterpieces.
At the easel we had colored pencils and stencils.

We did the teddy bear, teddy bear rhyme, put your finger in the air, and little fish for music time.

We brought in new manipulative toys to use at our tables. 
We also played with modeling clay instead of playdough- this is great as it has a different consistency, works our fine motor muscles in our fingers (which helps later with writing) and is fun.

Maple Room- Morning class

We read "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what do you hear?" by Bill Martin

We did string painting to make a classroom book.

We had watercolors at the easel.

We did "I can make a snowman", "The freeze dance", "Chubby little snowman" and "animal action" for music time.

We did letter L activities and have a writing center set up in our room.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We read "I love snow" by Hans Wilhelm.  We also read "Snowman" by Tony Mitton

We painted on white paper with glitter paint.  We had watercolors at the easel.

We did "Ten in the bed", "Going on a bear hunt", "hands are for clapping" and we did Miss Mary Mack a song and book on a CD.  

We brought in some marble tracks and some ramps that we used with marbles.  

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "A little bit of winter" by Paul Stewart

We are learning about animals that hibernate in the winter.  

For art, the children painted paper plates brown.  Then they added eyes and a nose to make them look like a bear.  We will put them on the bulletin board in our cave.

We did "Ten in the bed", "going on a bear hunt". "Hands are for clapping" for music today. 

We are learning about the letter O this week.

Stay & Play:

We read "Penguin and the cupcake" by Ashley Spires

For art, we did stamper designs on paper.  Then we used markers to make a picture or color in the design.

We did "Underneath the broomstick", ABC musical match - upper and lower case letters