May 28, 2013- check out pinterest

I am planning to recap the last few weeks of school and also will post about our wonderful summer camp activities when it starts on June 11.  I also plan to do some more pictures of activities and write about how we do some of our themes.  I also encourage those looking for pictures of classroom activities, art ideas and bulletin boards to check out our pinterest page at http://pinterest.com/preschoolmp/

For now, the teachers are back at school cleaning and organizing for fall!  Have a wonderful summer, keep reading, keep being excited about learning.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, May 16, 2013

Willow Room- Terrific 2's and 3's 

We listened to a book on  CD called "A color if his own" by Leo Lionni

We asked the children "Do you have a garden?"

We painted with flower sponge shapes to make our own flower gardens.  We had spring stencils at the easel with markers.

We did "I like my hat", 'From seed to plant", and "sticky bubble gum"for music today.

We read a 10 little lady bugs book and we played a color game of which color flower is the bee hiding behind?

Maple Room: 

We read "It looked like spilt milk" by Charles Shaw

We played an alphabet bingo game based on chicka chicka boom boom and we did  math addition game as well.

We did "Can't sit still" and "clap, clap clap your hands" for music today.

Oak Room:

We read "One rainy day" by M Christina Butler and "Ella, of course" by Sarah Weeks

We did an ABC chart, each child glues pictures of things that start with the letter in the right spot to complete our chart.
We painted an umbrella shape and then we sprayed it with water to see what would happen.

We had roll on painters at the easel.

We did "Leaky umbrella", and a fun, fun song called "I know a chicken"

We had out a patterning center, a phonics box, match the beginning letter to picture, and ABC magnets out.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Willow Room:  MWF class

We read "Muncha, Muncha, Muncha" by Candace Flemng and G Brian Karas

We asked the children "Do you have a garden at home?

We painted with fruit shape sponges to make fruit baskets.  We had spring shaped stencils at the easel.

We did the song "From seed to plant" (the tune is the farmer in the dell); "I like my hat", and "Sticky bubble gum" for music time.

we looked at things that start with the letters X,Y and Z. We did a hyme "Five buzzing bumble bees.

Maple Room- morning class:

We read "The best nest" by PD Eastman

We made bird feeders using biscuits and bird seed.  We had turtle shapes at the easel with green glitter paint, glue and tissue paper.

We did The May song, we used instruments and did "Old MC Donald had a band" and "Tap your toe and follow me" for music time.

We looked at a areal bird's nest and played a color game of "Where is the rainbow?"

Maple Room- afternoon class:
We read the XYZ books and we worked in our books on those letters.  We also read the book "The best nest" by PD Eastman.  We had paint and brushes at the easel.

We did animal actions, wheels on the bus using ABC's for music time.

Oak Room: pre- k class

We read "The Berenstain Bears Go Green" and we read "Bear wants more"

We painted with green peppers cut in half crosswise, they look like flowers.

We did "animal actions", "tommy thumb is up" and the May song" for music time today.

We have a garden center in our dramatic play area.

Stay & Play:

We read "Corduroy goes to the beach" by Don Freeman

We painted using egg whisks and primary colors of paint.

We did "As I was walking to town" and "Shake a friend's hand" for music time.

We played a color game of find the bee hiding behind the colored honey pot.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Tuesday, May 14, 2013

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

We read "Baby Bird's First Nest" by Frank Asch

We asked the children "Have you ever seen a real bird's nest?" and we looked at a real bird's nest.

We did fingerpainting with blue and white glitter paint.  We had watercolors at the easel.

We sang "The pirate song", "Tommy Thumb", and "Swimming Fish" 

We did some rhymes about turtles and rabbits.

Oak Room_ Pre- K class

We read "Mortimer's First Garden" by Karma Wilson and "Bear feels sick" also by Karma Wilson

We cut out a sun flower shape and we also planted sun flower seeds in a cup.

We did "Put your finger on", "There was an old lady",&  "Come and get a smiley face" for music time.

We also read "Miss Spider's Cloudy day in a sunny patch" 

Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, May 9, 2013

Willow Room- We had our special Mother's Day party today.

Maple Room:  Thursday class

We read "Diary of a worm" by Doreen Cronin

We did shape matching games, and an opposite matching activity today.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "No roses for Harry" by Gene Zion

and "The Berenstain Bears and the Baby Chipmunk" by Stan and Jan Berenstain

We made flower print pictures with toilet paper tubes cut and spread out. Then we dipped them in paint and made a print on paper.  We had muffin cups and pom poms for the middles of the flowers.

We did some building sticks and did a big Arthur 60 piece puzzle.

We practiced our songs for Mother's Day and did a rhyming match up puzzle- they had to find their partner with the matching rhyming word.

We did the estimating jar- how many pegs?

Trinity Preschool Activities for Monday, May 13, 2013

Willow Room: MWF class

We read "Baby Bird's First Nest" by Frank Asch

We talked about Bird's nests and asked the children "Have you ever seen a real bird's nest?"

We made our very own bird's nest by using a scrunched up paper bag, feathers, paper towel, and grass, straw and yarn. (see last year post for picture- look up paper bag bird nests)

We did "Clap your hands and follow me" , "The Pirate song", and "Tommy Thumb" for music.

We did our W word chart.

We did a turtle rhyme, and a bunny rhyme.

Maple Room- morning class

We read "A rainbow of my own" by Don Freeman and "What makes a rainbow" by Betty Ann Schwartz

We made our own rainbows .  We gave them dabs of red, yellow and blue paint and they placed a sheet of wax paper on top and squished it.  The colors spread and blended.  
We had roller ball painting  at the easel.

We did Herman the Worm, the May song, and Over the deep blue sea for music time.

We gave the kids small cups with water in it and shaving cream on top.  The children were given eye droppers with watercolors and they dripped them on top of the shaving cream.  The colors dripped through the shaving cream and colored the water.  It also colored the shaving cream.

We had colored spaghetti in the sensory table.

Maple Room - afternoon class

We read " The Berenstain Bears and the big red kite" by Stan and Jan Berenstain

We did a painting activity with rollers that have designs on them.  This involved big arm movements to cover the paper.  
We had roller painters at the easel.

We did The May song, The Pirate song, and Herman the Worm for music time.

Oak room:

We read "The best nest" by P.D. Eastman and we read "Harriet and the Garden" by Nancy Carlson

We made a rainbow Garden- the children used these stiff brushes to paint "dirt" onto their paper- (a mixture of paint with flour and salt).  Then they added tissue paper flowers to their dirt.

We did a rhyming sounds match up puzzle, small legos, and puzzles out today.

We did "Pretty flowers stand up" ( a color song) and we did "Tap your toe and follow me" .  We also did the May song.

We checked on our growing grass.

Stay & Play: 

We read "The bravest fish and the cave monster"  a book on cd

We finger painted with black and white paint to illustrate storm clouds.

We did deep in the jungle and used drums.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Tuesday, May 7, 2013

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

We did a felt story of "The very hungry caterpillar" and another one of "The carrot story" with a giant carrot.

We planted grass seeds today in our own spciel cups.

We practiced for our Mother's Day program.

We did an "in the garden rhyme."

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "The big red kite" and we also read "Diary of a worm" by Doreen Cronin

We cut out kite shapes and painted them.  We will hang them on our windows.

We practiced our songs for Mother's day and we did a Lady bug, lady bug song.

We also read The Berenstain Bears Sleepover by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Trinity Preschool Activities for Monday, May 6, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "The carrot story"  and did a felt version of "The very hungry caterpillar"

We asked the children to tell us "Why do you love your mommy?"

We planted grass seed today.

We painted at the easel using a real carrot.

We practiced our songs for Mother's Day.

We talked about the letter V and made a word chart of words that start with the letter V.

We put a carrot top in water and we will see what happens.

We put some Lima beans on a wet paper towel and we will watch what happens.

Maple Room; morning class:

We read "Muncha, Muncha, Muncha" by Candice Fleming

We made handprint flowers.  First they painted their own hands using a paint brush and then pressed their hand on the paper in a big circle.  After that, they added a yellow circle to the middle.

We had flower stencils with tempra paint and brushes at the easel.

We planted some vegetables

We did the estimating jar today.

We practiced our songs for Mother's Day.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We read Llama, Llama home with mama by Deborah Dewdney and "Is your mama a Llama? "

We did fingerpainting today.

We practiced the songs for our Mother's Day party.

  

Oak Room- Pre- K class

We read "Because a little bug went ka-choo" by P.D. Eastman and "Miss Spider's New Car" by David Kirk

We also read "Play Ball" by Stan and Jan Berenstain

We painted on coffee filter using water colors.

We are reviewing some of the things we learned this year and today we talked about our 5 senses.  

We put a Lima bean in a wet paper towel and we will watch it to see if it grows.

We practiced our Mother's Day songs

Stay & Play:

We read "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" by Mo Willems

We dripped different colors of paint down an incline surface with eye droppers.

We did "The airplane song" and moved with ribbons and we did a fingerplay called " Tea for Two"

We have a vet clinic to take care of pretend animals in our dramatic corner.

Trinity Preschool Activities for Friday, May 3, 2013

Willow Room- MWF class

We read "Mortimer's First Garden" by Karma Wilson

We asked the children "Do you have the letter V in your name?"

We used the bottom of tennis ball containers to make flower prints.

We painted with red rolling dot painters.

We practiced our Mother's Day songs.

We did a 5 little bunnies rhyme.
We looked at items that begin with the letter V.

Maple Room- Morning class

We acted out the story of "The Carrot"

We used cookie cutters in flower shapes to make prints on paper.
We had tulip shapes at the easel and we painted with textured brushes.
We practiced our songs for Mother's Day.

We "planted" a lima bean ( we put a wet paper towel and some lima bean seeds in a baggie on the window and will see what happens.

We read "A seed in need"- The first look at the plant cycle  and parts of the plant.

Oak Room: pre-k class

We read "Get busy, Beaver!" by Carolyn Crimi

We planted grass seed.  The children color a house shape with crayons and cut paper grass for the edges.  The grass seed becomes our lawn.

We had widgits building toys and magnetic letters out today.

We did a song that follows the musical scale "Here's a little bird" and "On my toe there is a flea".  We also practiced our songs for Mother's Day.

Stay & Play:
We read "An ant's Day off" by Bonny Becker

We made prints .  We painted a piece of paper.  On another sheet of paper we laid a variety of flower shapes and other shapes and pressed the painted paper on top.  When we pulled it off, we had a "negative print"

We did a sprouting seeds rhyme , follow the leader, and hands are for clapping for music time.

We also did some action songs and played musical chairs since we could not go outside or to the gym today.  

Popular on our Pinterest account is "muddy pigs" idea

Corn starch and water with a little brown paint.  Add some plastic pigs and you are all set for some great sensory fun.

We have many ideas on our Pinterest site (preschoolmp) (Trinity Preschool Mount Prospect) and this is one that gets repinned frequently.  We make a cornstarch and water mixture often for the kids to enjoy, but this one has a little twist to it in that we make it more watery and add the adorable plastic pigs.  Corn starch and water is such a wonderful sensory experience.  

check us out on pinterest to see more of our activities at our great preschool: http://pinterest.com/preschoolmp/

Trinity Preschool Activities for Thursday, May 2, 2013

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

We read "Butterfly, Butterfly" (a book of colors) by Petr Horack and we read "Up, Down & Around Planting Book"

We are growing a sea animal in water.  

We asked "What do you like to do at the park?"

We painted with watercolors and eye droppers on coffee filters
We painted butterfly shapes at the easel.

We practiced our songs for Mother's Day

We did a 5 little seeds rhyme

Maple Room- Thursday class

We read "Houdini, The Amazing Caterpillar" by Janet Pedersen

We did the bear hunt, and 5 little flowers for music time.

We played number bingo and practiced writing our names today.

Oak Room: Pre- K room

We read "Daisy- Head Mayzie" by Dr. Seuss
and Berenstain Bears- That stump must go" by Stan and Jan Berenstain

We did a special drawing for mom- they are in the hall.
We finished our group mural ( we filled in the white spaces with black paint.

We had magnetic faces and face parts out to create, animal pattern blocks and 4 letter word puzzles today.

We practiced some of our Mother's Day songs, and we did "My chance to dance" and "The seed song"

We changed our dramatic play into a Veterinarian office.

Trinity Preschool May 2013 newsletter

May 2013 newsletter

Mark your calendars:

May 9 and May 10 will be our Mother’s Day programs, please see specifics for each classroom. We will still offer stay & play on May 10.  If you cannot join us for the Mother’s Day activities, please let the teachers know so they can plan.

End of the year picnic:  

We celebrate the end of the school year by having a picnic on the last day of school  The Terrific 2's and 3's class will have their picnic on Thursday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m.  (Kids come at 9:15) - parents join us at 11:00.  Bring a picnic lunch and a blanket to sit on.

The 5 days classes and the MWF classes will have their picnic on Friday, May 24 at 11:00 a.m.  The morning class kids come to school at 9:15 and parents join us at 11:00.  The afternoon kids are invited to join us at 11:00 with their parents.     

Camp dates: 

June 11-June 27 and July 9-July 25 Both sessions of camp are full! For those in camp, I will send information home before the end of the school year about fees, snack, and what your child needs to bring with them to camp.

Trinity Preschool Board of Directors:

We are looking to add to our board of directors for fall 2013.  If you are interested in getting more information about this, please see Mary.

Lending library:

The lending library will be closing in early May.

Please return books you have at home to our lending library.

Also, we are always looking for new books to add, so if you are cleaning things out and have books you are getting rid of, donate them to Trinity.

Parent-tot class:

Our popular parent-tot class will be starting up again in September 2013 on Tuesday mornings. This 90 minute class is for 2 years olds to attend with an adult. We do art, music, movement games, gym time or outdoor fun, choice time and more.  Sign up now.

Picture CD:

At the end of the school year, we give each child a memory picture book created by their classroom teachers with some pictures taken during the year.

If you would also like a C D of all the pictures we took during the year of your child, plus a variety of classroom pictures , you can order one – the cost is $12.00. Order forms are in the office.

As I make each CD individually for each child; you must order the picture CD in advance; I only make the CD’s up for the children I have orders for.   CD’s will be given to you the last day of school unless your child is in camp- then I give it to you the last day of camp and include camp pictures.

Mrs. DiMaso is leaving Trinity Preschool after 14 years of dedication!

Mrs. DiMaso will not be returning to Trinity Preschool in fall (she will be here for June camp this summer-yea!).  Mrs. DiMaso has been so dedicated to Trinity Preschool and the many, many children whose lives she has touched over the years; the children are better for having had her as their teacher.  She and Mrs. Hamilton have been such a wonderful teaching team for years now, and she and Mrs. Yarwood have made our afternoon class so special this year.

We will miss having her here, but we are excited for her as she is going to be transitioning into the world of business. Her youngest son went to school here at Trinity and now he will be going away to college in the fall. If your child had Mrs. DiMaso as his/her teacher, please take a moment to let her know that she has made an impact.  Thank you, Annette DiMaso for all of your dedication to our school.

Thank you……

I want to take this opportunity to give a special Thank you to Amy Graver who has served on our board of directors (most of the time as chairperson) since her oldest child started at Trinity Preschool.  She has been so helpful to me and supportive of me all these years, through difficult situations, a storm that really damaged the school and also just day to day as things have come up.  She has pushed me in ways I needed to be pushed!  But most of all, she always had my back and always encouraged me to do the things I wanted to do to make Trinity Preschool special. She was instrumental in making the auction the success it is as a school fundraiser.  We have so much wonderful equipment due to the money raised from the auction.  Now, all four of her children will have benefited from the wonderful preschool she helped nurture and she, along with her last two children will be moving on.  I will miss her here at school, but know she will continue to keep Trinity in her thoughts.  Thank you Amy Graver!

Trinity Preschool Activities for Wednesday, May 1, 2013

The butterflies in each classroom have started emerging!  It was exciting to see.

Willow Room- MWF class:

We read "Butterfly, butterfly" ( A book of colors)

We asked the children "What do you like to do on the playground?

We used watercolors and eye droppers to paint coffee filters.

At the easel, we used Marshmallows to paint butterfly shapes.

We practiced our songs for our Mother's Day party next week.

We did a 5 little seeds rhyme.
We have a flower shop set up in our dramatic corner.

We are growing sea animals in water.

Maple Room:- Morning class

We read "The fox and the springtime blossoms" by Julia Rawlinson

We planted seeds today.

We had lady bug circles with glitter paint and corks to add the spots at the easel.

We practiced our Mother's Day songs

We played the color memory game of "Where's the rainbow?" and did some ABC activities.

Maple Room- afternoon class

We are learning about the letters U and V this week.  We read books about the letter U and the letter V.

We worked on our alphabet journals for the letters U and V today.

We had watercolors at the easel.

We had fun with the tent and fishing in our dramatic play area.

We spent extra time outdoors today since it was so warm.

Oak Room: Pre- K class

We read "Waiting for wings" by Lois Elhert

We also read "Arthur turns green" by Marc Brown

We did a group painting project.  The children could each paint in their own spot, then after it dries we will paint all the spaces in between with black paint.  We will hang it in the hall.

We made a special picture for our Moms.

We did "Silly Sally", practiced our Mother's Day songs, and played a matching game.

We had the estimating jar, counting flowers.

Stay & Play:

We read "Giraffes can't dance" by Giles Andrea

We blew through a straw into a cup filled with paint mixed with soap.  After the bubbles all came up high, we pressed a sheet of paper gently on top to make a print.

We did "Can't sit still", "Over in the meadow", and "Hands are for clapping" for music time.