Last School Day of 2013

Today was our last day of school before the holiday break. In the morning we read the "Polar Express." Then after playing outside we watched the movie! The kids loved snuggling on the couches wearing their pajamas and eating their snacks.

After the movie we talked about things that happened in the book and things that happened in the movie. Then it was time for lunch. We wished everyone a very Merry Christmas before heading home. Have a wonderful holiday vacation and we will see you in 2014!

Here are a few pictures from our Holiday Show yesterday!

You Are Invited to Our Holiday Show!

Please come and enjoy our Holiday Show on Thursday at 10:30!

Santa!

This morning the kids used dry erase markers to practice writing sight words. First we spelled the word and then we wrote each letter on a line. After we wrote the word we used our tissue to wipe it clean and then started the next work.

During morning circle the kids talked about the calendar. We practiced identifying different numbers on the calendar and practiced using yesterday, today and tomorrow. We also continued our AABB pattern. The kids read their everyday words together. We also review the Sounds Around Town. We learned the lifter cousins today.../l/ and /r/. We made words with -ap today and the kids read cap, nap, tap, map and chap.

Our story today was "Who Will Help Santa This Year?" by Jerry Pollatta. Santa Claus needs help in his workshop. But the mermaids get the toys wet and the wizards turn Santa into a frog. Just when things look desperate, the elves arrive to save the day. After reading the story the kids each selected someone who was not able to help Santa and explained why.

For art today the kids made a Santa ornament. They started off with a red hand print. They glued on a pink face and a white long beard. Then they gave Santa eyes and a red nose....because it is very cold in the North Pole. Next we used cotton balls to make the soft white part of his hat and added a white pom pom to the top. The last step was making a hole so we could tie ribbon so Santa could be an ornament on the tree.

After art we working on writing sight words and the letter A. We also started making a Christmas gift for the church. Then it was time for lunch! Before going home the kids practiced our holiday show....and we used a microphone! We can't wait until you can see it!!

Christmas Lights

This morning the kids played Bingo as a group. We called out a letter and a pictures. The kids first found the letter and then looked down the row for the picture. We played until one of our friends had a Bingo! During morning circle we talked about the calendar and continued our pattern. We practiced the Sounds Around Town. Today we used the mystery box to spell words with -et. We read jet, net, get, vet, wet and pet. For writing the kids each wrote in their journals, practiced writing the letter Y and wrote sight words.

Our story today was "Bear Stays Up For Christmas" by Karma Wilson. Bear's friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up — by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents! All his friends give Bear a quilt so he can snuggle up and go back to sleep. After reading the story we sequenced and recalled the events in the story.

For art the kids made a string of Christmas lights. They each selected a color they wanted to use for their lights. Everyone took turns using their finger prints to make the bright lights. They kids loved making them and they look great!

Before we ate lunch we practiced our holiday songs and Brown Reindeer, Brown Reindeer. The kids also shared their show and tell. The kids had a lot to share about their object and lots of questions to ask their friends! Everyone was talking about Christmas during lunch. Before heading home we played "Who Shook Hook" as a class and tried not to tip Hook over as we picked up his treasure. I can't believe next week is the last week before our holiday break. Have a great weekend and I will see you on Monday!

A Trip To The Singing Bears

Holiday Fun

This morning the kids used their hand/finger muscles molding and shaping play dough. The play dough was red and it had green sparkles mixed in it. The kids made snowman, shape Christmas trees, and ornaments. During our morning circle we talked about our Out and About to the Singing Bears tomorrow. We read a social story about riding the train...since this will be our first time. We are very excited for our trip tomorrow!

Today was Ms. Abby's last day until the spring. She had stations set up so the kids could rotate. We practiced hitting a ball off the tee, playing catch, using a hockey stick to hit the ball, balancing on different balance beams and kicking the soccer ball into the goal. We learned so many different things will Ms. Abby this fall/winter.

Our story today was "Tractor Mac Save Christmas" by Billy Steers. It was snowing very hard and the town was getting very worried. How would the horse and Farmer Bill get the Christmas tree to the center of town?  Tractor Mac went out in the blizzard and rescued his friends and helped a lot of new friends along the way. He was able to get the Christmas tree, lights and decorations to the middle of town so they could have their holiday festival! After reading the story we made a list of things we do during the holidays. We decorate our tree, sing Christmas songs, making cookies, put up our stockings, wait for Santa, eat candy canes and wrap Christmas presents.

For art today the kids used a sponge Christmas tree stamp to make a picture. We counted how many green trees there were on each of our friends paper at the table. We also worked some more on our secret art activity...you won't find out what it is until next week.

We can't wait to see the Singing Bears tomorrow! Get a good nights sleep and we will see you bright and early in the morning.

Christmas Tree

This morning there were Christmas Tree branches in the touch and feel pool. The kids smelled them and felt them. They were sticking and had lots of pine needles on them. The kids enjoyed trying to hide behind the branches around the pool. During our morning circle we started talking about our special Out and About to the Singing Bears on Thursday. We also talked more about our holiday show.

Today was so much fun with Ms. Michelle. First we started with finger fun. The kids each made a paper ornament with crayons and scissors. They also ripped tissue paper into little pieces. Then it was time to decorate the Christmas tree. The kids used a bike or scooter to get to the tree. Then they selected a ornament or shredded paper to decorate the tree. It looks so wonderful that we hung it up in our classroom!

Our story today was "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" by Robert Barry.

Mr. Willowby's tree was delivered to his house. Only one problem..the tree was so tall, it wouldn't stand up straight in his parlor. Mr. Willowby asked his butler to chop off the top of the tree. The butler gave the top of the tree to the maid..but it was too tall! The story continues as the top of Mr. Willowby's tree gets passed around to the gardener, a bear, a fox, and a mouse. Everyone was able to enjoy Mr. Willowby's beautiful tree! After reading the story we described different shapes we could use to make a Christmas tree. We started with a triangle for the tree part and used a rectangle for the truck. The kid made circles for the ornaments and a start for the topper of the tree.

Art today was top secret....we were preparing a wonderful surprise for the holiday show. After art we assigned parts for the Christmas show and practiced. I was impressed for our first real run through of the show! We will keep practiced...