Finishing Our Animal Theme

We have had a great time learning about animals this month! 

The last two weeks of January we studied fish and reptiles. We've completed worksheets that helped us learn to classify animals and read lots of books about reptiles, sharks and other ocean creatures. We used animal flashcards to identify mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. We made some fun animal art projects, too. 

During our "week of fish" we learned another verse to our song:

"Fish have fins and are covered in scales. 

They swim in the water and breathe with their gills.

Fish say 'glub glub'

Fish say 'glub glub'

Move like a fish! Move like a fish!

Now dance like a fish! Dance like a fish!

We identified fish during worksheet time and made shark hats and fish bowls for art. 

During reptile week we made paper plate snakes and turtles who retract into their shells. Throughout the month we've been working on our "animal book" and were able to finish it last week while learning about reptiles. 

The reptile verse we learned goes like this:

"Reptiles use their lungs to breathe.

They have claws on their feet and use the sun for heat.

Snakes say 'Ssssss'

Alligators say 'chomp chomp'!

Move like a snake! Move like a snake!

Now dance like a turtle! Dance like a turtle!"

In addition to our fun animal theme we continue to work on letters, numbers, shapes, calendar, etc. I'm impressed with the improvement the girls have made with their handwriting. We are starting to work on sounding out simple words during our morning routine. These girls are getting smart! 

When our focus letter for the week was "P" we ate popcorn during snack time and ate pink pretzels another day! 

Our Animal Theme

We are working hard and having fun at preschool so far this year. Our class didn't skip a beat after Christmas break. We were able to get right back into the swing of our routine and keep on learning! Every day before our lesson we review letters, sounds, numbers, shapes, calendar, and seasons. Then we practice the letter, shape, and number on our focus wall. 

Our handwriting is looking better and better. 

We have started some fun curriculum for this month with our animal theme. So far we have learned about mammals and birds. 

Each week of our animal theme we learn a verse to our "animal song." For mammals week we learned: 

"Mammals have lungs that breathe the air. Warm blooded bodies that have fun or hair. Dogs say 'ruff ruff', cats say 'meow'. Move like a mammal, move like a mammal! Now dance like a mammal, dance like a mammal!"

 (www.havefunteaching.com)

We made paper bag pigs and monkey masks. 

This month we have some great worksheets that help the preschoolers to categorize different kinds of animals. They are doing a great job learning about the different characteristics of mammals and birds! During our bird week we learned the verse:

"Birds have beaks but they don't have any teeth. Flying high in the sky and they can walk on two feet. Birds say 'tweet tweet'. Birds say 'tweet tweet'. Move like a bird, move like a bird! Now dance like a bird, dance like a bird!" 

We made owl masks and paper bag birds with feathers! (All birds have feathers and wings, but not all birds fly!) 

Next we have our week on fish, then reptiles! 

Holiday Fun and Character & Manners month

We have had some fun with the holidays as of late. We are learning a few holiday songs to sing for our parents at our Christmas party and have worked on some fun and festive crafts.

We keep up on learning our letters, numbers, shapes, etc. Here we are working on our focus boards and names:

Sofie can write her name better those most kindergarteners! 

For the month of December our theme is "Character and Manners." I've had so much fun teaching these girls about manners and being polite. We have learned about proper table manners and place setting (we practice setting the table correctly every day for snack!), what respect means, and the golden rule. I made a fun board game for us to play that helps the girls determine what good manners and character are. If they land on a "good character" spot they move one space ahead and if they land on a poor choice they move back one space. It's a lot of fun to play. Plus we get to use the princesses for game pieces :) . 

Learning the Seasons

This month our theme has been "Seasons." I have a "season mystery" box. We take turns taking things out and guessing what season we would use that item for. 

For each season we have had a fun activity to do:

 For Winter we had a snowball fight (cotton balls!)

While learning about Spring we planted seeds outside (we'll see if they grow...)

For our summer activity we had a "campout" in our tent

Next week for fall we are going to collect leaves.

We've also been working on a "season book" that shows what trees might look like in the different seasons. 

(Notice who they are throwing all the "snowballs" at... everyone wanted to attack the teacher!!)

In addition to learning about seasons we continue to work on our Preschool routine each day. We focus on one letter, shape, and number each week. While "Gg" was on our focus board I brought out my guitar to play for the girls. We have worked on lots of cute art projects for our seasons theme as well!