Sunday, January 31, 2016

Week of February 1st

For the next two weeks the students will continue exploring the topic of balls. They will 
Investigate the following questions: 
What are balls made of ? 
Who uses balls? 

Extending the topic
The students will be encouraged to explore other things shaped like a sphere, for example : 
A globe 
Planets (following week) 
Exploring 3D shapes (Materials: wooden cube, sphere,cone ,cylinder and a dry erase board) 
The students will be encouraged to make predictions and explain their thinking before they roll, slide or stack the 3D shapes on the dry erase board. 

Some of the books we will be reading this week are:

The Doorbell Rang
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
If You Let A Pigeon Drive The Bus
Have a ball
A Birthday Basket For Tia

http://planbookedu.com/s/BRW3T

Learning Centers:

Math: The students will measure balls with yarn and unifix cubes. To complete this activity the students will follow these steps:
First, measure different balls with yarn. We will then discuss which strings were the longest , the shortest and about the same length. To take it a step further the students will estimate how long the strings would be using unifix cubes and compared to our actual estimation.

Discover area (science): Students will explore what is inside a ball. A beach ball will be placed at the science table. The students will be asked what they think is inside a beach ball.  List all their guesses. Cut one open (either in advance or in front of the children).Let them explore what the balls are made of.

Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop. Students will learn to recognize and identify money by name or value.

Blocks: The center will include different types of balls and ramp

Library: Books about balls


Writing: Students will be encouraged to draw and write the word ball.

Art: Students will be encouraged to create bubble art. This activity has many science processes such as, investigation, discovery, experimentation, observation, definition, comparison, and classification can be learned simply by playing with bubbles.


Sand and Water table:  Students will predict , practice and discuss the results as they blow bubbles with different-shaped objects. Students will use a variety of materials to construct with sand and water.

Technology: Counting balloons app. Students are encouraged to identify numbers 1-10.



Reminders:

Friday , February 5th  dismissal will be at 12:00 noon.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM in the classrooms.

February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.

School be closed Friday, February 12th.

Financial Aid will be available for students entering Kindergarten here at OLQM.  Alba and Brianna in the office will be of assistance in filing for financial aid.  Through the generosity of donors to the Archdiocese this financial aid will be available for ALL students entering Kindergarten in 2016.  An information packet will be sent home this week and Mr. Woods will quickly speak to parents on Thursday, 8:30 AM in the Parent Conference room regarding registration for Kindergarten.

Link to this week's lesson plan



Sunday, January 24, 2016

Week of January 25th




This week the students will continue to explore the unit study of balls. The students will work in cooperative group to investigate the following questions : 

Do all balls bounce? 
What makes a ball move? 
How do you think a ball would move if it were floating in water?
What is a ball made of? 

Some of the books we will be reading this week are:

The Little Red Hen 
The Three Little Pigs 
The Truth Story About The Three Little Pigs 
Bounce 
Little Red Riding Hood 


Learning Centers:
Math: The students will measure balls with yarn
Discovery area (science): Students will mix ingredients to make play dough and shape it like a ball
Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop 
Blocks: The students will explore how fast different size balls roll down a ramp
Library: Books about balls
Writing: Students will draw their favorite ball
Art: Students will create a ball with different art materials 
Sand and Water table: Students will use balls for a floating or sinking experiment
Technology: Counting balloons app

Reminders 

  • A 20 minute informational parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th at 8:30 A.M. The meeting will be held in the parent conference room on the first floor. We will briefly discuss the curriculum.

  •  School will be closed Friday, January 29th, for Teacher Workshop Day
  •  February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.
  • Financial Aid will be available for students entering Kindergarten here at OLQM.  Alba and Brianna in the office will be of assistance in filing for financial aid.  Through the generosity of donors to the Archdiocese this financial aid will be available for ALL students entering Kindergarten in 2016.  An information packet will be sent home this week and Mr. Woods will quickly speak to parents on Thursday, 8:30 AM in the Parent Conference room regarding registration for Kindergarten.



Home -School Connection 

Reading daily to your child. Reading to children fosters the love for books and learning.
Popular books to read:
The Three Little Pigs
The Little Red Hen
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Snowy Day
Corduroy
The Mitten

Practice recognizing the following letters:
Ss, Ee, Tt, Bb, Aa, Cc, Gg, Mm, Rr ,Oo and Kk

Practice recognizing and writing  numbers 1-10

This week lesson plan click link 
http://planbookedu.com/s/LJIS6

Monday, January 18, 2016

Week of January 18th

This week we are continuing the unit study of balls. The main focus this week is to explore if all balls roll and how can we make a ball roll faster with different level ramps.

Learning Centers:
Math: The students will measure balls with yarn
Discover area (science): Students will explore what is inside a ball
Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop Blocks: The students will explore objects rolling down a ramp
Library: Books about balls
Writing: Students will draw their favorite ball
Art: Students will create a ball with paper mache
Sand and Water table: Students will use balls for a floating or sinking experiment
Technology: Counting balloons app

Home - School Connection:

Try reading daily to your child. Reading to children fosters the love for books and learning.
Popular books to read:
The Three Little Pigs
The Little Red Hen
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Snowy Day
Corduroy
The Mitten

Practice recognizing the following letters:
Ss, Ee, Tt, Bb, Aa, Cc, Gg, Mm, Rr ,Oo and Kk

Practice recognizing and writing  numbers 1-10


Reminders:

•       A 20 minute informational parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th
at 8:30 A.M. The meeting will be held in the parent conference room on the first floor. We will briefly discuss the curriculum.
•       School will be closed Friday, January 29th, for Teacher Workshop Day.
•       February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.

Lesson plan for the week

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Week of January 11th

Week of January 11th

Unit of Study: Balls

The students will continue to learn about balls. The learning centers will contain activities related to the unit.


Learning Centers:

Math: Students sort balls based on size
Discover area (science): Students describe different ball texture
Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop
Blocks: The students will explore objects rolling down a ramp
Library: Books about balls
Writing: Students will draw their favorite ball
Art:  Students will create a collage made with different ball-shaped materials
Sand and Water table: Students will use small balls for float or sink experiment
Technology: Counting balloons app


Reminders:

•       School will be closed Monday, January 18th, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
•       A 20 minute informational parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th
 at 8:30 A.M. The meeting will be held in the parent conference room on the first floor. We will briefly discuss the curriculum.
•       School will be closed Friday, January 29th, for Teacher Workshop Day.
•       February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.


The students will be reading the following books this week:

The Little Red Hen by Bonnie Dobkin
Bounce by Doreen Cronin
Have a ball Nancy Noel Williams
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Bonnie Dobkin

Recommended Home to School Connection:

Encourage your child to do the following:
Count how many times a ball can bounce
Identify other objects shaped like a ball
Use a piece of yarn to measure a ball
Help your child use all senses when playing with balls. What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? Smell like?
Help your child think of words that contains the word ball in them.


Lesson plan for the  week- click on link

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Week of January 4th

Welcome Back:

Happy New Year!  Hope you had a nice break. School resumes Monday, January 4th.

January- Study Unit of Balls 

The students will be learning about balls for next five weeks.  As we study balls , we will learn concepts and skills in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology.

Math: The students will sort balls based on size.
Science(Discovery): The students will use a bucket balance to explore and compare balls weight.
Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball store. Provide cash register.
Blocks: The students will use balls and wooden ramps to explore Erickson’s laws of gravity.
Library:Books about balls.
Writing: The students will use a clothespin and cotton balls to create a writing piece.
Art: The students will create a marble painting.
Sand and Water: The students will explore texture and sizes with balls.

The students will be reading the following books this week: 
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone 
 Have a ball  by Doreen Cronin
 The Three Billy Goats Gruff  by Paul Galdone 

Reminders : 

On Thursday January 7th, there will be a PreK Parent Workshop regarding
"Positive Parenting" . Ms. Nancy Dubin MSW will be doing the presentation in the
Parents Conference Room. Please let us know in advance if you will be attending the workshop.

Friday , January 8th UPK will be dismissed at 3:00 P.M.


Family Extension Home to School Connection
As we are learning about balls ask your child:
 Do you have a favorite sport?
What things are shaped like a ball?
What can you do with a ball?

It's football season!!! 🏈
Watch a game with your child and ask:
What shape is the football?
What color is the ball?
How do you play football?
What are players doing in the game?

Planbook