Week of February 29th

Dear parents, 

For next three weeks, the students will continue to learn about buildings. Young children are curious about buildings. Buildings are everywhere in the community. They vary in size, color, construction, material, function, and location. In this unit the children will explore and expand their knowledge and understanding of building materials and physical forces. For the next five weeks, students will learn about buildings.  As we investigate this topic, we will work together to find the answers to our theme questions.  Some of the questions include: What do buildings in our neighborhood and other places look like? Who builds buildings? What are buildings made of? What tools do are used to make buildings? What makes buildings strong? What happens inside buildings? 

Some of the book we will be reading this week: 

Building A House by Byron Barton

Build It From A to Z by Trish Holland
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell 
Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins 
House, Sweet House Teaching Strategies 

Learning Centers:

Math: Students will be encouraged to use small 3D wooden blocks to create a structure and measure with a ruler

Discover area (science): The students will create a teeter totter to explore balance and mass.

Dramatic play: Students will use props that reflect the inside of the neighborhood Building. Ex: school, post office

Blocks: Students will be encouraged to look at pictures of different buildings and replicate the structure with blocks.

Library: Books related to the building study will be displayed in the library.

Writing: Students will be encouraged to draw his/her house or building.

Art: The students will create a house or building with milk cartons.

Sand and Water table: Add small construction vehicles.

Technology: Students practice 2D shapes on the iPad.

Reminders 

Wednesday March 2, 2016- Dr. Seuss Dress Up Day
Best Dr. Seuss outfit contest

Home School Connection

Study your house or building with your child. What materials were used to build it? How many floors or stories does it have? How many windows, doors, rooms does it have? Who built it? 

This week's lesson plan 
http://planbookedu.com/s/AIU57

Week of February 22nd

For next four weeks, the students will continue to learn about buildings. Young children are curious about buildings. Buildings are everywhere in the community. They vary in size, color, construction, material, function, and location. In this unit the children will explore and expand their knowledge and understanding of building materials and physical forces. For the next five weeks, students will learn about buildings.  As we investigate this topic, we will work together to find the answers to our theme questions.  Some of the questions include: What do buildings in our neighborhood and other places look like? Who builds buildings? What are buildings made of? What tools do are used to make buildings? What makes buildings strong? What happens inside buildings? 

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

House ,Sweet House teaching strategies 

Buildings, Buildings, Buildings  teaching strategies 

A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams 

The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone 

Reminders : 

Tuesday, February 23rd is Hippie Day!  Your child can come to school dressed up as a hippie. There will be a contest for the best costume! 

Learning Centers: 

Math: Student will be encouraged to use small 3D wooden blocks to create a structure.

Discover area (science): Students will learn what is a greenhouse and create their own.

Dramatic play: Students will use props that reflect the inside of the neighborhood Building. Ex: school, post office

Blocks: Students will be encouraged to look at pictures of different buildings and replicate the structure with blocks.

Library: Books related to the building study will be displayed in the library.

Writing: Students will be encouraged to use shape stencils and cut the shapes to paste on construction paper.

Art: The students will create a house or building with milk cartons.

Sand and Water table: The students will be encouraged to make a sand castle.

Technology: Students practice 2D shapes on the iPad.

Home-School Connection

Encourage parents to talk to their child about buildings features such as color, shape and size. 

This week's lesson plan

Week of February 15th

Dear parents,

I apologize for posting the blog this late. The information below is all in the newsletter.


This week we are starting our study unit of buildings. Young children are curious about buildings. Buildings are everywhere in the community. They vary in size, color, construction, material, function, and location. In this unit the children will explore and expand their knowledge and understanding of building materials and physical forces. For the next five weeks, students will learn about buildings.  As we investigate this topic, we will work together to find the answers to our theme questions.  Some of the questions include: What do buildings in our neighborhood and other places look like? Who builds buildings? What are buildings made of? What tools do are used to make buildings? What makes buildings strong? What happens inside buildings?

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

•       The Three Little Pigs by Donnie Dubkin
•       Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins
• Keep counting   teaching strategies book

Learning Centers:

Math: Student will be encouraged to use 3D wooden shapes to create a structure and draw it on paper.
Discover area (science): Students will learn what is a greenhouse and create their own. For this experiment the students will use two clear cups, soil and Lima beans(follow the scientific method ).
Dramatic play: Students will use props that reflect the inside of the neighborhood Building. Ex: school, post office
Blocks: Add various pictures of different buildings from all over the world. Encourage children to look at these pictures and replicate some of the features.
Library: Books related to the building study will be displayed in the library.
Writing: Students will be encouraged to use shape stencils and cut the shapes to paste on construction paper.
Art: The students will be encouraged to create a house with various size cartons. (milk carton, juice carton etc. )
Sand and Water table: The students will be encouraged to make a sand castle.
Technology: Students practice 2D shapes on the iPad.

Reminders:

Tuesday, February 23rd is Hippie Dress Up Day

This week lesson plan link

Week of February 8th

This is our final week investigating balls. This week the students will revisit activities in all the content areas (math, science, social studies, technology , the Arts and literacy….) The students enjoyed this unit and we are encouraging parents to continue exploring it at home. 

Learning Centers: 

Math: Students will use yarn and unifix cubes to measure balls. 
Science: Students explore will explore the solar system. 
Dramatic Play: This center will be turned into a ball shop. Coins and bills will be displayed for students to become familiar with identifying money. 
Blocks: Students test different level ramps with balls and wooden cars.
Library: Books about balls. 
Writing: Students will draw an animal that plays with balls. 
Art: Students create bubble art. 
Sand and Water table: Students mix water with dish soap and sand. Explore texture.

Home-School Connection
 Play dough recipe without cream tartar and no cooking!!! 
 4 cups of flour 
1 ½ cups of salt 
2 tbsp of oil 
1 cup of water 
3 drops of food coloring  

Reminders: 
Tuesday, February 9th Valentine’s Day show 
Friday, February 12th school is closed 
Monday, February 15th school is closed 

link to lesson plan