Week of May 28th!

Theme for the Unit:

Babies!

Enduring understandings that the student should have by the end of the unit:

Human babies need special food and care.

Animal babies need special food and care.

There are similarities and differences in the ways babies are cared for.

All babies grow.

LEARNING CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES:

Blocks- 

The children will be invited to use blocks to create animal babies habitats that they are investigating.  The children will be supplied with pictures of these animals and their habitats for the children to reference as they create. The teacher will use the animal baby and adult names frequently with the children. 

Pretend Play-Pretend Play will be turned into a pediatrician’s office. The children will be supplied with dolls and instruments  to take care of babies and measure their growth with a measuring tape as well as writing utensils for children to take notes about the babies, schedule appointments, etc. The children will be encouraged to use the term pediatrician and other related words such as appointment, infant, height and weight throughout the experience to help children learn these vocabulary words. 

Art- 

The teacher will supply clay for the children to use to create the animal babies they are studying. The children will be supplied with pictures of these animals for the children to reference as they create it. The teacher will use the names of the animal babies frequently throughout this activity. The teacher will encourage children to talk about their animal. 

Science-

The teacher will provide the children with small plastic eggs that open. The teacher will put various small plastic animal babies or pictures of animal babies (some that hatch from eggs and some that do not) inside and invite children to open the eggs and determine if the animal inside hatches from an egg or not and sort them into two piles accordingly. 

Math- 

The children will be provided with pictures of animals life cycle. Children will be invited to sequence the pictures. This can also be done with pictures of humans. For example, supply a picture of an infant, toddler, child, teen, adult and elderly adult.

Library- Related books about the unit will be provided for children to read. 

Writing- 

The children will be invited to make a book about the animal babies they are investigating. The teacher will encourage children to write and draw about their animal baby. Children can reference the Animal Baby name cards and pages in other books to find words that they may want to include. If a child is writing about bears, the teacher will ask them what sound they hear at the beginning of the word, make connections to the written letter B and encourage the child to look for the letter.

Technology-  Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are 

• When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Olds Memoir of her Youth by Jamie Lee Curtis 
• ABC Zooborns by Andrew Bellman

Lesson Plan Link

 Reminders

•         School is closed on Thursday, June 7th and Friday, June 8th.
•         Donuts with Dad will be on Thursday, June 14^th, at 9:00 A.M.

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that the teacher or school is unable to answer please feel free to contact: The Archdioceses Help Line at 888-227-8175 from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. or by Email at catholicschool.upk.arch.ny.org.

Week of May 21st!

Theme for the Unit:

Babies!

Enduring understandings that the student should have by the end of the unit:

• Human babies need special food and care.
• Animal babies need special food and care.
• There are similarities and differences in the ways babies are cared for.
• All babies grow.

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks- The children will be invited to use blocks to create animal babies’ habitats that they are investigating.

Pretend Play- The Dramatic Play area will be turned into a pediatrician’s office.

Art- The teacher will supply clay for the children to use to create the animal babies they are studying

Science- Children will be invited to open plastic eggs and determine if the animal inside hatches from an egg or not and sort them into two piles accordingly. 

Math- Cutouts of babies of various lengths will be added to the math center.  Students will be able to measure each baby and tell which is longest and shortest.

Library- Students are invited to read books about our theme, babies.

Writing/Technology- Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats.  

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman 

 Weekly Lesson Plan 

Recommended Home-School Connection:

Dear families, 

Your child is currently investigating a baby animal of choice and working on creating a baby animal book. Encourage your child to discuss what they already know and what they would like to learn about the animal they are investigating. If possible, take your child to the library and find books related to the animal your child is researching. You can help your child answer questions about what the baby is called, what it looks like, what it eats, etc. 

Reminders / Notices:
School is closed on Friday, May 25th and Monday May 28th in honor of Memorial Day.

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that the teacher or school is unable to answer please feel free to contact: The Archdioceses Help Line at 888-227-8175 from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. or by Email at catholicschool.upk.arch.ny.org.

Week of May 14th!

Theme for the Unit:

Babies!

Enduring understandings that the student should have by the end of the unit:

• Human babies need special food and care.
• Animal babies need special food and care.
• There are similarities and differences in the ways babies are cared for.
• All babies grow.

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks- The children will be invited to use blocks to create animal babies habitats that they are investigating.

Pretend Play- The children will help the teacher turn the Dramatic Play area into a pediatrician’s office

Art- The teacher will supply clay for the children to use to create the animal babies they are studying

Science- Children will be invited to open plastic eggs and determine if the animal inside hatches from an egg or not and sort them into two piles accordingly. 

Math- Cutouts of babies of various lengths will be added to the math center.  Students will be able to measure each baby and tell which is longest and shortest.

Library- Students are invited to read books about our theme, babies.

Writing/Technology- Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

•   Stellaluna by Janell Cannon 

•  Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho 

Recommended Home- School Connection:

Dear Families, 

During our second week of the babies unit, we will focus on discussing baby animals and their parents. We encourage you to ask your child about what type of animal baby s/he is investigating in the classroom. You can ask questions about what the baby is called, what it looks like, what it eats, etc.

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

• School is closed on Friday, May 25th and Monday May 28th in honor of Memorial Day.

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that the teacher or school is unable to answer please feel free to contact: The Archdioceses Help Line at 888-227-8175 from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. or by Email at catholicschool.upk.arch.ny.org.

Week of May 7th!

Theme for the Unit:

Babies!

Enduring understandings that the student should have by the end of the unit:

• Human babies need special food and care.
• Animal babies need special food and care.
• There are similarities and differences in the ways babies are cared for.
• All babies grow.

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks- The children will be invited to use blocks to create animal babies habitats that they are investigating.

Pretend Play- The children will help the teacher turn the Dramatic Play area into a pediatrician’s office.

Art- The teacher will supply clay for children to create the animal babies they are studying.

Science- Children will be invited to open plastic eggs and determine if the animal inside hatches from an egg or not and sort them into two piles accordingly. 

Math- Cutouts of babies of various lengths will be added to the math center.  Students will be able to measure each baby and tell which is longest and shortest.

Library- Students are invited to read books about our theme, babies.

Writing/Technology- Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers

Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats

Lesson Plan Link

Recommended Home- School Connection:

 In the first week, children will establish their understanding of human babies by considering the question, “What do human babies need?” Activities in this week help children express what they already know and extend their learning through play, literature and discussion. At home talk to your child about their important milestones. Think of two to four noteworthy events in your child’s past such as when they were born, took his/her first steps, or an important family event such as a new home or sibling, etc. You can draw or include pictures on the timeline!

Reminders 

• Muffins with Mom will be on Friday, May 11^th, at 9:00 a.m. Students maywear any clothes they like.
• School is closed on Friday, May 25th and Monday May 28th in honor of Memorial Day.

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that the teacher or school is unable to answer please feel free to contact: The Archdioceses Help Line at 888-227-8175 from 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. or by Email at catholicschool.upk.arch.ny.org.