Week of January 28th!

Reminders / Notices:

• There will be 12:00 p.m. dismissal this Friday, February 1st. 
• Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, February 1st from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

    

Unit Topic:

Transportation

Essential Question for the Unit: 

How does my community use various modes of transportation?      

Focus Questions for this Week:

What kinds of transportation do I use and why?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

Ms. Gonzalez  and Mrs. Tavares will work with students in the pretend play center to create materials for a subway station.  Students will be asked to think of things they see and use in a subway station (train, metro card , subway station booths, etc.).  Students will then build materials 

to transform the pretend play center into a subway station.  

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.PDH.9 Demonstrates awareness and understanding of safety rules.

Foundational text for the week:

The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.CLL.3 (Approaches to Communication): Demonstrates that s/he understands what they observe.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• What question does Tess ask over and over again?
• What were some of the vehicles that drove past Tess and Gus before the bus came?
• What are the dog and the cat doing while the children wait for the bus?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

• Why do you think Tess asks the same question over and over again?
• Why do you think Gus looks sad just before the bus comes?
• Gus and Tess take the bus to school. How did you get to pre-K today?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• Why do people take the bus?
• Tess holds her ears when the fire engine drives past. Why?
• There is a picture of a skunk on the garbage truck. Why do you think that is there?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• Us and Gus are rhyming words. What are some other words that rhyme with us and Gus?
• Tess looks a little nervous about getting on the bus. Why do you think she might be nervous? Have you ever been nervous? When?

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks- Students are invited to create a variety of ramps and use different vehicles to race, predicting which one will go down the fastest and why. 

Pretend Play- Pretend Play will be transformed into a subway station. Students are invited to create a train using large pieces of cardboard.  

Art- An assortment of shape cutouts and pictures of vehicles will be added to the center.  Students will be invited to reference the vehicles to create their own vehicles.

Science- Students are invited to create boats (with teacher support) and then will be asked to predict if their boat will float or sink, why or why not?

Math- Students will be invited to match numbered cars to the corresponding amount of people each car holds. 

Library- Students are invited to sequence the pictures and retell a familiar story, using a felt board.

Writing-  Students will be invited to match lettered cars to their corresponding spots in a "parking lot".

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175.

Week of January 21st!!

Reminders / Notices:

• There will be 12:00 p.m. dismissal on Friday, February 1st. 
• Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, February 1st from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Unit Topic: Light

 Essential Question for the Unit:

 How and why do we use different kinds of light?

 Focus Question for this Week:

 What are shadows?

Focused Learning activity for the week:

Mrs. Gonzalez  will point student’s shadows out to them. She will show them how their shadows move in the same way and at the same time they do.  Student's will be encouraged to watch their shadows as they move their bodies. They will be asked to pause and pose. Mrs. Gonzalez  will take pictures of the students and their shadows.  Students will then be able to match the classmate to their shadow.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CKW.4 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of earth and space.

Foundational text for the week: 

Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CKW.4 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of earth and space.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• What was Bear doing when he first noticed his shadow?
• Why did Bear want to get rid of his shadow?
• What are some of the ways Bear tried to get rid of his shadow?

Level 2: Skill / Concept

• What makes shadows?
• Why did Bear’s shadow move when bear moved?
• Is it possible to get rid of a shadow? Why or why not?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• Bear felt very annoyed when he could not get rid of his shadow. Are there things that make you feel annoyed? What are they?
• Bear talked to his shadow. Can shadows listen? Can shadows answer questions? Why or why not?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• When it was noon and the sun was high in the sky, Bear’s shadow was gone. Why?
• When can you see your shadow?
• How can you make your shadow go away?

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks: Students are invited to explore how they might use blocks and a flashlight to create shadow letters.  

Dramatic Play: The teacher will add a basket of sunglasses to the Dramatic Play Center. The teacher will talk with students about when and why they might wear sunglasses.

Art: After reading the book Round Trip by Ann Jonas, students will be provided with black and white paper to create a picture.

Discovery Area/Science: The students will be supplied with an assortment of small items such as stringing rings, optical illusion sheets, paint pipettes, squiggle pipettes, clear vials, paint scrappers, animal X-Rays to explore on the light table.

Math: Students will be provided with flashlights as they build with Magna-Tiles. Students encouraged to place the flashlights inside their structures and note what they see.

Library: The teacher will post and read the poem My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson in the library center.

Writing: The teacher will write the question “What is under the table?” and place it on top on top of the table. The teacher will tape a picture, letter, number, type of line or shape under the table. The teacher will supply students with flashlights to shine them under the table to find the hidden item and answer the question. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE  !

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the 

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of January 14th!!

Reminders / Notices: Mark your Calendars

• School will be CLOSED on January 16th for a teacher workshop.
• School will be CLOSED on Monday January 21st  for Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday.
• There will be 12:00 p.m. dismissal on Friday, February 1st. 
• Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, February 1st from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Unit Topic: Light

 Essential Question for the Unit:

 How and why do we use different kinds of light?

 Focus Question for this Week:

 What is darkness?/How does light help us?

Focused Learning activity for the week:

Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Tavares will be working with the children in the science center to plant seeds. Half of the seeds will be planted in an area that gets sunlight and the other half in an area that is dark. Children will be invited to predict which seeds are most likely to grow and why. The planted seeds will be monitor periodically. To conclude the experiment Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Tavares will refer back to the children’s predictions; discuss and graph the results.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CKW.4 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of earth and space.

Foundational text for the week: 

All About Light by Lisa Trumbauer

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CLL.1 (Reading Standards for Literature): With Prompting and support, ask and answer about details in a text.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• What are some things that give off light? 
• What happens when the sun goes down? 
• Why does the moon look bright?

Level 2: Skill / Concept

• Shadows form when light is blocked. Do you see any shadows around you now?
• What kinds of light do you see in our classroom?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• When the sun is up it is light outside. What are some things people do in the light
• When the sun goes down it is dark outside. What are some things people do in the dark?
• Why do we need lights in pre-K?
• Why do we need lights at home?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• Do you prefer light or darkness? Why?
• Why do you think cars, buses and trains have lights?

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks:Students are invited to explore how they might use blocks and a flashlight to create shadow letters.  

Dramatic Play: A campsite will be created in the dramatic center for students to pretend they are going camping. 

Art:After reading the book Round Trip by Ann Jonas, students will be provided with black and white paper to create a picture.

Discovery Area/Science: The students will be supplied with an assortment of small items such as stringing rings, optical illusion sheets, paint pipettes, squiggle pipettes, clear vials, paint scrappers, animal X-Rays to explore on the light table.

Math: Students will be provided with flashlights as they build with Magna-Tiles. Students encouraged to place the flashlights inside their structures and note what they see.

Library: The teacher will post and read the poem My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson in the library center.

Writing: The teacher will write the question “What is under the table?” and place it on top on top of the table. The teacher will tape a picture, letter, number, type of line or shape under the table. The teacher will supply students with flashlights to shine them under the table to find the hidden item and answer the question. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the 

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of January7th !!

Reminders / Notices:

• School is closed on January 16th for a teacher workshop.
• There will be 12:00 p.m. dismissal on Friday, February 1st. 
• Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, February 1st from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Unit Topic: Light

 Essential Question for the Unit:

 How and why do we use different kinds of light?

 Focus Question for this Week:

 What kinds of light are around us?   

Focused Learning activity for the week:

Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Tavares will be working with students in the science center.  They will teach the students how to use and care for a light table.  An arrangement of items will be added to the science center in order for children to explore on the light table.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CKW.6 (Science): Acquires knowledge about the physical properties of the world.

Foundational text for the week: 

Round Trip by Ann Jonas

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CLL.1 (Reading Standards for Literature): With Prompting and support, ask and answer about details in a text.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• Where were the people going on the trip?
• How did the people in this story get to the city?
• Have you ever gone on a trip? Where did you go? How did you get there?

Level 2: Skill / Concept

• The trip started as soon as it was light. What does that mean? What time of the day did the trip start?
• Why was the neighborhood quiet, the houses dark and the stores closed when the trip started?
• Why do we turn on lights when it is dark?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• When the people got to the city they saw a lot of lights. Why?
• The people in this book rode in a car and on the subway. Do cars and subways have lights? Why?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• What do you notice about the pictures in this book? Why do you think the illustrator only used black and white?
• What color does the illustrator use to show light?
• What color does the illustrator use to show darkness? Why?

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks- Students are invited to explore how they might use blocks and a flashlight to create shadow letters.

Pretend Play- Students will be able to use flashlights for shadow play.

Art- Clear contact paper and tissue paper will be added to the art center in order for students to make "stained glass windows."

Science- Students will be able to use the light table to look at x-rays and an assortment of translucent objects. 

Math- Students will be able to match shape manipulatives with their shadow.

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

Writing-  Students will use flashlights to aid them in drawing a picture under the writing table.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click  HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of December 31st!!

Welcome Back and Happy New Year To All!

Thank you parents for all the wonderful gifts and your donations for our Holiday Party. 

WEEKLY REMINDERS: Mark your calendars! 

• School Closed on Wednesday, January 16th for Teacher Professional Development Day . 
• Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 1st .
• Parent – Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, November  1st , from 3pm – 8pm.  

Unit Topic:

Where We Live

Essential Question for the Unit:

Where do the people and animals around me live?

Focus Question for this Week:

How do people and animals make homes?

Focused Learning Activity for this Week: 

The students will continue to learn about animals habitat and research how animals make their homes.

• Pictures of animals and their habitats will be added to the science center.  Students will be encouraged to talk about the arrangement of animals as well as the arrangement of habitats.  They will then be asked to match the pictures, placing the animal in the appropriate habitat.  Students will be asked why or how they made the matches. The teacher will ask students higher order thinking questions, such as, "why do you think an animal would need thick fur to live in the arctic? “How do you think animals make their home?” 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.CKW.5 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of living things.

Foundational Text for the Week: 

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.CKW.8 (Social Studies): Demonstrates interest and awareness about a wide variety of careers and work environments.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• What was the first thing Iggy built?
• Why didn’t Iggy’s teacher like building and architecture?
• What happened to the bridge Iggy’s class crossed on the way to the picnic?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

• What is an architect?
• How does Iggy know how to build so many different things?
• Iggy builds with many different things, what are some things you use for building?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• How do you think Iggy’s parents felt about all of his building?
• How do you think Ms. Lila Greer felt about all of Iggy’s building at the beginning of the story?
• How do you think Iggy felt when Ms. Lila Greer told him he could not build at school anymore
• How did he feel when she told him he could build at school again?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• Iggy loved to build. What do you love to do?
• How would you feel if someone told you to stop doing something you loved?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

Blocks-Pictures of different types of homes and buildings will be posted in block center and students are invited to build the homes in the pictures or similar homes.

Pretend Play- Students will continue to decorate a building facade that will be used in the pretend play area.  

Art- Students will be supplied with popsicle sticks in order for them to create a home by gluing sticks onto paper.

Science- Multiple pictures of animals and their homes will be provided in science center for students to match.

Math- People figures, number cards, and pictures of homes will be placed in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to pick a number card, and place the corresponding number of people into a home.

Library- Students are encouraged to look at two non-fiction books about homes and compare and contrast what they see.

Writing-  Students will discover blueprints and create their own blueprint with write and wipe blueprints mat. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information about the lesson plan, click HERE !

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the Help Line at 888-227-8175.