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