Week of February 28th!!

REMINDERS

  

·     On Wednesday, March 2^nd is Dr. Seuss’ Birthday!

      Students may dress up like their favorite Dr. Seuss character!

·     Please remember to send sleeping mats to school. 

·     School/Church doors close at 8:15 AM 

·     Late drop-offs will no longer be permitted to enter the building.  

·     No adults are permitted in the building past the table at the main door.

·     Dismissal times remain as 3:00 PM for all PreK classes.

·     There are no early pickup/appointments etc. - if there is an appointment thechild should remain home.

•  All parents etc. coming near the building are required to have a mask on their face for the safety of all students and staff.

 

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 and Mrs. Madera will point student’s shadows out to them during outdoor time. They 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. The teacher will take pictures of the students and their shadows.  Students will then be able to match the classmate to their shadow and discuss what makes a shadow. 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.SCI.9. [P-PS3-1.] Participates in an investigation to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface 

The teacher will ask the following HOTS Questions;

What can you tell me about your shadow? 

How are shadows made?

 

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

For all children to be successful, multiple entry points will be considered. The teacher will tailor instruction to the needs of each individual student. 

 

For example, 

       •         Repeat directions

       •         Extend time 

       •         Preview questions (if applicable)

       •         Provide 1:1 support 

       •         Adapt materials  

 

 

Foundational Text for the Week:
Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch

The link to the foundational texts

HERE!!

 

                                         

Questions that will be asked throughout the week related to the foundational text:

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.  

 

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

 

Art-  Students will be invited to create sun catchers with tissue paper and paint.  

 

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 manipulativeswith their shadow.  

 

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

 

Writing- Students are invited to use a trace and draw projector. 

 

Sensory- Students will be able to play with their own individual containers of play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!!

 

Please always make sure to read the OLQM School Blog for additional information, located HERE!

 

 

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

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of February 20th!!

 REMINDERS

 

         •Monday, February 21st - President's Day - School Closed

         •Please remember to send sleeping mats to school. 

         •School/Church doors close at 8:15 AM

         •Late drop-offs will no longer be permitted to enter the                               building.  

         •No adults are permitted in the building past the table at the                      main door.

         •Dismissal times remain as 3:00 PM for all PreK classes.

         •There are no early pickup/appointments etc. -- if there is an 

         appointment the child should remain home.

         •All parents etc. coming near the building are required to have           a mask on their face for the safety of all students and staff.

 

 

Unit Topic:

Light

           

Essential Question for the Unit:

How and why do we use different kinds of light?

 

Focus Questions for this Week:

How does light help us?

 

 

                  Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

                   Do Seeds Need Sunlight to Germinate Activity? 🌞

   

 

The teacher will encourage children to plant seeds.  The teacher will invite children to place half of the planted seeds in an area that gets sunlight and the other half in an area that is dark. The children will be encouraged to predict which seeds are most likely to grow and why.  The planted seeds will be monitored periodically.  To conclude the experiment, the teacher will refer back to the children’s predictions.  The children will be invited to discuss and graph the results. 

 

Critical thinking questions/statements: 

What do you think plants need to grow?

How do you know? 

Which seeds are most likely to grow and why? (seeds receiving sunlight or seeds in the dark) 

 

 

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

For all children to be successful, multiple entry points will be considered. The teacher will tailor instruction to the needs of each individual student. 

 

For example, 

       •         Repeat directions

       •         Extend time 

       •         Preview questions (if applicable)

       •         Provide 1:1 support 

       •         Adapt materials  

 

 

 

Foundational text for the week: 

Kitten and the Night Watchmanby John Sullivan 

 

The link to the foundational texts HERE!

 

                                         

Questions that will be asked throughout the week related to the foundational text:

 

 

Level 1: Recall

What are some of the things the night watchman does at work?

What does the night watchman find at work?

What does the night watchman do with the kitten he finds at work?

 

Level 2: Skill/Concept

When does the night watchman do his job?

When the night watchman starts working, it is sunny. What happens to the sun while the watchman is working?

 

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

The night watchman works at night. When do you think he sleeps?

What would you think about working at night and sleeping during the day?

 

Level 4: Extended Thinking

What types of light help the night watchman do his job?

What types of light help you? What do they help you do?

 

 

Lesson 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 inside a tent.  

 

Art-  The teacher will read the book Round Trip by Ann Jonas.  After reading the book, children will be provided with black and white paper to create a picture.  Children will be encouraged to cut or rip the paper and use glue to assemble the art. The teacher will use vocabulary words such as straight and wavy to describe the lines that they make. 

 

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

 

Math-  The teacher will supply translucent plastic drinking cups in a variety of colors. Children will be invited to create patterns with the cups.

 

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

 

Writing-  The children will be invited to use a hole puncher to create letters on pieces of paper. The teacher will allow children to place the papers over the light table to explore the letters and light. 

 

Sensory-  The teacher will line the bottom of the sensory table with tin foil and add water as well as glass beads, containers, scoops, etc. The teacher will invite children to explore, sort, and enjoy.

 

For more information on the Lesson Plan, HERE!!

 

 

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information HERE!

 

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

 

 

 

Week of February 14th!!!

 REMINDERS

         •Monday, February 14th -Valentine’s Day!! Children may wear red. The children will have a pizza party. 

 

 

         •Wednesday, February 16th PreK For All Program Closed for Professional Development Day.

 

·      Thursday, February 17^th– 100^thDay of School! Children may dress up as an 100 Year-Old… 

 

         •Monday, February 21st - President's Day - School Closed

 

 

         •Please remember to send sleeping mats to school. 

 

 

         •School/Church doors close at 8:15 AM

 

 

         •Late drop-offs will no longer be permitted to enter the building.  

 

 

         •No adults are permitted in the building past the table at the main door.

 

 

         •Dismissal times remain as 3:00 PM for all PreK classes.

 

 

         •There are no early pickup/appointments etc. -- if there is an appointment the child should remain home.

 

 

         •All parents etc. coming near the building are required to have a mask on their face for the safety of all students and staff.

 

 

Unit Topic:

Light

           

Essential Question for the Unit:

How and why do we use different kinds of light?

 

Focus Questions for this Week:

What is darkness?

 

 

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

Pattern Activity

   

The teacher will provide translucent plastic drinking cups in a variety of colors. Children will be invited to create patterns with the cups on a light table.  The teacher will encourage children to duplicate AB and ABC patterns strips. 

 

 

The teacher will ask the following HOTS Questions:

How do you know something is a pattern?

Where do you see patterns? 

How did you figure out each pattern?

 

 Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK. MATH.9. [NY-PK.OA.2.] Duplicates and extends simple patterns using concrete objects (e.g., what comes next?) 

 

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

For all children to be successful, multiple entry points will be considered. The teacher will tailor instruction to the needs of each individual student. 

 

For example, 

       •         Repeat directions

       •         Extend time 

       •         Preview questions (if applicable)

       •         Provide 1:1 support 

       •         Adapt materials 

 

 

If children need help during Pattern Strips, then the teacher will help them start and verbalize an AB pattern, such as red/blue, red/blue, red/blue, and encourage them to keep going with (“extend”) the pattern. The teacher will review how a pattern’s core unit repeats. 

 

If children need a challenge during Pattern Strips, then the teacher will encourage them to make up their own patterns, or provide more difficult pattern strips.

 

 

Foundational text for the week: 

Blackoutby John Rocco 

 

The link to the foundational texts HERE!!

 

                                         

Questions that will be asked throughout the week related to the foundational text:

 

 Level 1: Recall 

What did the family do when the lights went out? What did the family find on the roof?

 

What did the family find on the street? 

 

Level 2: Skill/Concept 

Why did everyone stop what they were doing when the lights went out?

 

How do you think the kid felt at the very first second when the lights went out?

 

At first it seemed like the kid was very ____ about the lights going out. How do you think they felt about it later?

 

What did the kid do when the lights came back on? Why do you think they did that? 

 

Level 3: Strategic Thinking 

When the lights went out the family stayed inside for a bit, went up to the roof and hung out with their neighbors, went to the party on the street, and ate ice cream together. Which thing that they did sounds like the most fun to you? Why?

 

In this story, the lights went out at night. What do you think might have been different about this story if the lights went out during the day? Why? 

 

 

Level 4: Extended Thinking 

Do you prefer light or darkness? Why?

 

If you were home with your family or friends at night and the lights went out, what do you think the people in your family/your friends would say and do?

 

Lesson 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 inside a tent.  

 

Art-  The teacher will read the book Round Trip by Ann Jonas.  After reading the book, children will be provided with black and white paper to create a picture.  Children will be encouraged to cut or rip the paper and use glue to assemble the art. The teacher will use vocabulary words such as straight and wavy to describe the lines that they make. 

 

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

 

Math-  The teacher will supply translucent plastic drinking cups in a variety of colors. Children will be invited to create patterns with the cups.

 

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

 

Writing-  The children will be invited to use a hole puncher to create letters on pieces of paper. The teacher will allow children to place the papers over the light table to explore the letters and light. 

 

Sensory-  The teacher will line the bottom of the sensory table with tin foil and add water as well as glass beads, containers, scoops, etc. The teacher will invite children to explore, sort, and enjoy.

 

For more information on the Lesson Plan, HERE!

 

 

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information HERE!

 

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