Week of April 11th

                                          April the Study of Plants 

This week our class will be investigating plants. Children will consider the questions “ What are plants?”and observe and identify the different parts of plants.  We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers: 
Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as  
 desired) to create stems, tree trunk , soil etc.
Science: Add plants to the discovery center for students to observe with a magnifying
glass and care for it.
Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.
Math: Measure students height with leaves.
Writing: Students create a book where student can draw and label plants parts.
Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude    
Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe,Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will
be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings,
prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture
make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.
Sand and Water/ Sensory : Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools.
Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days.
Library: Add books about plants

Book of the Week: 
From Seed to Plant 
by Gail Gibbons

Reminders 

**PreK Summer Program
A new registration paper will be sent home on Monday regarding a change in hours for the PreK Summer Program. This is being done after  a number of parents requested the program run until         6:00 PM. Please see Mrs. Fundora if you have questions regarding the program and parents are requested to sign up with Mrs. Resto in the tuition office.

**Parent teacher conferences will be held from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM on April 22nd. Parents of students in all the PreK classes and Kindergarten will meet with their child's teacher in the child's classroom. Dismissal for all students on that day will be at 12:00 noon. The After School Program will be in session. 

Weekly lesson plan

Week of April 4th

Welcome back to school! Hope you all had a wonderful and restful Spring break.

For the next six week , our class will investigate the study unit of trees. We’ll be observing and comparing trees to learn about what lives in them, what they're made from, and who cares for them. We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study trees, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers:

Math: Use leaves to measure students height.

Science: Students will utilize a magnifier to study tree parts

Art: The students will create leaves print

Library: Books about trees

Writing Center: Students will be encouraged to create a book about trees

Dramatic Play: Realistic animal puppets; materials for building tree homes

Sand and Water: Tree parts to see if it sinks or floats (water) Use a brush to fing tree parts in the sand.

Technology: Learn about plants app

This week we will be reading the following books: 
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger

Home-School Connection 
Parents we encourage you to talk to your child about trees
especially on the way to school. Some things to talk about while walking are:
Tree parts (leaves, branches, trunk, roots)
Color (discuss how leaves change color with the seasons)
Shape
Trees are homes to some animals
Trees are a source of food( apples, chocolate etc.)
Tree size 
Lesson plan link

Week of March 14th

Dear parents, 

 This will be our final week studying 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. 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? 


Learning Centers:

Math: Students will be encouraged to use small 3D wooden blocks to create a structure and measure its height and width with a ruler in inches. 

Discover area (science): The students will create a greenhouse book. In the book the students will draw their observation of the greenhouse project they created the week prior. The students will also measure how tall their Lima bean plant is with a ruler.

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

Blocks: Students will use blocks to create a building of choice and measure it with a tape measure. 

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

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

Art: The students will use a milk cartoon to recreate The Three Little Pigs houses. 

Sand and Water table: Add small construction vehicles.

Technology: Students practice 2D shapes on the iPad.



Reminders:

• Please return all completed UPK Questionnaires to the school.


• Thursday, March 17, 2016 Is St. Patrick's Day . Your child can wear a regular clothing. 
         Make  sure it has some green on it !

• The students will have a Spring Party Friday, March 18th .

• Easter Recess
Easter recess will begin after dismissal on Friday March 18th at 3:00 PM. There will be no After School Program on Friday, March 18th. School will resume on Monday April 4th.


This week's lesson plan

Week of March 7th

Dear parents,

For next two 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:

Building A House by Byron Barton
Build It From A to Z by Trish Holland
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell


Learning Centers:

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

Discover area (science): The students will create a greenhouse book. In the book the students will draw their observation of the greenhouse project they created the week prior. The students will also measure how tall their Lima bean plant is with a ruler.

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

Blocks: Students will 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 encourage to draw his/her house .

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:

• Please return all completed UPK Questionnaires to the school.

• Thursday March 10, 2016
              Parents are requested to check their e-mail for financial aid awards.

• Thursday, March 17, 2016 Is St. Patrick's Day . Your child can wear a regular clothing.
              Make  sure it has some green on it !

• Easter Recess
              Easter recess will begin after dismissal on Friday March 18th at 3:00 PM. There will be        
              no After School Program on Friday, March 18th. School will resume on
              Monday April 4th.

This week's lesson plan

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

Week of February 1st

For the next two weeks the students will continue exploring the topic of balls. They will 
Investigate the following questions: 
What are balls made of ? 
Who uses balls? 

Extending the topic
The students will be encouraged to explore other things shaped like a sphere, for example : 
A globe 
Planets (following week) 
Exploring 3D shapes (Materials: wooden cube, sphere,cone ,cylinder and a dry erase board) 
The students will be encouraged to make predictions and explain their thinking before they roll, slide or stack the 3D shapes on the dry erase board. 

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

The Doorbell Rang
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
If You Let A Pigeon Drive The Bus
Have a ball
A Birthday Basket For Tia

http://planbookedu.com/s/BRW3T

Learning Centers:

Math: The students will measure balls with yarn and unifix cubes. To complete this activity the students will follow these steps:
First, measure different balls with yarn. We will then discuss which strings were the longest , the shortest and about the same length. To take it a step further the students will estimate how long the strings would be using unifix cubes and compared to our actual estimation.

Discover area (science): Students will explore what is inside a ball. A beach ball will be placed at the science table. The students will be asked what they think is inside a beach ball.  List all their guesses. Cut one open (either in advance or in front of the children).Let them explore what the balls are made of.

Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop. Students will learn to recognize and identify money by name or value.

Blocks: The center will include different types of balls and ramp

Library: Books about balls


Writing: Students will be encouraged to draw and write the word ball.

Art: Students will be encouraged to create bubble art. This activity has many science processes such as, investigation, discovery, experimentation, observation, definition, comparison, and classification can be learned simply by playing with bubbles.


Sand and Water table:  Students will predict , practice and discuss the results as they blow bubbles with different-shaped objects. Students will use a variety of materials to construct with sand and water.

Technology: Counting balloons app. Students are encouraged to identify numbers 1-10.



Reminders:

Friday , February 5th  dismissal will be at 12:00 noon.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM in the classrooms.

February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.

School be closed Friday, February 12th.

Financial Aid will be available for students entering Kindergarten here at OLQM.  Alba and Brianna in the office will be of assistance in filing for financial aid.  Through the generosity of donors to the Archdiocese this financial aid will be available for ALL students entering Kindergarten in 2016.  An information packet will be sent home this week and Mr. Woods will quickly speak to parents on Thursday, 8:30 AM in the Parent Conference room regarding registration for Kindergarten.

Link to this week's lesson plan

Week of January 25th

This week the students will continue to explore the unit study of balls. The students will work in cooperative group to investigate the following questions : 

Do all balls bounce? 
What makes a ball move? 
How do you think a ball would move if it were floating in water?
What is a ball made of? 

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

The Little Red Hen 

The Three Little Pigs 

The Truth Story About The Three Little Pigs 

Bounce 

Little Red Riding Hood 

Learning Centers:
Math: The students will measure balls with yarn
Discovery area (science): Students will mix ingredients to make play dough and shape it like a ball
Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop 
Blocks: The students will explore how fast different size balls roll down a ramp
Library: Books about balls
Writing: Students will draw their favorite ball
Art: Students will create a ball with different art materials 
Sand and Water table: Students will use balls for a floating or sinking experiment
Technology: Counting balloons app

Reminders 

• A 20 minute informational parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th at 8:30 A.M. The meeting will be held in the parent conference room on the first floor. We will briefly discuss the curriculum.

•  School will be closed Friday, January 29^th, for Teacher Workshop Day
•  February 9^th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.
• Financial Aid will be available for students entering Kindergarten here at OLQM.  Alba and Brianna in the office will be of assistance in filing for financial aid.  Through the generosity of donors to the Archdiocese this financial aid will be available for ALL students entering Kindergarten in 2016.  An information packet will be sent home this week and Mr. Woods will quickly speak to parents on Thursday, 8:30 AM in the Parent Conference room regarding registration for Kindergarten.

Home -School Connection 

Reading daily to your child. Reading to children fosters the love for books and learning.
Popular books to read:
The Three Little Pigs
The Little Red Hen
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Snowy Day
Corduroy
The Mitten

Practice recognizing the following letters:
Ss, Ee, Tt, Bb, Aa, Cc, Gg, Mm, Rr ,Oo and Kk

Practice recognizing and writing  numbers 1-10

This week lesson plan click link 
http://planbookedu.com/s/LJIS6

Week of January 18th

This week we are continuing the unit study of balls. The main focus this week is to explore if all balls roll and how can we make a ball roll faster with different level ramps.

Learning Centers:
Math: The students will measure balls with yarn
Discover area (science): Students will explore what is inside a ball
Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop Blocks: The students will explore objects rolling down a ramp
Library: Books about balls
Writing: Students will draw their favorite ball
Art: Students will create a ball with paper mache
Sand and Water table: Students will use balls for a floating or sinking experiment
Technology: Counting balloons app

Home - School Connection:

Try reading daily to your child. Reading to children fosters the love for books and learning.
Popular books to read:
The Three Little Pigs
The Little Red Hen
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Snowy Day
Corduroy
The Mitten

Practice recognizing the following letters:
Ss, Ee, Tt, Bb, Aa, Cc, Gg, Mm, Rr ,Oo and Kk

Practice recognizing and writing  numbers 1-10

Reminders:

•       A 20 minute informational parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th

at 8:30 A.M. The meeting will be held in the parent conference room on the first floor. We will briefly discuss the curriculum.

•       School will be closed Friday, January 29th, for Teacher Workshop Day.

•       February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.

Lesson plan for the week

Week of January 11th

Week of January 11th

Unit of Study: Balls

The students will continue to learn about balls. The learning centers will contain activities related to the unit.


Learning Centers:

Math: Students sort balls based on size
Discover area (science): Students describe different ball texture
Dramatic play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball shop
Blocks: The students will explore objects rolling down a ramp
Library: Books about balls
Writing: Students will draw their favorite ball
Art:  Students will create a collage made with different ball-shaped materials
Sand and Water table: Students will use small balls for float or sink experiment
Technology: Counting balloons app


Reminders:

•       School will be closed Monday, January 18th, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
•       A 20 minute informational parent meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 26th
 at 8:30 A.M. The meeting will be held in the parent conference room on the first floor. We will briefly discuss the curriculum.
•       School will be closed Friday, January 29th, for Teacher Workshop Day.
•       February 9th, 2016 is our Valentine’s Day Show!  The show will take place in the gymnasium at 9 a.m.


The students will be reading the following books this week:

The Little Red Hen by Bonnie Dobkin
Bounce by Doreen Cronin
Have a ball Nancy Noel Williams
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Bonnie Dobkin

Recommended Home to School Connection:

Encourage your child to do the following:
Count how many times a ball can bounce
Identify other objects shaped like a ball
Use a piece of yarn to measure a ball
Help your child use all senses when playing with balls. What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? Smell like?
Help your child think of words that contains the word ball in them.


Lesson plan for the  week- click on link

Week of January 4th

Welcome Back:

Happy New Year!  Hope you had a nice break. School resumes Monday, January 4th.

January- Study Unit of Balls 

The students will be learning about balls for next five weeks.  As we study balls , we will learn concepts and skills in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology.

Math: The students will sort balls based on size.
Science(Discovery): The students will use a bucket balance to explore and compare balls weight.
Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a ball store. Provide cash register.
Blocks: The students will use balls and wooden ramps to explore Erickson’s laws of gravity.
Library:Books about balls.
Writing: The students will use a clothespin and cotton balls to create a writing piece.
Art: The students will create a marble painting.
Sand and Water: The students will explore texture and sizes with balls.

The students will be reading the following books this week: 
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone 
 Have a ball  by Doreen Cronin
 The Three Billy Goats Gruff  by Paul Galdone 

Reminders : 

On Thursday January 7th, there will be a PreK Parent Workshop regarding
"Positive Parenting" . Ms. Nancy Dubin MSW will be doing the presentation in the
Parents Conference Room. Please let us know in advance if you will be attending the workshop.

Friday , January 8th UPK will be dismissed at 3:00 P.M.


Family Extension Home to School Connection
As we are learning about balls ask your child:
 Do you have a favorite sport?
What things are shaped like a ball?
What can you do with a ball?

It's football season!!! 🏈
Watch a game with your child and ask:
What shape is the football?
What color is the ball?
How do you play football?
What are players doing in the game?

Planbook