Week of February 19th!

Theme for the month: Water

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

• Water is all around us.
• Water changes depending on how warm or cold it is.
• Some things float in water and some sink. Some things change when you put them in water.
• All living things need water

Learning Activities and Centers:

(75 minutes x 2):

Blocks:

The students will explore pictures of bridges, especially local bridges. The students will be encouraged to build a bridge and discuss how bridges are helpful. 

Dramatic Play:

Students will be provided with large cardboard boxes to pretend they are in a boat. 

Art:

The students will be invited draw a picture with crayons. They will use a large paintbrush to paint over their crayon drawings. 

Discovery Area/Science:

The students will be invited to test how well different substances (e.g., sugar, salt flour, oil, rice, etc.) dissolve in water by placing them in testing tubes.

 Math: 

The students will be provided with magnetic ocean animals and a magnetic wand to sort ocean animals based on color. The students will discuss which ocean animal have less or more.  

Library:

Student will explore Robert Kalan’s water-related books (e.g.  Rain, Jump Frog Jump!) in a basket in the library. The teacher will share with students that the same person wrote the words for all of these books; they all have the same author. Students will be Invited to take a picture walk through the books. What do they notice in the pictures? Which book do they like best? Why? 

Writing:

The children will be invited to the writing center to think about the question "Where Do We Find Water?". They will be encouraged to draw or write their answers on construction paper.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Lesson Plan Link

Some of the books we will read this week are:

• Float by Daniel Miyares 
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keatz 

Reminders / Notices:

• School Closed for President’s Day on Monday, Feb. 19th.

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 February 12th!

 Theme for the month: Water

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

• Water is all around us.
• Water changes depending on how warm or cold it is.
• Some things float in water and some sink. Some things change when you put them in water.
• All living things need water

Learning Activities and Centers:

(75 minutes x 2):

Blocks:

The students will explore pictures of bridges, especially local bridges. The students will be encouraged to build a bridge and discuss how bridges are helpful. 

 Dramatic Play:

Students will be provided with large boxes of cardboard in the dramatic play to start creating boats. 

Art:

The students will be invited draw a picture with crayons. They will use a large paintbrush to paint over their crayon drawings. 

Discovery Area/Science:

The students will be invited to test how well different substances (e.g., sugar, salt flour, oil, rice, etc.) dissolve in water by placing them in testing tubes.

Math: 

The students will be provided with magnetic ocean animals and a magnetic wand to sort ocean animals based on color. The students will discuss which ocean animal have less or more.  

Library:

Student will explore Robert Kalan’s water-related books (e.g.  Rain, Jump Frog Jump!) in a basket in the library. The teacher will share with students that the same person wrote the words for all of these books; they all have the same author. Students will be Invited to take a picture walk through the books. What do they notice in the pictures? Which book do they like best? Why? 

Writing:

The children will be invited to the writing center to think about the question "Where Do We Find Water?". They will be encouraged to draw or write their answers on construction paper.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

Rain! by Linda Ashman 

Snow by Uri Shulevitz 

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

Our Valentine's Day Show is on Wednesday, February 14th, at 9:00 a.m.  Please dress your child in red, pink, or white!

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 February 5th!

 Theme for the month: Water

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

• Water is all around us.
• Water changes depending on how warm or cold it is.
• Some things float in water and some sink. Some things change when you put them in water.
• All living things need water.

Learning Activities and Centers:

Blocks:

The students will explore pictures of bridges, especially local bridges. The students will be encouraged to build a bridge and discuss how bridges are helpful. 

 Dramatic Play:

Students will be provided with large boxes of cardboard in the dramatic play to start creating boats. 

Art:

The students will be invited draw a picture with crayons. They will use a large paintbrush to paint over their crayon drawings. 

Discovery Area/Science:

The students will be invited to test how well different substances (e.g., sugar, salt flour, oil, rice, etc.) dissolve in water by placing them in testing tubes.

Math: 

The students will be provided with magnetic ocean animals and a magnetic wand to sort ocean animals based on color. The students will discuss which ocean animal have less or more.  

Library:

Student will explore Robert Kalan’s water-related books (e.g.  Rain, Jump Frog Jump!) in a basket in the library. The teacher will share with students that the same person wrote the words for all of these books; they all have the same author. Students will be Invited to take a picture walk through the books. What do they notice in the pictures? Which book do they like best? Why? 

Writing:

The children will be invited to the writing center to think about the question "Where Do We Find Water?". They will be encouraged to draw or write their answers on construction paper.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Weekly Lesson Plan

Some of the books we will read this week are:

• Water Dance by Thomas Locker 
• The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister 

Reminders / Notices:

• There is no after school on Monday, Feb. 5th.
• Our Valentine's Day Show is on Wednesday, February 14th, at 9:00 a.m.  Please dress your child in red, pink, or white!

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 January 29th !

 Theme for the month: Transportation

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

• I use transportation to get to pre-K and other places.
• We use different types of transportation for different reasons.
• Vehicles move in different ways.
• Some vehicles are operated by community helpers such as bus drivers,   conductors,  firefighters, police officers, and mail carriers.
• There are many ways to stay safe when using transportation.

Learning Activities and Centers:

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- 

The children will be invited to dip vehicle wheels into paint and then drive the vehicles on paper. Before children drive the vehicles on paper they will be asked to predict what they think will happen and why.

Science- Students are invited to create airplanes (with teacher support) and then will be asked to predict if their plane will fly, why or why not?

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

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.

Lesson Plan Link

Some of the books we will read this week are:

Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper

Subway by Christoph Niemann 

**Reminders / Notices**

• Dismissal is at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 2nd. 
• Parent - Teacher Conferences are on Friday, February 2nd. 

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 January 22!

 Theme for the month: Transportation

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

• I use transportation to get to pre-K and other places.
• We use different types of transportation for different reasons.
• Vehicles move in different ways.
• Some vehicles are operated by community helpers such as bus drivers, conductors,  firefighters, police officers, and mail carriers.
• There are many ways to stay safe when using transportation.

Learning Activities and Centers:

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- 

The children will be invited to dip vehicle wheels into paint and then drive the vehicles on paper. Before children drive the vehicles on paper they will be asked to predict what they think will happen and why.

Science- Students are invited to create airplanes (with teacher support) and then will be asked to predict if their plane will fly, why or why not?

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

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.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

Whose Vehicle Is This? by Sharon Katz Cooper 

 Tito the Firefighter (Tito el Bombero) by Tim Hoppey

Things That Go! Collection by National Geographic Kids 

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:**

• Dismissal is at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 2nd. 
• Parent - Teacher Conferences are on Friday, February 2nd. 

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 January 16th!

Theme for the month: Transportation

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

• I use transportation to get to pre-K and other places.
• We use different types of transportation for different reasons.
• Vehicles move in different ways.
• Some vehicles are operated by community helpers such as bus drivers, conductors, firefighters, police officers, and mail carriers
• There are many ways to stay safe when using transportation.

Learning Activities and Centers:

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 airplanes (with teacher support) and then will be asked to predict if their plane will fly, why or why not?

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

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.

Weekly Lesson Plan

Some of the books we will read this week are:

What Do Wheels Do All Day by April Jones Prince

Transportation in My Neighborhood by Shelly Lyons

Reminders / Notices:

A parent workshop, "Who's the Boss?", will be held on Wednesday, January 17th, at 8:30 in the library.  

Dear parents,

 If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 January 8th !

Theme for the month: Transportation

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

• I use transportation to get to pre-K and other places.
• We use different types of transportation for different reasons.
• Vehicles move in different ways. 
• Some vehicles are operated by community helpers such as bus drivers,    conductors, firefighters, police officers, and mail carriers.
• There are many ways to stay safe when using transportation.

Learning Activities and Centers:

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 airplanes (with teacher support) and then will be asked to predict if their plane will fly, why or why not?

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

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.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

Weekly Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

• School will be CLOSED on Monday January 15^th for Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday.
• A parent workshop, "Who's the Boss?", will be held on Wednesday, January 17th, at 8:30 in the library.  

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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 January 1st!!

Theme for the month:

Where We Live!

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

•  Homes are the places where we live.
• Animals and people have many different types of homes.
• Some animals live with people.
• People and animals make homes.

Lessons and activities for the week:

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 paint cardboard boxes to make a building and placed their picture on it. 

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- Lincoln Logs will be available for students to build homes.

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 paper, pencil and measuring tools such as rulers and protractors. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

Iggy Arquitect by Andrea Beaty

The Sleeping House by Audrey Woods 

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

School resumes Wednesday, January 3rd.

School is closed on Monday, January 15th.  

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that I, Mrs. Gonzalez or Mr. Woods are 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