Week of March 5th!

                         Theme for the month: Light

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

• There are many types of lights in our homes and our cities.
• Light helps us see and stay warm.
• Light helps plants grow. 
• When there is little or no light it is dark. 
• Shadows appear when an object blocks light

LEARNING CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES:

Blocks: Students will be invited to build in front of paper, then shine a flashlight on the structure. Students will be encouraged to trace the shadows on the paper.  

Dramatic Play: A shadow play will be created with a white sheet of paper and a light source behind it. The children will be encouraged to go behind it to retell familiar stories or create one of their own. 

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 with 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 for children to explore on the light table. 

Math: Students will be provided with glow sticks as they build with Magna-Tiles. Students encouraged to place the glow sticks 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.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

• Round Trip by Ann Jonas
• Can’t You Sleep Little Bear? by Martin Waddell

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

School is closed on March 13th and March 22nd.

School is closed from March 26 to April 9th for spring break

Dear parents, 

If you have any questions about the UPK for All program that the teacher or school is 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 26th!

 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 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.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

• Float by Daniel Miyares 
• Water Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keatz 

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

• PreK For All Parent Workshop on Fun with Feelings with Annette Castro at  8:15 AM in the Library
• Please fill out and return the school surveys that were sent home last week. 
• Friday, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss Day!  Children are invited to come to school dressed as their favorite Dr. Seuss Character.

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 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