Week of January7th !!

Reminders / Notices:

• School is closed on January 16th for a teacher workshop.
• 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 kinds of light are around us?   

Focused Learning activity for the week:

Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Tavares will be working with students in the science center.  They will teach the students how to use and care for a light table.  An arrangement of items will be added to the science center in order for children to explore on the light table.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CKW.6 (Science): Acquires knowledge about the physical properties of the world.

Foundational text for the week: 

Round Trip by Ann Jonas

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard addressed:

PK.CLL.1 (Reading Standards for Literature): With Prompting and support, ask and answer about details in a text.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• Where were the people going on the trip?
• How did the people in this story get to the city?
• Have you ever gone on a trip? Where did you go? How did you get there?

Level 2: Skill / Concept

• The trip started as soon as it was light. What does that mean? What time of the day did the trip start?
• Why was the neighborhood quiet, the houses dark and the stores closed when the trip started?
• Why do we turn on lights when it is dark?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• When the people got to the city they saw a lot of lights. Why?
• The people in this book rode in a car and on the subway. Do cars and subways have lights? Why?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• What do you notice about the pictures in this book? Why do you think the illustrator only used black and white?
• What color does the illustrator use to show light?
• What color does the illustrator use to show darkness? Why?

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- Clear contact paper and tissue paper will be added to the art center in order for students to make "stained glass windows."

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 manipulatives with their shadow.

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

Writing-  Students will use flashlights to aid them in drawing a picture under the writing table.  

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

Week of December 31st!!

Welcome Back and Happy New Year To All!

Thank you parents for all the wonderful gifts and your donations for our Holiday Party. 

WEEKLY REMINDERS: Mark your calendars! 

• School Closed on Wednesday, January 16th for Teacher Professional Development Day . 
• Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, February 1st .
• Parent – Teacher Conferences will be on Friday, November  1st , from 3pm – 8pm.  

Unit Topic:

Where We Live

Essential Question for the Unit:

Where do the people and animals around me live?

Focus Question for this Week:

How do people and animals make homes?

Focused Learning Activity for this Week: 

The students will continue to learn about animals habitat and research how animals make their homes.

• Pictures of animals and their habitats will be added to the science center.  Students will be encouraged to talk about the arrangement of animals as well as the arrangement of habitats.  They will then be asked to match the pictures, placing the animal in the appropriate habitat.  Students will be asked why or how they made the matches. The teacher will ask students higher order thinking questions, such as, "why do you think an animal would need thick fur to live in the arctic? “How do you think animals make their home?” 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.CKW.5 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of living things.

Foundational Text for the Week: 

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.CKW.8 (Social Studies): Demonstrates interest and awareness about a wide variety of careers and work environments.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• What was the first thing Iggy built?
• Why didn’t Iggy’s teacher like building and architecture?
• What happened to the bridge Iggy’s class crossed on the way to the picnic?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

• What is an architect?
• How does Iggy know how to build so many different things?
• Iggy builds with many different things, what are some things you use for building?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• How do you think Iggy’s parents felt about all of his building?
• How do you think Ms. Lila Greer felt about all of Iggy’s building at the beginning of the story?
• How do you think Iggy felt when Ms. Lila Greer told him he could not build at school anymore
• How did he feel when she told him he could build at school again?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• Iggy loved to build. What do you love to do?
• How would you feel if someone told you to stop doing something you loved?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

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 continue to decorate a building facade that will be used in the pretend play area.  

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- People figures, number cards, and pictures of homes will be placed in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to pick a number card, and place the corresponding number of people into a home.

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 write and wipe blueprints mat. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information about 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.

Week of December 17!!

WEEKLY REMINDERS:

• Our Holiday Party will be on Wednesday, December 19th!  Pizza will be provided for the children for lunch.
• Our Holiday Presentation will be on Thursday, December 20th at 9:00 a.m.
• There is No after-school on Thursday, December 20th. 
• Christmas break begins on Thursday, December 20th at Dismissal.  School resumes on January 3rd.

Unit Topic:

Where We Live

Essential Question for the Unit:

Where do the people and animals around me live?

Focus Question for this Week:

What types of homes do the people in my city (NYC) live in?

Focused Learning Activity for this Week:

• Pictures of animals and their habitats will be added to the science center.  Students will be encouraged to talk about the arrangement of animals as well as the arrangement of habitats.  They will then be asked to match the pictures, placing the animal in the appropriate habitat.  Students will be asked why or how they made the matches. The teacher will ask students higher order thinking questions, such as, "why do you think an animal would need thick fur to live in the arctic?

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.CKW.5 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of living things.

Foundational Text for the Week: 

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf

by Mark Teague

Note: This version of the classic tale, The Three Little Pigs does not glorify violence or show violence in a graphic or frightening way.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.CKW.1 (Technology): Describes types of materials and how they’re used.

QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK:

Level 1: Recall

• When the farmer and his wife moved to Florida, what did the pigs want to do with the money the farmer and his wife paid them?
• What did the first pig use to build his house? What did the second pig use to build his house?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

• How do you think the first and second pigs felt when the wolf blew their houses down?
• How do you think the first and second pigs felt when they got to the third pig’s house?
• How do you think the third pig felt about sharing her house with the other pigs?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

• Why couldn’t the wolf knock down the brick house?
• The wolf was very hungry so at the end of the story the pigs shared their food with him.
• What else could he have done to get food instead of trying to blow down the pigs’ houses?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

• The pigs used straw, sticks and bricks to build their homes; if you could build your own home what materials would you use? Why?
• When all of the pigs lived together in the brick house the third little pig asked all of them to clean their rooms. What are some things you can do at home to be helpful?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

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 continue to decorate a building facade that will be used in the pretend play area.  

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- People figures, number cards, and pictures of homes will be placed in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to pick a number card, and place the corresponding number of people into a home.

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 write and wipe blueprints mat. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information about 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.

Week of December 10th!

WEEKLY REMINDERS:

•Our Holiday Presentation will be on Thursday, December 20th at 9:00 a.m.

•There is No after-school on Thursday, December 20th. 

•Christmas break begins on Thursday, December 20th at Dismissal. School resumes on    

   January 3rd.

Unit Topic:

Where We Live

Essential Question for the Unit:

Where do the people and animals around me live?

Focus Question for this Week:

Where do people and animals live?

Focused Learning Activity for this Week:

•Pictures of animals and their habitats will be added to the science center.  Students will be encouraged to talk about the arrangement of animals as well as the arrangement of habitats.  They will then be asked to match the pictures, placing the animal in the appropriate habitat.  Students will be asked why or how they made the matches. The teacher will ask students higher order thinking questions, such as, "why do you think an animal would need thick fur to live in the arctic?

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.CKW.5 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of living things.

Foundational Text for the Week: A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.CKW.11 (Reading Standards for Literature): With prompting and support, make connections between self, text and the world around them (text, media, social interaction).

Questions that will be asked throughout the week: 

Level 1: Recall

•Why did Hermit Crab need a new house?

•Hermit Crab liked the way his new house felt, but did not like the way it looked. Why 

          didn’t Hermit Crab like the way the house looked?

•What are some of the things Hermit Crab used to decorate his house?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

•What are some things you like about where you live?

•Hermit Crab invited many friends to live with him; who lives with you?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

•Hermit crab added many things to his home, which one do you like best? Why?

•When the Smaller Crab moved into Hermit Crab’s house she promised to be good to 

          his friends. 

         How do you take good care of your friends?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

•Hermit Crab was very polite and used his manners when he asked the sea creature to 
decorate his house; when do you use your manners?

•What do you think Hermit Crab would have done if the sea creatures he asked to 

          decorate his house said no?

•Hermit Crab moved two times in this story; have you ever moved to a new home? How 

         did you feel about moving?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

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 continue to decorate a building facade that will be used in the pretend play area.  

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- People figures, number cards, and pictures of homes will be placed in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to pick a number card, and place the corresponding number of people into a home.

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 write and wipe blueprints mat. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information about 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.

Week of December 3rd!!

WEEKLY REMINDERS:

• Our Holiday Presentation will be on Thursday, December 20th at 9:00 a.m.

• Christmas break begins on Thursday, December 20th at Dismissal.  School resumes on January 3rd.

Unit Topic:

Where We Live

Essential Question for the Unit:

Where do the people and animals around me live?

Focus Question for this Week:

Where do I live? Where do my family members live?

Focused Learning Activities for this Week:

• Students will be encouraged to discover blueprints in the writing center and create their own building blueprint with blue paper and chalk.

• Students will then be able to use what they created in the writing center to guide them in making their building come to life in the block center.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.CKW.3 (Social Studies): Demonstrates knowledge of the relationship between people, places, and regions. 

Foundational Text for the Week: 

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.CKW.6 (Speaking and Listening Standards): Demonstrate an emergent ability to express thoughts, feelings and ideas.

Questions that will be asked throughout the week: 

Level 1: Recall

How did the big orange splot get on Mr. Plumbean’s house?

What did the neighbors want Mr. Plumbean to do about the splot?

What did Mr. Plumbean do when he painted his house?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

Why were the neighbors upset that Mr. Plumbean changed his house?

Why do you think Mr. Plumbean changed his house at night?

What happened when the neighbors talked to Mr. Plumbean at night?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Do you like the changes Mr. Plumbean made to his house? Why or why not?

Which house on Mr. Plumbean’s street do you like best? Why?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

Why do you think Mr. Plumbean changed his house?

If you lived on Mr. Plumbean’s street, how would you paint your house? Why?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

Blocks- Children will be provided with pictures of different types of homes and buildings in block center. Children will be encouraged to discuss what shapes they can use to recreate the structures. 

Pretend Play- Children will be encouraged to decorate a building facade that will be used in the pretend play area.

Art-Children will be supplied with popsicle sticks in order for them to create a home by gluing sticks onto paper.

Science- Children will be able to identify the different habitats that animals live in. Children will be encouraged to use pictures to match the animals to the habitats. 

Math- Children will be provided with people figures, number cards, and pictures of homes which will  be placed in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to pick a number card, and place the corresponding number of people into a home.

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 write and wipe blueprint mats. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information about 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.