Week of April 30th!

Theme for the Month: 

Plants 

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

• Plants are living things; every part of a plant has an important function.
• Plants grow from seeds and need water, nutrients and light to live. 
• Plants are all around us.
• There are many different types of plants.
• Plants are important for many reasons.

LEARNING CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES:

Blocks- The teacher will wrap blocks in green, brown and other color papers and invite children to use them to create stems, tree trunks, soil etc.  Paper, scissors, and tape will be supplied for children to create leaves, flowers etc. to add to their plants. Pictures of plants will be available for children to reference as they build. Teacher will discuss the parts of the plants and types of plants they are creating, highlighting vocabulary words such as branch, flower, leaves and stem. 

Pretend Play-The teacher will turn Dramatic Play into a farmers market by adding pretend vegetables and fruits,flowers containers and pictures of flower ,cash register, notepad, writing utensils etc. Children can pretend to make, buy and sell fruits, vegetable or floral arrangements.

Art- The teacher will supply pipe cleaners as well as tissue paper circles. Children can pierce the middle of the tissue paper circles with the pipe cleaner, adding as many as they would like, then fold the circles up to create a flower. After creating these flowers children can use them in the Dramatic Play flower shop.

Science- The teacher will provide individual pictures of the plant life cycle. Students will be asked to sequence the pictures. The teacher will provide pictures /diagrams for children to refer to as they play and talk with them about each stage in the life cycle. 

Math- The teacher will cut out several paper watermelons. The children will paste cut-out seeds to their watermelon Children will be encouraged to write the corresponding number of seeds. 

Library- The teachers will create a felt board with pieces that represent the growth of a plant. The children will be invited to sequence the pieces. The teacher will use the appropriate vocabulary words with children such as seed, bud, bulb, seedling and sprout to scaffold children’s learning.

Writing- The teacher will write letters on index cards. The children will be provided with seeds to place on the letters. The teacher will talk with children about the letters they chose to create and some of the words that start with those letters. Children will be encouraged to glue the seeds on to the letters. 

Technology-  Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

• The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
• Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehler

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders

• Thursday, May 3rd is Picture Day!
• On Friday, May 11th, we are celebrating Mother's Day! Muffins with Mom will take place in the gym at 9:00 a.m. 

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 April 23rd!

Theme for the Month: 

Plants 

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

•   Plants are living things; every part of a plant has an important function.
•   Plants grow from seeds and need water, nutrients and light to live. 
•   Plants are all around us.
•   There are many different types of plants.
•    Plants are important for many reasons.

LEARNING CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES:

Blocks- The teacher will wrap blocks in green, brown and other color papers and invite children to use them to create stems, tree trunks, soil etc.  Paper, scissors, and tape will be supplied for children to create leaves, flowers etc. to add to their plants. Pictures of plants will be available for children to reference as they build. Teacher will discuss the parts of the plants and types of plants they are creating, highlighting vocabulary words such as branch, flower, leaves and stem. 

Pretend Play-The teacher will turn Dramatic Play into a farmers market by adding pretend vegetables and fruits,flowers containers and pictures of flower ,cash register, notepad, writing utensils etc. Children can pretend to make, buy and sell fruits, vegetable or floral arrangements.

Art- The teacher will supply pipe cleaners as well as tissue paper circles. Children can pierce the middle of the tissue paper circles with the pipe cleaner, adding as many as they would like, then fold the circles up to create a flower. After creating these flowers children can use them in the Dramatic Play flower shop.

Science- The teacher will provide individual pictures of the plant life cycle. Students will be asked to sequence the pictures. The teacher will provide pictures /diagrams for children to refer to as they play and talk with them about each stage in the life cycle. 

Math- The teacher will cut out several paper watermelons. The children will paste cut-out seeds to their watermelon Children will be encouraged to write the corresponding number of seeds. 

Library- The teachers will create a felt board with pieces that represent the growth of a plant. The children will be invited to sequence the pieces. The teacher will use the appropriate vocabulary words with children such as seed, bud, bulb, seedling and sprout to scaffold children’s learning.

Writing- The teacher will write letters on index cards. The children will be provided with seeds to place on the letters. The teacher will talk with children about the letters they chose to create and some of the words that start with those letters. Children will be encouraged to glue the seeds on to the letters. 

Technology-  Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are

The Orange Spot by Dianna Hutts 
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders (Mark your calendar) 

• Our Spring Show will be on Tuesday, April 24^th at 9:00a.m.
• Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 27^th. 
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on April 27^th from 3p.m. to 8 p.m

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 April 16!

Theme for the month:

Plants 

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

•   Plants are living things; every part of a plant has an important function.
•   Plants grow from seeds and need water, nutrients and light to live. 
•   Plants are all around us.
•   There are many different types of plants.
•    Plants are important for many reasons.

LEARNING CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES:

Blocks- The teacher will wrap blocks in green, brown and other color papers and invite children to use them to create stems, tree trunks, soil etc.  Paper, scissors, and tape will be supplied for children to create leaves, flowers etc. to add to their plants. Pictures of plants will be available for children to reference as they build. Teacher will discuss the parts of the plants and types of plants they are creating, highlighting vocabulary words such as branch, flower, leaves and stem. 

Pretend Play-The teacher will turn Dramatic Play into a farmers market by adding pretend vegetables and fruits,flowers containers and pictures of flower ,cash register, notepad, writing utensils etc. Children can pretend to make, buy and sell fruits, vegetable or floral arrangements.

Art- The teacher will supply pipe cleaners as well as tissue paper circles. Children can pierce the middle of the tissue paper circles with the pipe cleaner, adding as many as they would like, then fold the circles up to create a flower. After creating these flowers children can use them in the Dramatic Play flower shop.

Science- The teacher will provide individual pictures of the plant life cycle. Students will be asked to sequence the pictures. The teacher will provide pictures /diagrams for children to refer to as they play and talk with them about each stage in the life cycle. 

Math- The teacher will cut out several paper watermelons, add a number to each one, and ask children to put the appropriate number of seeds on each watermelon.Students are encouraged to write the corresponding number.

Library- The teachers will create a felt board with pieces that represent the growth of a plant. The children will be invited to sequence the pieces. The teacher will use the appropriate vocabulary words with children such as seed, bud, bulb, seedling and sprout to scaffold children’s learning.

Writing- The teacher will write letters on index cards. The children will be provided with seeds to place on the letters. The teacher will talk with children about the letters they chose to create and some of the words that start with those letters. Children will be encouraged to glue the seeds on to the letters. 

Technology-  Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlers

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders (Mark your calendar) 

• Our Spring Show will be on Tuesday, April 24^th at 9:00a.m.
• Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 27^th. 
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on April 27^th from 3p.m. to 8 p.m

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 April 9th!

Theme for the month:

Plants 

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

•   Plants are living things; every part of a plant has an important function.
•   Plants grow from seeds and need water, nutrients and light to live. 
•   Plants are all around us.
•   There are many different types of plants.
•    Plants are important for many reasons.

LEARNING CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES:

Blocks- The teacher will wrap blocks in green, brown and other color papers and invite children to use them to create stems, tree trunks, soil etc.  Paper, scissors, and tape will be supplied for children to create leaves, flowers etc. to add to their plants. Pictures of plants will be available for children to reference as they build. Teacher will discuss the parts of the plants and types of plants they are creating, highlighting vocabulary words such as branch, flower, leaves and stem. 

Pretend Play- The teacher will turn Dramatic Play into a flower shop by adding pretend flowers, containers and pictures of flower arrangements as well as a cash register, notepad, writing utensils etc. Children can pretend to make, buy and sell floral arrangements. Vocabulary words such as bouquet, floral arrangement, florist, and flower will be highlighted.

Art- The teacher will supply pipe cleaners as well as tissue paper circles. Children can pierce the middle of the tissue paper circles with the pipe cleaner, adding as many as they would like, then fold the circles up to create a flower. After creating these flowers children can use them in the Dramatic Play flower shop.

Science- The teacher will provide individual pictures of the plant life cycle. Students will be asked to sequence the pictures. The teacher will provide pictures /diagrams for children to refer to as they play and talk with them about each stage in the life cycle. 

Math- The teacher will cut out several paper watermelons, add a number to each one, and ask children to put the appropriate number of seeds on each watermelon.Students are encouraged to write the corresponding number.

Library- The teachers will create a felt board with pieces that represent the growth of a plant. The children will be invited to sequence the pieces. The teacher will use the appropriate vocabulary words with children such as seed, bud, bulb, seedling and sprout to scaffold children’s learning.

Writing- The teacher will write letters on index cards. The children will be provided with seeds to place on the letters. The teacher will talk with children about the letters they chose to create and some of the words that start with those letters. Children will be encouraged to glue the seeds on to the letters. 

Technology-  Weekly learning games on iPads are provided.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

Some of the books we will read this week are

• Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
• How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan 

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders (Mark your calendar) 

• Our Spring Show will be on Tuesday, April 24^th at 9:00a.m.
• Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 27^th. 
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on April 27^th from 3p.m. to 8 p.m

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 March 19th!

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 campsite will be created in the dramatic center for students to pretend they are going camping. 

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 will 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 use playdough with the children and model rolling the playdough into thin lines. Children  will be invited to use the lines to create various letters, numbers and shapes.

Some of the books we will read this week are:

• Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch 
• Light and Shadow by Clyde Roberts 

Lesson Plan Link

Reminders / Notices:

• School is closed on 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 March 12th!

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 campsite will be created in the dramatic center for students to pretend they are going camping. 

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 will 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:

All About Light by Lisa Trumbauer 

 How a Seed Grows by Helene Jordan

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 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