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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Autumn!

Here is a simple apple pie matching game to make for your ABC center: print off pie clip art and apple slices, cut & laminate, and write upper/lower case letters. You could easily change out the letters with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser..OR you could switch it and make it a math game! Students can record their letter or number matches on paper, white board, or even a magnadoodle! 
Mmmmm...the smells of Autumn!  We passed around spices, used our "sense of smell," and guessed what the spices could be!  Here are some of the spices we smelled: cinnamon, cloves, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, and dried orange spice (Target!). After smelling the spices, students can create spice art! Mix a little watered down white glue with spices. Use paint brushes and thick paper. Students will take home some sweet smelling paintings! 
We set up a practical life station during centers. Students were able to grate their own cinnamon! I found these large cinnamon sticks at an Amish bakery but McCormick sells smaller cinnamon sticks (near the spices in the baking aisle of the grocery store).

I don't think I will ever get this song out of my head!  The kids love it and it is quite catchy! "Herman the Worm" by The Learning Station.  We gave each student a worm (half of a pipe cleaner). This song includes counting, sequencing, and measurement!  Students stuff their "worm" in their hand and as Herman eats, students pull out a little bit more of their pipe cleaner..showing small, bigger, longer!! ..and then he burps! ..and he goes back to small again.. It's a fun song!! doowop doowop! 
Here is another activity we did this week... I first saw the idea on kindergartenkindergarten.com.  It's called "Find the Worm."  I printed off apples..laminated them...and then used a sharpie to write the numerals, number words, and counting dots.  (Write over the laminate..so then later you can wipe it off and use the apples for something else!) We used a small piece of green pipe cleaner for the worm..yarn would work too..(or how about one of those rubber fishing worms!? ..maybe next year!)  We played this activity every day this week as an intro. game for our math group time.  The apples were arranged in a different pattern each day...ABAB..ABC..ABBA.. and after the worm was found I had extra apples on hand so the students could take turns finishing the pattern... Another way to play: Hand out the apples to the students..then they take turns arranging the apples in order...then one student could hide the worm.  Patterning, number identification, counting, colors, and ordering...LOVE IT!

Other things we did with apples this week:

-Finished simple patterns with real apples and created our own patterns with real apples!

-Graphed apples and taste tested apple butter!

-Measured ourselves with real apples, compared heights, and took turns measuring things around the classroom (with apples!)


-Played "Pin the Apple on the Tree" ..used the apples from the pocket chart, masking tape, scarf for blindfold, and butcher paper tree.

-Played "Meet Me at the Top of the Apple Tree" game.. the class was split into two teams. We laid out our butcher paper tree on the carpet and I had drawn a grid up the trunk. Teams rolled a jumbo dice and raced their beanie babies up the tree! (We used a worm and a snake..a chipmunk or bird would work too! OR print off clip art and laminate!) 

-We went apple picking! Red pom poms were hidden all over the classroom. Students worked with partners to collect 5 apples in their baskets. (We used berry baskets that I scored at a garage sale!)  Students had to determine with their partners if they had five apples, more than five, or less than five.

-Apple Eruptions!!! ..Students took turns stirring a bowl  filled with a cup of baking soda and some spices (Students used their sense of smell and they chose their spices..cinnamon, apple pie spice, etc.)...  Then, we dropped food coloring (experimented with a couple of colors!) into vinegar. I cut out holes on the tops of apples..Students took turns filling the apples with the baking soda mixture and (carefully) pouring the vinegar over top. We watched and listened to all the millions of  tiny popping bubbles.. At one point, we decided to try three apples at one time, each apple with a different color.. and then we watched the colors mix. This activity allowed students to use their senses, predict, experiment, and witness cause and effect! It was a super cool experiment that I highly recommend!  
Click here for more fall fun from Pre-K Tweets! 



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Pre-K, Pre-K...what do YOU see?

It all started with introducing one of our new art materials...paint daubers!  I love how this project turned out and how documenting student work through questioning allowed us to see what THEY see and what is being learned! My lovely new assistant provided us with the daubers that she got for free! Students were asked questions like "Tell me about your art? (Using describing words, vocabulary, and complete sentences!!) How did you make it..how did you start?  (higher level thinking and intro. to sequencing!!!!) What happens when? (cause and effect!)" ...a little giddy here.. :) I took some photo documentation of students focusing on their art..sharing..mixing colors..etc. I love to sneak a photo of them when they're not watching! :) The art was also matted..I remember my art teacher that I had from kindergarten to third grade..she always matted our work..no matter how simple it was..It made me feel important and that I was a true artist! Documentation is great for keeping in student portfolios to re-visit with students and to show at conferences.  

LOVE!!!






We had a chat about how colors make us feel! I love to see their new knowledge shine!


bet you didn't see that coming! 

patterning!! 



We have been singing square and circle songs lately! 
I see it now..can YOU?

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Michaels finds for the classroom!

A fellow teacher told me about this one.. felt board sets for only around $7!! I picked up the Under the Sea and Little Red Riding Hood sets, but couldn't find the Three Little Pigs...which is advertised on the back of the package. They also carry these sets: Dinosaurs, Fire Station, Princesses, Mermaids, Transportation, Space, Pirates, Alphabet, and Numbers.  I was thinking about buying zipper pencil cases to store the pieces. 
99 cents each ~ Wooden napkin rings for my pretend center..I am going for a more natural look this year! They match the wicker plate holders I used for plates last year...
Wooden seed packet signs... for Farmer's market pretend center... 49 cents each!
And  I just couldn't pass this up..
small pop up tent for camping theme at the end of the year  :)
 ~ on clearance for 7 bucks!!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Organize in style!

Had to put my cart in reverse as I passed (and almost missed!)
this adorable chevron planner at Target!
(Doesn't a monagram make everything better? How cool would these letters be in your blocks center?! ..purchased at Michael's craft store) 
Grey + Pink...two of my favorite colors..this planner was destined to be mine!  I always choose a planner that shows the whole month at a time..I have to see the whole thing! : )
In between the month calendars there are pages to write in extra notes.. The planner is made by Dabne Lee/Blue Sky and cost around $7...

Summer Shopping Finds!

I found these handmade wooden tops at a local flea market called Persimmon Hollow.  The man who carved these also carves all kinds of handmade wooden toys including cars and trains..I would love to go back and buy the train set for my blocks area.  Wouldn't these tops be great to pull out on a rainy day? I could imagine how students would contemplate trying to make their tops go faster or even spin longer..or what surfaces they spin on best!  Great for fine motor too!  He carves small and large tops..the small are $1 and the large are $2
I ran across these ABC and mosaic tiles in Michael's craft store....I think they would be fun to use on a light table!  
I picked up these old cell phones at a garage sale...perfect to enhance communication skills in pretend center...I had a few last year and the kids loved them! I think I will use these  when  I start incorporating the Highscope "Plan, Do, Review" process! Can't wait! 
I also want to incorporate more practical life actiivties/trays.  I found this garlic press and citrus squeezer at Dollar Tree!  Set out a tray with an empty bowl, a bowl of water, some cut up sponges and these squeezers..  or use an ice cube tray! I saw this idea on Counting Coconuts blog ..one to one correspondence, counting, fine motor, practical life skills!

Check out my pinboard for more practical life activities:  http://pinterest.com/thepinkido/to-learn-practical-life/

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Chevron First Day of School Signs




Check out these cute chevron first day signs on sale now in the Pre-K Tweets TPT shop!  Take photos of students holding these signs on the first day! I like to take the photos with the playground in the background.. parents love them! 

Freebie! Printable chevron teacher favorites list!

Freebie!! Download this cute chevron teacher favorites printable for FREE!

Follow the links below:

(blue/pink) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Favorites-List-731150
(yellow/gray) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Favorites-List-731153

Send this filled out printable home in your beginning of the year info. packets...OR give to fellow co-workers so you keep track of all your teacher friends' birthdays/favorites!