With the sun shining, the leaves falling and a crispness in the air. Pre-K was ready to start learning about the changing of the season. The sights of fall were all around as we enjoyed a busy morning in Alexander Park
Apples, Apples, Apples.
Here is something you might not have known. Inside every apple you will find a star. The children were so excited to see this surprise.
Time for the Pre-K chefs to get busy.
Before you guess what's cooking. Read about the benefits of cooking with your children.
How Cooking Can Help Preschoolers
Bringing kids into the kitchen can benefit them in a number of ways. Cooking can help:
Build basic skills. You can help your child hone basic math skills by doing something as simple as counting eggs or pouring water into a measuring cup. You can ask what comes first, second, and third or count together as you spoon dough onto a cookie sheet. When you read a recipe together, you're introducing new words to your child's vocabulary and promoting literacy. Following steps in the recipe can work on listening skills.
Encourage an adventurous palate. Preschoolers are notoriously picky eaters, and bringing them into the kitchen to cook can help get them to open up to new tastes. When your 3-year-old daughter plays chef she might sample dishes she wouldn't try if you just served them to her. So encourage kids to taste new ingredients you're working with and talk about what they like and how healthy foods make a body grow.
Help young kids explore with their senses. Kids learn by exploring with their senses and the kitchen is an ideal place to do that. Invite them to listen to the whir of the mixer, pound dough and watch it rise, smell it baking in the oven, and finally taste the warm bread fresh from the oven. If it smells good, looks appealing, and is easy to eat they may just be willing to try it!
Boost confidence. Preschoolers love to show what they can do and working in the kitchen provides opportunities to gain a sense of accomplishment. If they helped assemble the pizza, let them know that their help was important. You could name the pizza or another dish after your child. Serve "Will's Pizza" or "Ella's Salad" for dinner tonight. Even if the end results are not exactly what you expected, praise their efforts.
Applesauce time.
After a long hand washing, a little direction and being informed about how hot the pan will get. We were all excited to cut and smash apples to make applesauce. The true test was to see who would taste it. I was impressed they all gave it a taste. Some bigger than others. But no one said no.
How fun is this!!!!!!
Can you balance an apple on your head? Pre-K can. It's a great family challenge. Give it a try.
We couldn't let the kids show us up!!!
Time to get busy.
Apple number tree match. The kids had to look at the number on the board. Then glue an apple on the tree to cover it. Great job everyone!!!. And surprise an apple tree when they were done.
Free choice
Question of the Day.
This week we introduced question of the day. This will often be related to what we are studying. This gives the children a chance to hear a question and decide what the answer should be. they loved counting the responses at the end.
Putting their name on the board was very exciting!!
Classroom Art
Tissue paper stained glass apples now brighten our classroom window.
Filling in the apples was fun. But the best part was watching the apples go through the laminator. We had quite a discussion on how the laminator works.
Apple Trees
Actually no apples. But a lot of stickers.
Taste Testing
Specials
Art Class
Keeping with our fall theme. The kids used water color paints to color the leaves with Mrs. Lorenz.
French Class
We have now added bleu (blue) to our color vocabulary. We also reviewed the colors we have learned looking at the colors on our rug with Madame.
Music Class
Having fun with Ms. Redmann. Tapping sticks, listening to the sounds and movement!
PE
We love the gym with Coach Long and Coach B.
Library
Miss Hilda stayed with our fall theme reading Apples and Pumpkins.
Next week we will continue with more fun fall activities. Including our field trip.
There has been some questions regarding our field trip so I wanted to make sure everyone had all the necessary information: When: Friday, October 22 (We will leave school at 9 am and return at 12 pm). Where: The Grove - Fall Program Who: Early Childhood (PK, JK, K) What: We will go on a hayride, trail walk in the Savanna Woodlands and visit the Interpretive Center Other important info: Please make sure to pack a paper bag lunch that day. We will have a picnic lunch before returning to school.
Please have your child wear their Roycemore T-shirt for the field trip that day!
The week of October 25th we will be celebrating Halloween and having fun with pumpkin activities. Please have your child bring a pumpkin to class. Not too big!
Watch for more info to come out about costumes and parties.
If you have any questions. please let me know. Enjoy the changing colors of the season this weekend.