We have finished Van Gogh and are now moving on to Giving Thanks!
Find Sebastian! :) .
We are learning about the pilgrims and their journey from England to America. The children were surprised to learn there were 100 people on the Mayflower, and that it only traveled at two miles per hour! That's a slow moving ship. We asked them which four items they would take on the Mayflower and it was amazing to hear what they would take...everything from a chicken for eggs and a cow for milk so they could make scrambled eggs (Zach!) and an iPad and cell phone. :) . We grouped items from either long ago or present day. All of the children thought that pilgrims had cell phones. GPS would have come in handy, and New England might have been Key West.
Math and Science:
The children mixed, measured and baked this week as we made Pumpkin Muffins and homemade bread. Not exactly like the pilgrims did it, but it was all delicious. For the muffins, just a can of pumpkin and a box of cake mix. No eggs or oil etc. It makes the most yummy muffins and is a good way to incorporate pumpkin into a dessert. Not exactly healthy but just an element of nutrients. Mrs. Dinelli helped out in our classroom while Ms. Yonan was off Wednesday and the children loved having her. We are so lucky to have her at Roycemore. Her extensive background in early childhood allows her to engage incredibly with the children at any given moment on any given theme. Pumpkin theme, apples, thanksgiving, all covered. She's just a joy and we all love working with her. They were also so sweet and made sure to save a pumpkin muffin for Ms. Yonan-who is amazing as well. Lucky kiddos.
We continued to work on the tricky teen numbers, grouping, categorizing, patterns, and correct number formation.
Literacy:
We wrote all of the things we are thankful for, using inventive spelling or copying words. Each piece of our Pumpkin Pie was sectioned into a slice of thankfulness. The children glued them together and finished them with dollops of pom poms/whipped cream. Spin them around to see all they are thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Fine Motor:
The children illustrated their Mayflower items they would take on the ship. It's fun to see the progression of detail in their art, along with their ability to work with all different utensils. Some made chickens and other sculptures with modeling clay. They are working on paper art with Ms. Stein. Cutting and layering different sheets and shapes of colored paper to create animals, either real or fictional. Carolyn's lion was incredible.
We are all a bit stir crazy on cold days when we are inside for recess. They love the climber and gross motor room toys and games, and venturing into the morning room for art and legos etc. We have had lots of fun in the snow this week too!
We drew our self portraits for November. They are displayed outside our room so take a look when you are picking up today!
You should have all received an email about Grandparent's and Special Friend's Day, and please feel free to attend the performance upstairs. The classroom is reserved for special friends and grandparents, just because it gets so incredibly crowded otherwise. Let me know if you do not have a friend or grandparent attending and we will be sure to pair your child up with someone.
Social/Emotional:
We did a compliment circle where we sit together and take turns giving a compliment and then pulling our legs in until everyone in the circle has had a turn and we are all sitting criss cross applesauce again. I loved hearing Dean tell Beatriz that he "likes all of her smiles!". It's so nice for the children to hear everything their friends like about them. If we practice this a lot in JK it becomes natural for them to look for things in people to compliment. We role play to help them work through tough situations and practice using the right words to express themselves.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Ms. Massey
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