Last week, we finished up our discussion about doctors and the many, varied parts that make up our bodies. The children were fascinated with the big book, Your Amazing Body, and seemed to like learning about their brains, heart, lungs, skeleton and nerves. We worked on sorting and categorizing doctor tools and healthy (and not so healthy) food choices that would help keep our bodies healthy.To identify body parts and reinforce the association, we tried to touch our elbows together and walk just on our heels to select a daily job.
We also started to learn about veterinarians and made the observation that a vet’s uses some of the same tools in his work as our doctors’ use on them! The children liked the story, I Want to be a Vet, as it showed how veterinarians work and the patients they see in their office as well as those they may have to make a house call to (to check horses, cows, etc.).How much is that doggie, cat, hamster, fish and/or pony in the window? These were the kinds of pets that the children wanted if they could select one. We did a graphing, counting activity to decide which pet was the most popular choice and the dogs won. Although a fish and hamster might make a pretty cool pet, they got the least amount of votes from our students. We worked on letter recognition and beginning letter sounds as we printed the letters of the names of the various animals. We also worked on listening, following direction, turn-taking, spatial concepts and number recognition as the children had to move an animal manipulative to a numbered area as directed. Some children recognized that some of their classmates had animals with matching designs or shapes to the ones they were holding.
This week we will be discussing dogs and how to care for them.
Over the next week, we will be using the following materials and/or engaging in these activities:
Books:Art Activities:
The Little Puppy– JudyDunnDog mask
Clifford’s Puppy Days – Norman Bridwell
The Dog Who Cried Wolf – K. Kasza
Songs/Fingerplays:Special Activities
BingoPet items added to the Science Table
How Much is that Doggie in the WindowHousecorner area changing into vet’s office
Happenings/Updates:
* Parent Helpers:
Elizabeth Thurber – Thursday, March 11th, 8:25 -8:50
Rene Heron – Thursday, March 18th, 8:25-8:50 (make-up)
Stephanie Cooke - March 25th, 8:25-8:50 (make-up)
Dan Morris – April 1st, 8:25-8:50
* New student – Callie Milliard will be starting in our preschool program on Monday 3/15. She enjoyed
her visit to our classroom so much she asked if she could stay the rest of the morning!
*Reminder- No school on Tuesday, 3/9/10 for the children who usually attend morning preschool - AM
and PM switch day.
*Mystery Can – The children are really enjoying this activity. To ensure that all the children get an equal turn to take the Mystery Can home, we are pulling names. The child who guesses the contents of the Mystery Can gets to pull the name of the next person to take the Mystery Can home. Once the child’s name is pulled, his/her name stick goes into the “already had a turn” container until every child has had a turn. Then we start the process all over again. Some of the children are getting anxious that they haven’t had a turn and others are having difficulty waiting for their second turn. We promise everyone will have a first turn to take the Mystery Can home although “round two” is moving up quickly!
