Fine Motor Practice and Patterning (Cog 4) Recognizes and makes patterns

Stringing pony beads in a pattern addresses the ability to visually pattern as well as develop fine motor skills.

Children selected 10 beads of one color and ten of another and then strung using an ABAB pattern.  We also practice motor patterns and musical patterns during Instructional Circle.

Discovery Center is forced Forsythia.

Informational Text-Understanding that texts have different purposes.

Informational Text, also known as non-fiction, offers students an opportunity to discover facts about topics that interest them.  We had a very interesting discussion about caves after perusing these fun books, complete with "flashlights" for viewing  underground caves. 

TINY TOWN HAS ARRIVED!

The students constructed individual houses or apartments using recycled boxes, paper, glue and tape.  These structures were then used to create a tiny community in which to play.  We've added other infrastructures such as schools, services such as Police, Fire Stations etc.  Small figures of people and animals, as well as vehicles has allowed for imaginary play (CRE 3) as well as development of several Personal and Social skills (PS 7,8,9) and Physical Skills (PHY 1,2)  

Reward for great behavior was a fun day of "camping."

CONSTRUCTION ZONE IS HUMMING ALONG!

Hammer and nails, great fine motor practice!

CHEERING FOR UCONN!

MARCH MADNESS WRAPS UP UP UP!

UNLIKE THE ACTUAL "MARCH MADNESS" OUR DRAMATIC PLAY CENTER HAS ENDED.  IT WAS GREAT TAKING SHOTS AND PRACTICING OUR CHEERS! (CREATIVE EXPRESSION 3-REPRESENTS EXPERIENCES AND FANTASIES IN PRETEND PLAY)

MARCH MADNESS IN PREKINDERGARTEN, CHEERING, WRITING TO THE TEAMS AND OF COURSE, TAKING SHOTS!

THE CONSTRUCTION SITE IS OPEN AND OPERATIONAL

CONSTRUCTION WORK ZONE HAS TWO PARTS, A RICE PT WITH ALL THE TRUCKS WE READ ABOUT IN "BULLDOZER'S BIG DAY" AND SOME CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TO MAKE SURE THE JOB GETS DONE RIGHT!

CONSTRUCTION TOYS BY MELISSA AND DOUG HELP US DEVELOP FINE MOTOR SKILLS

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES USING RECYCLED MATERIALS

WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THOSE MACHINES WORK

GRADUATED SIZING WITH BOLTS

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Chinese New Year and Mathematical Concepts

Children were given the opportunity to engage with artifacts related to Chinese culture.  

The rice table is a sensory opportunity as well.

Games during Instructional Centers revisit concepts such as shape identification, patterning and sorting.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS GROUPS WITH MRS. MAY

Children used pinchers to grasp rubber animals.  Laying on their tummies provided children with an opportunity to cross midline and develop balance.

Post Office Drama Center-Authentic Writing and Reading

The children used the Post Office Drama Center to communicate with friends and family.  Performance Standards Cognitive 13 & 14 were addressed within the play-based learning.  Cognitive 13 "Identifies printed words" was addressed through labeled mailboxes with friends' names as well as bins for stamps, paper and envelopes.  Cognitive 14 "Uses writing to convey meaning" was in every corner of our Post Office, from writing using scribbles to some students utilizing an alphabet strip and writing messages using invented spelling.