The afternoon session of Prekindergarten was treated to pancakes thanks to a parent who donated her time and all of the ingredients.  Children got to make their own batter and then enjoy some delicious pancakes, complete with choice of bananas, strawberries, blueberries, syrup and whipped cream.  Here friends await instructions.

Yummy!  We practice using our forks to cut.

Thanks for an extra-special afternoon!

And of course, we had to hear the story of what happens "If You Give A Pig A Pancake!"

Social Studies Strand B: Early Learning experiences will support children to learn about people and the environment.

Children worked in cooperative groups to create maps of our classroom.  Children were exposed to town and state maps.

Learning their addresses.

These are the houses the children created.  Some were based on photos parents sent to school.  

This big book was read in class.  The lesson targeted not only concepts of print, but emphasized making predictions, recognizing similarities and differences and appreciating the gifts of exceptional individuals.

Shave cream play-sensory and an opportunity to write and draw

It feels good and smells good!

A whole body activity...

Some children built snowpeople.

These friends drew together.

Some children spent time squeezing the cream between their fingers.

A child uses shaving cream to smear and engage in a sensory experience.

Words tell about pictures...

Students drew pictures of their homes and dictated to their teacher.  The idea that words tell about pictures, that pictures go with words, assists emerging readers to make meaning of text.

A left over pile of snow...

Left over snow still provides fun.  Please remember we go out in all kinds of weather and if there isn't snow, there's probably mud.  Please dress accordingly and thanks for all of your parental support in 2017!

Puppet Show Today!

Our Prekindergarten programs use "Second Step" which is a social-emotional learning program.  Here, friends ready the puppet theater for an upcoming performance about accidents.  Mrs. Davis and two friends shared the chalk to write the word "puppet" as we've been learning about sounds, letters and syllables.

Our two capable puppet-masters, Mrs. Parenteau and Mrs. Dionne, ready Emily and Emilio to act out several scenarios.  Then the children "Turned and Talked" as to whether what happened was an accident or not.

Creative Expression using dots

Dab-a-dot encourages fine motor skills and color recognition.

Math Theater

We learned a new song "Five Little Donuts" and acted it out.  Then we talked it out.  Then we drew the song.  Here a student is finishing up her 5 donuts.  Students had to count to 5, subtract one from 5 down to 0 and count out 5, by drawing 5 little donuts.  

Counting and graphing the letters in our names.

Instruction had several objectives: to cut using scissors between the letters, to count the letters, to reshuffle the letters in the correct order and then to compare and contrast.  Who has an "L" as the first letter in their name?  Who else has a lowercase "a"?

This lesson involved several steps!

Counting and number recognition were addressed again and again.

The Bakery has been open for a week or two...

Lots of counter help at the Bakery!

Students use spatulas and cookie sheets to support eye/hand coordination.

This student is mixing up a batch of cookies that will be going in the oven.  The order pad is handy, very 21st century as it is an IPAD.

They are ready to ring me up.  Commerce and economy!

This cash register is a favorite toy!

Children help each other out in the bakery shop.

Baking a batch!

Discovery Center-Magnetism!

The sensory material is dyed rice.  The recipe calls for vinegar and food coloring and it really is more brilliant than is evident here.  Rice makes a fine medium for a sensory table, but it's a bit hard on the vacuum.

In our sensory table, there are a variety of tongs, magnetic wands, fishing poles and various objects, some that are metal and some not.  

Students compare what attracts and what materials do not.

Collaborative Art Project

Just squeezing the glue bottle strengthens tiny hands.  Here a student gets a helpful squeeze from a staff member.

Students were given a plethora of items to glue.  This creation will be a work-in-progress and displayed at the Summer Art Show.  I wonder how big it will be by then!

Students discussed where to put items.

ANIMAL AMBASSADORS AT VINTON PK

The Vinton Parent-Teacher Organization provided the morning session of Prekindergarten with an up-close and personal introduction to some truly amazing animals.  We met tree frogs, an African bullfrog, a rabbit and an Owl-Eagle.

A friend holding a tree frog, he was so careful.
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Friends were proud of how kind we were to the animals.

We had calm bodies and quiet voices with the animals.  Raising our hands to speak is a skill all PK students learn in our classroom.