NURSERY RHYMES - MARCH 2011 - 3's FULL DAY

Over the last three months the children have enjoyed celebrating holidays as well as the change of season.

During the month of November our class took part in several neighborhood walks. The children explored the wonderful sights and sounds of nature and together identified different leaf colors and made leaf comparisons. The children also quietly observed squirrel’s and birds, paying close attention to their movements and behaviors. The children took a particular interest in watching very closely at the squirrel’s eating. They were also surprised at how high the squirrels could climb and how far they leapt.

Inside the classroom the children created “nature bags” by rubbing leaves on brown paper bags.

The “nature bags” were later used to collect leaves during our neighborhood walks. We then used the leaves for sorting, matching, counting and creating art activities in the classroom. The children also used water colors, eye droppers, and leaf shaped coffee filters to make beautiful fall leaves. Some of the books shared in class during this time were: Fresh Fall Leaves by Betsy Franco, Red Leaf Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert and We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger.

The recent holidays have stirred up more excitement and enjoyment among the children. Together we have celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukah. To observe Thanksgiving we read Thanks for Thanksgiving and talked about the importance of giving thanks for those you love. During our discussion the children referred to being thankful for family, friends and pets. We also learned of the different foods families eat for Thanksgiving dinner including the infamous turkey. The books Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon and 10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston created lots of laughter and counting fun for the children during story time. The children also enjoyed creating colorful handprint turkeys on their Thanksgiving place mats and singing Thanksgiving related songs and finger plays.

To celebrate Christmas we read a variety of Christmas themed books including Get Well Santa and Shhh! (Santa) both written by Julie Sykes. These stories provided the children with engaging opportunities to join in during each read aloud. The children enjoyed reading together out loud “Achooo!” and “Shhhhh Santa!” Both books contain repetitive wording which allowed the children to feel confident
to “read” along. The children also sang many Christmas songs and baked delicious treats. Some of the Christmas arts and crafts activities included finger painting, painting acorn ornaments, and creating a collage with torn wrapping paper. All of these activities allowed the children to enhance their hand eye coordination, their creativity, and fine motor skills.

During the month of January we began a curriculum unit on winter. The children have been learning about the coldest season by taking a look at winter clothing, weather characteristics that occur during this season indoors and outdoors, and winter sports. Throughout this unit, the children will develop an awareness of winter activities and learn to identify animals that hibernate during the winter. Some of the learning experiences the children have encountered include experiencing snow and ice in the sensory table as well as outdoors, sorting mittens by color and pattern, setting up a winter clothing store in dramatic play, painting with colored ice cubes, creating colorful snowflakes, and enjoying stories about winter.

The story The Mitten written by Jan Brett has become a class favorite. The children have enjoyed reading the book over and over and have come to understand the sequence of events in the story quite well. As a literacy extension to the story we have placed the book, picture story cards and white mitten on our flannel board for the children to retell or act out the story. The children love working together to name and place each animal into the mitten. As an art extension to the story the children have created their own mittens using a splat paint technique. These mittens are displayed on the bulletin board in the big room.

To experience winter at home, try this activity- snow in the bathtub! Bring in some snow from outside and place in your bathtub. Also place some plastic measuring cups, spoons, and scoops in the bathtub and let your child use mittens to play in the snow. In addition, a spray bottle filled with colored water (made with food coloring) will allow your child to make colorful sculptures. This is sure to keep your child busy and will help develop an awareness of the senses.

The upcoming weeks are sure to be full of indoor and outdoor winter fun and adventure. We would like to invite parents or caretakers into our classroom to take part in our Parent of the Day program. Please feel free to share a favorite story with our class or even lead an art or cooking activity with the children. If you are interested in spending an afternoon with us, please sign your name on the calendar placed outside of our classroom. We look forward to sharing our daily activities with you. We also ask that parents sign up for our afternoon snack calendar in order to provide your children with fresh fruits and vegetables for snack.

Thank you,

Elaine and Meg