the concept of measuring and units is a seed we plant. by using the language in describing things, by offering rulers and tape measures in dramatic play, by offering inch blocks for sorting and building.
then we move naturally to conversations of more and less, greater than and less than, etc.
or really it could be g is green or p is for purple or any other color.
we fingerpaint first with the goal being to keep some of the paper showing around the edge (an exercise in self control) to make a “frame.”
then we used these after all the foam got pulled out to scratch out the letters of the color word. clearly ony could use fingernails, dull pencils, etc. the great thing is “erasing” by rubbing the paint smooth again.
i love to honor the birthday child in the classroom.
we bring the knitted cupcakes from katie to the housekeeping corner and bring out the birthday puzzle to the puzzle corner.
at circle time before snack, we make a little cake out of playdoh (and joke that if they don’t watch out their mamas and daddies might eat it) and figure out how many candles to put in. according to the rules of our building, though, we can’t light the candles til we get home.
happy birthday, dear ones…
so during animal week we make tails. i could have thrifted knee high pantyhose, but that gave me the willies. and at 49 cents a pair, i was okay with it…plus, i got 18 little plastic egg holders too!
i have never had to remind kids as often as this year to keep them in the back…we’re trying to show people that we are animals, so let’s be realistic…if the tail is in the front people won’t know for sure what we are doing…hmmmm, how can i help you keep that from moving to the front?
wow.
oh, my remaining 12 year old self is giggling on the inside…rejoicing in the humor of our creation…after all, we are funny looking creatures. so if you, too, want to have a tail, grab yourself the needed supplies and stuff away.
oh, good times in the ‘room…
i love to offer preschoolers real items to use (the montessori influence). starting early in the school year, i bring out phone books for preschoolers to use as they like. when i use current phone books, we can usually find each preschooler’s family…what fun that is.
and yes, the fuzzy blue hat will make this work feel even more important.
newcreationpreschool.com