Adding 6, 7, and 8

(I will upload the number sheets soon.)

During the month of January we have been adding some new numbers to our book in Pre-K. We have gotten all the way to number 8--numbers 9 and 10 left.

We'll start with six. For six we put 6 buttons on a snowman. Our last step was to add the beads to our number line.

For number seven we gave 7 fish to a penguin. I have lots of fish stickers at school so the children just added 7 fish stickers, colored the paper and wrote their numbers. Then we added another row of beads.

Finally, for number eight we put 8 spots on a butterfly and put eight more beads on the number line.

I am very proud of how well the children have been doing with their number books. I also think the pages are very cute, if I do say so myself.

Taste and Smell

We culminated our five senses theme today. I ended it with what I called a "World Taste Day." It really wasn't a world taste day, the name just had a good ring to it.

I had sent a letter home last week asking parents to send in one food item that their family really liked. They didn't have to make anything special or be too extravagant. I also didn't need the families to send in much of the item as it was for "tasting."

Here's what our day involved:

I had made some coffee to fill the room with the aroma of coffee as the children entered. I also made popcorn, they smelled the popcorn when they came in, but not the coffee. I had also brought in vanilla and a lemon.

Our families added; cheez-its, red peppers, green olives, pizzelles, some kind of Italian cake, chocolate morsels, lime jello, veggie pirate bootie, french fries, and Guatemalan rice.

When the children came to school I had put the table together so they looked like buffet tables. All the food was placed on one table. The children sat down around it. Our first order was to smell all the items on the table.

After we finished smelling everything, it was time to taste. The children got plates and put items they wanted to try on their plates, then they sat down for a feast. It was one child's birthday so we got to finish up our feast with a cupcake. Boy, were we full!



This was a new event for me, so I wasn't sure how it was going to go. But, I think it turned out really well. The kids seemed to enjoy it and I don't think it was too hectic. I hope they enjoyed themselves.

Hearing

Pre-K just loves their games. To present the sense of hearing I played a game where the children had to try to figure out what object I had by listening to its sound. They could have done this forever.

Another game I played with was a match the sound game. I actually had gotten this a few years ago, but I'm not sure from where. It is a game with 12 blocks, inside each block is something that makes sounds when the blocks are shaken. The object of the game is to find the two blocks that make the same sound. Talk about fun, I let each one have a turn while the rest of us listened along. These 11 little ones sat for each time and got so excited when the like sounds where found. They were also very sad when it was time to go and the game was over.

The craft I had for the day was to make a tambourine. For this we used:

2 small paper plates

beads

markers

tacky

glue

crepe paper

I had the children write their names on the back of one plate and then decorate them.

After the plates were decorated the children put a couple of handfuls of beads. (We have a closet full of beads, but there are many things that could be used). After the beads were in, I put the tacky all the way around the edge of one plate. Then the children placed the other plate on top of the glue.

Just for some extra pizazz I had the children add some pieces of crepe paper around the edges. The children put some regular glue in spots around the edge of the plate, then place on the pieces of crepe paper.

We had to let them dry for a while, but boy were they fun to shake when they were done.

The Sense of Touch

Today we did touch. I think the substance we touched most this afternoon was water. I wanted the children to be able to experience different textures, so I tried to have many different items available for them to feel.

Here is an example of what they could experience:

First, I had made a texture collage a couple of years ago which I had available for them.

On another table Mrs. M had shaving cream experience.

The sand table was open.

I had a big bin of pom poms available for them.

Play Doh was available on another table.

Finally, I had purchased something called Silly Squares from Discount School Supply and we used them today. They were really neat, but I should have read the instructions more than 1/2 hour before he class started. It states that it takes hours for the squares to reach their full size.

Silly Squares are these packages of tiny, tiny squares which are sticky and feel a bit like dried Jello. Then you add water to them and they magically expand. During this time they feel a bit more slimy.

Our craft today was finger painting. I hate to admit it, but this is one of my least favorite activities. I know, I know, it's very important, but it sure can make a mess. Anyway, there was a little surprise with our finger painting. First they enjoyed the paint alone, then it was time for the surprise. Mrs. Nodolski added a bit of kosher salt to help them have a different experience.





Here is an observation from the day which surprised me: they are a very clean class. They loved the pom poms, the sand table, and the Play Doh but, the shaving cream, finger painting, and silly squares where more like a, "Do I have to?" Not all of them wanted to experience the Silly Squares or the shaving cream. Since the finger painting was our activity it was set for all, but I think there was a total 2 out of 11 that could have stayed all day. The rest sort of touched it, then said, "I'm done."

It was a very busy messy day, but I think they got to experience quite a bit.

Kids Tooth Brushing Chart

A reader has sent me an education widget to put on my blog that encourages preschool age kids to brush their teeth. Children (or parents) use it to print out a personalized brushing chart that helps them remember to brush day and night.

I figured since dental health month is just around the corner I would post this. It might be fun to print out and let little ones keep a record of their teeth brushing. I hope you enjoy it. Happy brushing!

A Public Service by Dentist Advisor

Five Senses: Sight

Pre-K has begun their five senses unit. I have decided to take a sense a day and concentrate on it--except for taste and smell, I am combining that day.

The first sense we concentrated on was sight. It is actually fun doing these. I know many times you introduce the three's to different units and they go along, but there isn't that special spark. With Pre-K they were so excited to do the activities.

First I had the children close their eyes and had them try to figure out what certain items were by using the sense of touch and hearing. They loved it. They wanted to keep going. We played the game "I Spy" and they actually knew what they were doing--another game that could have gone on for quite a while.

Our craft for the day was to make binoculars. For the binoculars you will need:

2 toilet paper rolls

1 strip of construction paper--I used 4x9

glue

markers

The first step was to have the children decorate the strip of paper with the markers. I let them do this to personalize their binoculars.

After they were done decorating they turned the paper over and put glue all over the piece of paper.

I had them take the two rolls and place them in the middle of the paper. We then folded the sides up--like wrapping a present, to cover the rolls.

Just to make sure that the paper stuck to the rolls, I put something on top of them to press the paper to them.

If you wanted to you could probably add a piece of yarn so that they could wear them around their neck.