Mexico day!

Both Thursday and Friday we learned about Mexico. One of our preschool families shared items from Mexico and I brought sombreros and a few instruments I had. And most importantly, we listened to "La Cucaracha" on my iPad, which was a fun animated rendition of the song - dancing cockroaches. It was quite a hoot to watch! :) 
If you want a song to be stuck in your head forever, this is the song to listen to....here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfka9m6NhzE

Sombreros are fun to 

wear anywhere and with anything!!

Insert La Cucaracha here.....

Items from Mexico.

Wednesday was Brazil day!

We learned about Brazil on Wednesday at preschool - the Amazon River (it's not the same "Amazon" as where parents order things from....:) ), various animals (including the anaconda....), music and much more! We also learned a few Portuguese words. It was a great day.

Coloring the Brazilian Flag

Wearing a shirt with the Brazilian flag on it.

Wearing a futbol (soccer) jersey

Kicking the futbol!

This is how you do it!

pine cones and cornmeal

I realize that this is a strange combination and have nothing to do with each other..... 

They were the highlight of today's learning at preschool. 

There is something soothing and therapeutic about playing in the sensory table, no matter what is in there, kids are in it! (and teachers, too!!) 
It's so neat to watch them - pour, scoop, dump and sometimes even get messy - there is a lot of measuring (Math) going on even if the children don't realize they are gaining these skills. Another great thing about the sensory table is the social play that is going on - give and take, waiting a turn, conversation, language. As well as imagination and creativity.

This week there is cornmeal in the sensory table. I try to explain what it is, some children call it corn starch. Today they were making ice cream, cake, etc. Oh, the imagination!

I love how it ends up on their faces
and makes it look like they've been baking.
Most of the kids never left the entire choice time.

And now on to pine cones. While we were outside today, some children started gathering loads of pine cones in their hands. I pulled out the sand buckets for them to carry these prickly, pokey things around. We scrounged for every last one of them on the playground...and then there were none. But, Ms. Larisa discovered more on the other side of the fence. Ms. Anna came to our rescue and filled about 5 buckets of them and then handed them over to Ms. Larisa, who then scattered them on the ground for children to pick up. It was quite the action, but everyone was all smiles for more pine cones!! 

Pine cones! Pine cones!

Flat Stanley

Some of you may be familiar with Flat Stanley, a story by Jeff Brown for elementary age children. I have a niece who lives in Arkansas and I received a lovely manila envelope from her with Flat Stanley and a letter included. So, for the next month, Flat Stanley will be visiting our classroom. I introduced him to the MWF class today and the kids loved it. One child immediately took him and dressed him in doll clothes. He even sat at the art table and played with us at the "rocks and trees". Such fun! 

Apparently he enjoys reading,
so he listened to our story during circle time.

Just to clarify. You are seeing OU correctly.
Our family are Sooner Fans!!! :) 

Pop-pop-POP!

One thing I love about young children is their fascination with new things. They are easily entertained. Maybe we've just seen things too many times to really stop and appreciate it. I brought in my air-popcorn popper from home and we made popcorn for snack on Thursday and Friday. They were very excited with the process of corn kernels popping and spewing into a big bowl. 
Such excitement!! With melted butter and salt added, it was quite tasty! 

wood and glue!

What could be better then wood and glue? 

This week our focus is on shapes and constructing/building with shapes. I inherited a bunch of wood pieces from facilities and my bro-in-law who is a builder, so I bought bottles of wood glue and off we went! It has proven to be a wonderfully creative activity. I'm always fascinated with how children glue wood pieces together -- some glue pieces flat and others glue them more 3-D. Some spend a lot of time doing the activity, while others glue a few pieces and are done. This year I added some other elements to the activity - pipe cleaner pieces and paper shape cut outs. They've added color and texture to the structures.

Two tables were pushed together with lots of paper to cover it,
to catch all of the globby, sticky glue!
And the squeezing starts.......

Carefully placing pieces at the top.
It takes concentration, patience and persistence!
Sometimes Ms. Larisa had to help
assist to keep all the pieces together. :)

Finished structure. Lots of detail here!

Both sessions worked with it.

Ta-da! A piece of art!!

Lots of glue - puddles and puddles!

9 different pieces of wood he used!

We will try to display these structures
in some way so you all can enjoy them too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I had every intention of snapping some pictures of the children putting their Valentine's in friend's bags, but it got busy and that didn't happen, but the children did LOVE to give and receive these special cards. It's neat to see how excited they get over Valentine's. Too bad it only happens once a year....
I enjoy seeing the creativity with the various cards that are brought. Thank goodness for pinterest, right? :) 

We love your children - they are special to us!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

making Valentine's

Every year during the week of Valentine's Day,  I set up a "Valentine station" in the house area of the classroom. I provide paper heart shapes, valentine's, stamps, markers and envelopes. The children then create unique and special valentine's for whoever they would like. It often is for their parents. A teacher is available to help write words if needed.

Firefighter on Friday

I am a little tardy in posting pictures from last Friday's visit from the firefighter.
Here you go!!

What he looks like before all of the gear goes on.

After.

He sounded kind of funny with the oxygen mask on,
but we still knew it was him!

Giving high-fives!!

A little blurry,
but the only picture with dad and daughter I captured.
She knew all of the right answers.... :) 

mr. firefighter

The children were fascinated with having a real firefighter visit our class. We were thrilled to have a preschoolers dad come and visit our class. He is a firefighter for Sedgwick County, but lives in Hesston. 

The children were very attentive and 

remembered all of the things he taught us: 

• If your clothes catch on fire, stop - drop - and roll! (and cover your face) 
• Don't touch matches or lighters (tell an adult) 
• Make a safety plan at home (decide where you will meet outside of your house) 
• Check smoke detectors 
• Check a door to feel if it's hot (backside of your hand), and 
• Call 911 if someone is hurt or needs help!!

The firefighter put on his gear and he sounded and looked kind of funny, but he was still a person underneath all of that stuff. 

High-fives for the firefighter!!

firefighters to the rescue!

It has been an exciting week at preschool - more firetrucks to play with and one that makes noises, firefighter hats to wear, pretend hoses to spray water and new flashy vests, plus, most importantly a visit from a real firefighter! Such a thrill for young children. 

Firefighters to the rescue!!