Dr. Seuss, Technology and a New Friendly Frog!

This week we welcomed a new little frog to our classroom. The children embraced him with open arms and are eager to help, as he excitedly explores his new environment!

On Monday, after returning from a fun-filled week with family and friends, the children took turns sharing ,"On my spring break I..." They were asked to think of ONE thing they would like to tell us. It was difficult trying to remember the earlier days in the school year when we were elated to hear a few words or maybe even a sentence. Now, that is definitely not the case. We have all of the details, and it is so exciting!! It also is a game of concentration, because you have to remember who has not yet shared, before rolling the ball to the next person.

The children have thoroughly enjoyed the author study of Dr. Seuss this week. There is one thing that they know about him for sure, and that is that he loves rhyming words and FUN! That crazy "Cat in the Hat" thoroughly entertained us and kept us on the edge of our seats as he entertained the characters in the book, Sally and Nick. And boy did he know how to balance. We have heard that he might be coming back!

                       We liked that cat so much that we painted pictures of him at the easel.

The children tried their own hand at balancing using a scale with different sized bears. "Which weighs more, 2 small bears or 1 big bear?" Lots of questioning, predicting and experimenting took place.

Another book that we enjoyed by Dr. Seuss was "My Many Colored Days." It is about how we all have different feelings. Some days we might feel yellow and busy as a bee. While on others we might feel a little brown and be more quiet and slow.

Lining up and balancing many little wooden figurines of many colors brought about great conversation.

  After laying very still to have themselves traced, the boys and girls began thinking about colors that they might be feeling.

Those lively dogs in "Go Dog Go" were climbing trees, driving in cars and even flying in helicopters.

The curved blocks, or semi-circles make quite an interesting route for those dogs on the go.

These curved blocks also made great tunnels.

Doggies, kitties and even elephants were busy in housekeeping!

Gutters and tubes were used as inclined planes with different sizes and weights of balls. Can we make the plastic ball roll all the way to the top?

Will the same ball travel faster in the same length tube or gutter? 1, 2, 3.... let's see!

In P.E. class this week the boys and girls did quite well at tossing and catching the ball with a partner.

The boys and girls caught on very quickly when introduced to the computer this week. They learned to manipulate the mouse while playing interactive games that reinforced letters, sounds and colors. Some worked at the desktop computer...

while others worked on the laptop.

Do you like green eggs and ham? During Exploring on Friday the children helped Mrs. Samuel to prepare this yummy snack.

After choosing objects to place on their trays, the children walked down the line, around the cone and back trying to keep their balance.

                                         Then it was time to make our "cat in the hat" hats!

                                      After staying very still to hold the paper in place to be taped, the children rolled the edges of the paper to make a brim before securing it with colored tape. The most fun part when they admired themselves in the mirror when finished!

One of the most favorite Exploring activities was deciding what colors they felt like painting themselves as they though back to the Dr. Seuss story, "My Many Colored Days."
















Upcoming Dates:

3/2   Field trip to dentist (8:30 -10:00)
3/5   Relay For Life
3/12  Almost Sleepover Party - 6:00-9:00 P. M.  (There are a few spots left, and it is so much fun. We will have pizza dinner and make your own sundaes, games and stories and the children can wear their pajamas. Please let us know if you might be interested, and we will sign you up !!!!)
3/19 Celebrate the Arts Week - 11:00 picnic to follow
3/22 No School, Hurricane Make up Day
3/26 Parent Day
3/29 Pier Aquarium Field Trip (9:30- 11:30)

Spring Break Party, Dinosaurs and More!

What was it really like when the dinosaurs lived so very long ago? Were those herbivores, in fact, tall enough to eat the leaves of the trees? The children's fascination continues, as they gain more knowledge of that prehistoric time. Creating such habitats with play-dough, rocks, trees and dinosaurs sets their imaginations free!

Working alongside a friend is such great fun, as they collaborate about their dinosaur habitats constructed with duplos.

Then the best part is when the boys and girls present their creations to their classmates. They are so excited when sharing the special characteristics of what they have made and love answering questions asked by their friends. While glowing with pride, the the children are practicing oral and descriptive speaking skills.

Working together with a friend, cooperatively is something the friendly frogs are really fond of and can do especially well!

Even if a child is not part of the working team, both groups respect what the other is doing...

even if it takes over the classroom!

This week the children took on the challenge of sorting dinosaurs to their matching picture on a chart. What a fantastic exercise in discrimination!

They also had fun match finding the match part for the front and back of dinosaurs using color, patterns  or known characteristics.

Upper Division students shared their digital ebooks with us that they had made during mini-mester. The children really enjoyed one of their favorite books, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, " by Eric Carle.

We also attended a performance by the Upper Division theater students. During this performance the actors interacted with their audience as they enjoyed "The Great Pet Sale, " "Caps For Sale" and "The Sneetches." The children loved it and were active, eager participants!

We all enjoyed the celebration of a very special birthday. The boys and girls are always delighted to hear about the special events and memories of their friends.

Meet Our Name-o-saurus Family!! What a busy project involving many steps and skills. After painting and then cutting out their dinosaurs, each child located their name card in the basket. next they counted the number of letters in their name before counting out the corresponding number of spikes. Then they wrote one letter on each spike before gluing each one, (in the correct order from left to right!!) on the back of their dinosaur. Their you have it, their own name-o-saurus!

NOW........ OUR SPRING BREAK PARTY!!! Thank you so much parents for being there to help us. Not only do we love your being there, but we couldn't do it without you!! We hope that you had fun, as well.

One of the children's favorite activities was making dinosaur necklaces by stringing colored pasta ,(bones) making a variety of patterns. They then chose one of their favorite dinosaur charms to add to their necklace.

                                                   All finished, proud and HAPPY

Can you believe, making a dinosaur nest for snack? First they children used a plastic dinosaur to stomp a baggie of graham crackers making the rocks. Then they spooned in 2 scoops of strawberry yogurt for the mud. Next they counted out 6 jelly beans for the eggs. Finally, they ate their dinosaur nest down to the last drop!

Then they really got to pretend to be a dinosaur! They made dinosaur footprints, while giving it that dinosaur roar!

Have you ever been dinosaur bowling? Not only was it fun, but wonderful practice in rolling a ball, one to one correspondence, coordination and balance. (oh... also following directions and taking turns :)

The boys and girls also made dinosaur fossils. After finding the egg with their name on it, the children opened it and began rolling their play-dough.

Then they selected a dinosaur to press in to the play-dough making.....

 our very own fossil!

Upcoming Dates :

Tuesday April 2nd - Field trip to dentist : 8:30-10:00

Friday April 12th - Almost Sleepover Party! (There is still room to sign up!)

Friday April 26th - Parent Day

Friday April 29th - Field Trip to Pier Aquarium - 10:00-11:30