MAGNET UNIT

Dear Parents,

We started a new unit on magnets this week.  The children tested various items around the classroom with a wand magnet to see if they repel the magnet or attract to it.  They also each took a turn during circle time, testing items on the Magnet Testing Chart. Some of the items the children tested were cardboard, plastic, string, metal keys, aluminum charm, metal bottle cap and a washer,   They were so excited that they could hardly wait for their turn.  The children first made a prediction whether the item would be attracted to the magnet or if it would repel it. They then tested it with a magnet to see if their predictions were correct.

Some of the books about magnets that we read were.  Attract and Repel, by Jennifer Boothroyd, What Makes a Magnet, by Franklyn BranleyPlaying with Magnets, Gary Gibson, and Experiments with Magnets, by Gina Hagler. This was such a fun learning experience for the children. 

The children also walked around the classroom with a magnet to see what attracted to it and what repelled it. This is what they discovered: 
~Ozi found that magnets attract to magna-tiles. 
~Iker found that magnets attract to metal cars.
~Liaan discovered that the refrigerator door in the housekeeping      was made of metal.
~Justine discovered that magnets attract to the classroom chair legs.
~Delia found that magnets attract to metal cars.
~ Hattie found that  magnets attract to the refrigerator.
~ Nathaniel found that magnets attract to the side of the table.
~ Nina found that magnets attract to other magnets.
~ Catie discovered that magnets attract to paper clips.
~ Jack found that the magnets attract to the table leg.

After reading about magnets and discussing the properties of magnets the children made a picture with them. They first placed a piece of paper on a plastic tray, added a magnetic ball dipped into paint.  They then held the magnet wand under the tray and moved it all around.  The paintings were spectacular and they had so much fun doing the project.  The children also learned through this activity that magnets attract items through plastic.

                     

 The children also painted a race track on poster board and then added  blocks under it to raise the track.  We glued a magnet under a car and then placed it on top of the track.  The children then used a magnetic wand under the race track to move the car along the track. The children had so much find trying to keep the car on the race track.  

                           

"I can't believe that's me on the block"!

Note:  Please remember to sign in and out every day.

        

 Love,

Ms. Bonne and Ms. Barbara.

FIVE SENSES CONTINUED!

Dear Parents,

We continued our unit on the five senses.  We added a licorice mouth to our sensory person and bells for the ears.  We completed our sensory person by tracing around the children's hands onto the back of sandpaper and gluing it on to a sheet of paper.

The children used their sense of smell by smelling all different types of food things that we placed in smelling jars, such as: coffee, vanilla, vinegar, etc. They also used their sense of touch by placing their hands into a box filled with various items. The children then tried to decipher what each item was.

We also read books about all our five senses.  Some of their favorite books were: Ears are for Hearing, by Paul Showers, How Do We Feel and Touch, by Carol Ballard, and Smelling and Tasting, by Alvin and Virgina Silverstein.

In music this week the children practiced their violin positions with their box violins.  They sang "I see a boy/girl," 

"Ten Little Fingers," and "Here is a Baby Birdie."  The children worked on bow holds for the violin. They also practiced playing the piano with  Yina.

 

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day by tracing and cutting out shamrocks and decorating them with glitter, stickers and various designed papers. We attached a pipe cleaner on the top  and made them door knob hangers.

On Thursday we had Sparky's Puppet Show come in as a special visitor.  She set up a whole puppet theater and put on a puppet show for the children.  The children absolutely loved it and were laughing the whole time.  She involved the children by asking them questions and also asked for a couple of student volunteers. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves.  She started off by presenting a story of two sisters building a snowman together, then moved on to the boy who cried wolf, and finished off the show with the gingerbread man.  The puppet show was a success. 

Next week we look forward to starting a unit on magnets.

Love,

Ms. Bonne and Ms. Barbara

OUR FIVE SENSES

Dear Parents, 

This week in the Quarter Note Class the children have been learning about our five senses; seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, and touching.  Some of the stories the children enjoyed listening to were:  Sense of Sight, Sense of Smell, by Carey Molter and Smelling and Tasting, by Lillian Wright.  We had a class discussion about what each sense is used for.  

The children then made a texture collage using ric-rac, sand paper, fur, cotton balls, and various types of fabrics. After gluing the different textures  onto their paper, the children then described what each one felt like, such as: zig-zag, soft, furry, fluffy, smooth, and rough.

We also started making sensory people. We traced and cutout a face shape. We added googly eyes and eye lashes for the sense of sight.  The children then added a cotton ball nose with vanilla on it for the sense of smell. 

The children learned about Purim and participated in a puppet show.  They baked hamantaschen, a triangular shaped cookie, which is a traditional food that is eaten on Purim.  They were delicious!

                


 












Next week we will continue learning about Our Five Senses. 

Note:  Please have your children arrive to school on time. We will begin our meeting promptly at 9:30.  This is an important part of our day during which a great deal of learning takes place!

This is the house that Jack and Ozi built

"We love dance parties"

Love, Ms. Bonne and Ms. Barbara   

NUTRITION UNIT

Dear Parents,

We introduced our two week unit on Nutrition by learning about the Five Food Groups (fruit, vegetables, grain, protein, and dairy). We read several books about nutrition: One of our favorites was,  I Eat a Rainbow, by Bobbie Kalman.  We then worked together to create our own classroom rainbow by cutting out pictures of fruits and vegetables  from magazines and then gluing them onto a large rainbow shape. 

The children also made Food Group Booklets, which included pictures of foods from the five food groups. 

The children watched a short film called From Farm to You: The Story of Milk, compliments of the New England Dairy and Food Council.  The children then practiced "milking a cow."  They had so much fun pretending Sally the blow-up cow was a real cow.  

                                  

We also read books  about each one of the food  groups.  Some of the books the children enjoyed listening to were: The Dairy Group, The Meat and Protein Group, The Grain Group, Drinking Water, The Vegetable Group, and The Fruit Group, all by Helen Frost.          
The children enjoyed making foods from all our food groups.  The children cut up strawberries, bananas, orange juice, and added yogurt. We then put it into the blender and made delicious smoothies (dairy and fruit group).  We also combined our nutrition theme with Dr. Seuss's birthday by making green eggs and pancakes (protein and grain group).  One day for snack the children had vegetables with  a low fat vegetable dip (vegetable group).  They seemed to love eating the vegetables but, were not so excited about the dip. The children also enjoyed making a banana bread (grain group), which was their favorite snacks of all.

The children had fun celebrating Iker's third birthday.  Thank you to Iker's family for the delicious treats.

These cupcakes certainly are delicious!

Note:  Please send utensils with your children that are staying for lunch.

Note:  Please limit the amount of toys that your children bring to school.  One stuffed animal for rest time or a book to share with the class would be great.

Just taking a break with friends

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Taking a nap after a long day at school

Love, 

Ms.  Bonne and Ms. Barbara