A typical day in Pre-K

Every day in the Ladybug class is different but some things remain the same.   Every day we do math as a group.  On this particular day, we used cards to learn about bigger and smaller numbers.  Then we moved onto the scientific method.   We performed experiments using baking soda and vinegar.  That was so much fun!  Then there was drawing going on and writing, some carpentry work, measuring of the new carpet, and some reading work.  And of course, the Lego area was busy too.   This was before lunch on Thursday.  We have lots of learning going on in a variety of ways with busy, happy children in our room.

Check out the new carpet.  It's a winner!

Valentine Party

Many thanks to the Ladybug parents for the great party.  We loved the wonderful decorations, treats and the craft projects.

Some days you just need some time with old friends!

Swimming is over for this school year.  It was a huge success.  The children learned some valuable skills and gained confidence in the water.  It was a lot of fun for our full day kids.

We're looking to Valentine's Day and our 100 day celebration, both of which fall on February 14.  It's hard to believe we have been together for 100 days and that we are more than half way through the school year.

First Friday

science

art

science

board games

working on a penguin drawing

working on the tiger

the emperor penguin

walrus 

Last Friday was First Friday at Seabury.  The kids choose which enrichment class they would like to attend and we mix all the age levels together for an hour long class.  We had Ladybugs in the Lego class, art class, science class and in board games.  They do amazingly well with the older kids and the older kids take really good care of our younger students.

We are continuing our work on animals.  Today we started making life-sized drawings of some the animals we saw at the zoo.

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

We had a wonderful day at the zoo!  The weather was beautiful and warm enough to have a picnic, the animals were active and visible, the chaperones were attentive and helpful and we practically had the zoo to ourselves!  Equipped with our clipboards we observed the animals and their habitats and recorded our data.  We'll be using the information we collected in our classroom when we build habitats and write books.

Working with the Shark class, designing the
infrastructure for a zoo.

Interpreting data from a survey.

Researching animal communication

Writing books about animals

making animal representations using model magic

We need a new circle time rug,  we think the one we have is too small.
My friends are measuring for a new one!

The numbers on those tape measures are very small!

While some of these pictures show the Shark kids doing some of the activities, these were activities that both classes participated in.  We are using the project approach to engage young learners in our classrooms.  We work together to learn more about our topic of discussion.   More important than learning about the animals in this case, is the learning to learn that is taking place.  Each child has chosen an animal for exploration.  They will be doing some research (with help), surveys, writing,  math and art.  We choose topics that are of interest to the children and that give us many opportunities for tying in different types of learning.