H is for Habitat

Today we learned about animal habitats and the types of homes they live in!

As always, we started the morning with some letter work.

We also got a head start on a later activity by coloring a few pictures of animals and animal homes.

During calendar time, we talked about Daniel in the lion's den.  I think they might have had the same scripture spotlight the week before, but they didn't let on!

We also read this cute poem by George Cooper...

What Robin Told

How do Robin's build their nests?

Robin Redbreat told me -

First a wisp of yellow hay

In a pretty round they lay;

Then some shreds of downy floss,

Feathers, too, and bits of moss,

Woven with a sweet, sweet song,

This way, that way, and across;

That's what Robin told me.

For show and tell, the kids each brought a picture of their own homes.

We then read a selection from A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman, a favorite from when I was little!  

We then played a matching game I made by cutting apart a copy of Eric Carle's My Very First Book of Animal Homes.  They had a lot of fun and did a pretty good job!

For snack time we made bird's nests out of chow mein noodles, chocolate chips, and sunbutter.  We even found some early Easter candy and added a few Cadbury eggs!  Yum!

They were VERY messy...

...some of them were a little wary of getting dirty...

...and others dove right in :)

After snacks, we headed outside to make our own animal habitats.  I gave each child a tiny toy animal  (a lion, a zebra, and a giraffe) and a basket. 

They each had a few minutes to gather their building supplies...pinecones, sticks, rocks, pinestraw, etc.

Then they spread out and went to work building their animals a home.  Joseph's was pretty legitimate.  He used pinecones to build walls.  Max and Delainey just dumped the contents of their baskets on top of their plastic animals and called it a day.  Perhaps Joseph should go into zoo construction.  And perhaps Max and Delainey should not. 

And, of course, I brought my assitant out with me so he could keep the kids in line.

After we came back in, we did one last activity, this time matching different animals with their correct habitat.  We then talked about how animals each have specific needs that their habitat has to meet.  

As always, we had a great time learning about animal homes and habitats!

Migration & Hibernation

(migrating whales)

Last Tuesday we had an exciting day centered on learning two animal-related concepts: Migration and Hibernation. After working on writing the  letter “M” and then working on an animal graph, we transitioned into circle time. Here we talked about Daniel in the Lions Den, talked about it being winter, and learned a rhyme for rhyme time about a bird. Then for show and tell the children each shared something that keeps them warm in the winter—Joseph—a shirt, Delainey—a scarf, and Max—leopard print ear muffs. : )

(Cute Max and his buddy, cute Sallie. She doesn’t look happy here, but she was the one initiating the contact. Max was a good sport though!)

This lead into a discussion…We just talked about different things that can keep us warm in the winter. Do we need those things in the summer? Is every season the same? What changes during the seasons? What do you think happens to an animals homes/food when the season changes? (Some animals need to move/go on a trip until after winter. This is MIGRATION.) Some animals that migrate: BIRDS, WHALES…But for the animals that don’t migrate, or move for the winter, some of those that stay behind do something else. They SLEEP. This is called HIBERNATION. Some animals that hibernate: BEARS, BATS, FROGS.

Then we played a game where I would call out an animal, and the kids had to act out what they would do in the winter:  sleep (hibernate) or move (migrate). They were SO good at this and were so funny to watch!

Next we talked more about migration…and how some birds migrate…or move away for the winter. But not all birds do. For the birds that stay behind, they may find it hard to find food in the winter. So we made bird feeders that they can put bird seed in and put outside their house. Then you can observe, or watch, what birds come to feed! These birds probably didn’t migrate.

(Sweet Lainey painting bird houses for our bird friends that don’t migrate!)

For singing time we sang:

Hibernation Song (Tune: Are You Sleeping)

Bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping. In the cave, in the cave. I wonder when he'll come out, I wonder when he'll come out? In the spring, In the spring.

Birds are flying, birds are flying. In the sky, in the sky.  I wonder when they'll come back, I wonder when they'll come back, In the spring, in the spring.

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear Song

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around. Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground. Teddy bear, teddy bear, reach up high. Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the sky. Teddy bear, teddy bear, bend down low. Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your toes. Teddy bear, teddy bear, go upstairs . Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers. Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the light. Teddy bear, teddy bear, say goodnight.

Next we watched a short video of the Cat in the Hat singing about Hibernation. It’s cute and the kids thought this was a fun treat. Then it was snack time! We had craisins (berries) and goldfish (fish) to mimic what bears or birds might would eat.  

(Cute Joseph hard at work on his bird house!)

During snack time I read them Blueberries for Sal, and then we continued story time in the living room with the books, Time To Sleep and Old Bear. I just love these stories and couldn’t not read them. Plus, they are short and the kids were attentive. Next we practiced coloring in the lines, cutting and gluing by making a bear cave out of paper bags and tissue paper. Then  it was playtime where we played “hibernation match” and then clean up time, and stamp time. Joseph, Max and Delainey each got two stamps.

(Max sporting those animal-print ear muffs…what would thomas say?)

Delainey, Max and Joseph were all SO SO GOOD. Our best day of preschool at Severn Grove Drive yet! We had so much fun learning about hibernation and migration, and are excited to learn about HABITATS with Mrs. Emily tomorrow!

Hooray for our fascinating animal friends! : )

C is for Camouflage

In January we are learning about animals.  The first week we learned about how animals use camouflage to blend in with their surroundings.  During circle time the children loved acting out our rhyme for the day, which was:

Camouflage!

By Tamara

Montgomery

On the glacier of ice

You have to look twice

For a big Polar Bear

Might be sleeping somewhere!

On the top of the snow

Can you find a black nose?

Against the cool ice

Can you see two round eyes?

How about big black claws

Tucked within great big paws?

If you can – you’ve uncovered

His camouflage!

Sh!

Be quiet!

He’s awake!

Do not speak!

Our Polar Bear is slowly creeping…

(ROAR)

Run! I see his teeth!

During our lesson time we read a book about camouflage, looked at pictures of animals that use camouflage, and played a couple of hide and seek games.  Then the children made a polar bear craft, because polar bears use camouflage!  Our preschool day went quickly today!  We all had fun learning about how animals use camouflage.

Look at how well the children are writing their names - I see improvement!

A polar bear uses camouflage and blends in with the snow

Christmas Program

Just before Christmas, we put on a little program for the daddies. First the children sang our "Hello" song to welcome all the dads.  Then we had a showcase of what we have been learning about, doing, and creating during the first four months of preschool.  Each child and mom had a part.  We also showed a slideshow of pictures from all our preschool happenings.  Max, Delainey, and Joseph did a fantastic job performing for the dads.

Invitation

The Program -
Beautifully put together by Miss Sarah

The Scholars - Max, Delainey, and Joseph

Miss Emily and Delainey talked about our theme in November

Joseph and Miss Kathryn talked about our theme in December

The kiddos watching the slideshow

S is for Snowman!

Hooray for the Holidays!  

We started our Snowman-themed day by practicing our handwriting with a worksheet...

On the back of the worksheet, the kids read a story about Sam the Snowman, circling all of the Ss along the way!

During calendar time we read this silly snowman poem...

"The Snowman"

Once there was a snowman

Stood outside th door

Thought he'd like to come inside

And run around the floor;

Thought he'd like to warm himself

By the firelight red; 

Thought he'd like to climb up

On that big white bed.

So he called the North Wind, "Help me now, I pray.

I'm completely frozen, standing here all day."

So the North Wind came along and blew him in the door,

And now there's nothing left of him

But a puddle on the floor!

Poor snowman!

We also talked about Samuel the Lamanite and the signs of Christ's birth.

During music and movement, we sang lots of snowman songs.  While we sang "Snow is Falling," the kids had to dress up as snowmen as fast as they could.  They each had their own pile of snowman clothes...a hat, scarf, boots, gloves, and a (construction paper) carrot nose!

The cutest little snowpeople ever!

We also sang "Once There was a Snowman," and here are our melted snowmen lying on the ground.  

We read Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner, and made our own cotton ball snowmen with (more) contruction paper!  Whenever we do an art project, I love seeing how the kids make it their own!  Joseph's snowman is the very free-form fellow on the right!

After snack time, we did some math activities.  We sorted the snowman by the color of their scarves, and made patterns as well...

...put them in numerical order...

...and sequenced them from largest to smallest.

We certainly had fun on our S is for Snowman day!

“G” is for Giving & Gifts

(Delainey practicing her G’s)

Today at preschool we focused on the letter “G”.  We started off with some handwriting and coloring (“G” is for Gift).  As they worked on this I talked a little about giving gifts and told them we were going to make a gift for them to give to someone they love! After they finished their worksheets we went into the living room to decorate Christmas Ornaments with their pictures on them. These were in the shape of stars since the wise men followed the star to Baby Jesus , and that’s what we were going to be talking about today. After they finished decorating their ornaments, it was time for math stations!  They really enjoyed getting on their own carpet squares and completing their tasks.

(Joseph enjoying snack time)

We did math stations for about 10 minutes, and then we cleaned up for circle time.  Lainey said our opening prayer, Joseph held the scripture spotlight (3 Wise Men Matthew 2:11) and Max reported on the weather. We learned a new finger play rhyme for rhyme time:

The Wise Men traveled from afar,

Following the Christmas star,

When it stopped they jumped for joy,

And worshiped baby Jesus boy.

Then we did show and tell and I asked them to bring a picture of someone they loved. Joseph brought a picture of Jesus, Max brought a  picture of he and his cousins Ellie and Addie, and Delainey chose a picture from her room of Sam holding her as a baby.  We discussed that the Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus, and we also show our love for other people by giving them gifts. This was a good intro into having the children act out the story of the 3 wise men. But FIRST we went back to the craft table to make wise men hats out of paper plates. Once these were finished, I let them each choose a gift and then we “searched” for the star…Max found it first (atop our Christmas tree) and we all followed the leader to the Christmas tree. Then they kneeled down and I let them open their gifts. They each had a picture in their gift bags…a picture of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We looked at the pictures and discussed that these were the actual gifts that the wise men brought baby Jesus many years ago.

(Max eating some “gold”)

After we acted out the wise men, it was time to SING!  First we sang Jingle Bells with instruments, and then we worked on “The Nativity Song” that they will sing at their Daddy Program. We learned the 2nd verse with some pictures, and it was honestly such a tender moment seeing their eager eyes and sweet voices all singing about that night. I was so touched!  I know their dads will be too when they perform the whole song. After singing time we ran to the kitchen for SNACKS!  For snacks today we had cheese itz (gold), popcorn (frankincense) and raisins (myrrh). While they ate I read them a Christmas story.

(Look how wise they look in their hats)

After snack time we attempted to make a finger painting of the three wise men following the star, where their upside down handprints were the camels and then their thumb prints were the wise men, but that didn’t really turn out. : ) But that was okay…I tried to fit too many activities into our time today I think, so it’s ok that one didn’t work out.

(Wise Men Opening their Gifts)

After we cleaned up our hands from finger painting, the children played. Then we cleaned up, sang the goodbye song, and the mommies were here!  Joseph and Max were so excited to give their special ornament gift to their moms…sorry about the wet glitter glue ladies! : )

Today was by far the best day of Gilreath-House Preschool yet. All three kiddos were incredibly well-behaved…they played well together, they shared, they sang, and it was just a lot of fun.  I love preschool!

“N” is for Nativity

Today we started preschool with handwriting.  Joseph, Max and Delainey practiced writing capital and lowercase “N”.  They were all very focused on this task and each got a smiley face on their good work.  This was both a motivator and confidence builder for the children.  The loved getting a smiley face. 

The children transitioned right into playing math games on the carpet.  They first practiced putting stars in numerical order.  Max prided himself in doing this task quickly.  And he was quick!



They also played a sorting game.  They had to sort stars according to color and then size.  They all did this very well.  This had a blast playing the math games, which was also a confidence builder.



During our usual circle time routine we talked about the nativity story and the children shared things that being with “N” for show and tell.  Max shared a picture from his trip to New York, Delainey shared a picture of her Nana, and Joseph shared his “Nee Nee” (4-wheeler).
We also learned part of “The Nativity Song” song, made “Jesus in the manger” snacks, read a book about the Nativity story, and re-told the story with flannel board figures.  

Our final activity was an art project.  Max, Delainey, and Joseph colored a picture of the holy family and cut it out.  Then they glued it inside a stable made of wooden craft sticks, and put a star on top.  I thought they turned out cute. 







Everyone got two stamps today for a job well done.  I feel lucky to be have been able to teach the story of the nativity.  I had so much fun with it.  I felt the spirit as we told the story together.  I just love our little preschoolers, Joseph, Delainey, and Max.