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Butterflies
MC Green & Penny McGuire
As fall has turned into winter we have continued to observe
changes in our environment. The children were usually able to
avoid the mud or big puddles of water. We've often had the company
of a hawk or two and the children love watching them as they
perched on the light posts or soared through the air. Bare tree
branches have made it easier to observe bird or squirrel nests,
and the dried leaves were perfect for crunching, throwing in
the air, or burying ourselves in. We were excited when we had
a few snowfalls in December. Even though the snow didn't last
we took the opportunity to catch snowflakes on our tongues,
feel the snow on our fingers, and compare the designs and sizes
of our footprints in the snow.
Inside we have been busy also. We made homemade butter. It
took a lot of shaking, but it tasted great on crackers. We learned
new Thanksgiving and holiday songs, counted turkeys, feathers,
and fingers, and played with many alphabet manipulatives. We
painted with different types of brushes on squares and triangles,
and when there was no snow we made a collaborative painting
of a snowstorm that hangs in the hallway. We read stories about
turkeys and pine trees, but still get out the children's favorites
(especially Big Pumpkin). December also gave us the opportunity
to practice putting on winter clothing.
January has brought more snow which fits into our winter unit
perfectly. We will use all of our senses to explore the snow.
We'll watch it from our windows as it falls and play in it outside.
We'll listen to the crunch under our boots as we walk in it,
feel it on our faces as it falls, feel it without our mittens
in our sensory table indoors, and of course children can't resist
tasting it. We will be talking about temperature changes and
observing thermometers. We'll also learn about circles and spheres.
We will also get lots of practice getting into and out of our
winter clothing. It would be greatly appreciated if you could
let your child practice dressing in their winter clothes at
home also. It is time consuming, but at school we have 12 children
to help dress, so the more they are able to do on their own
the easier it will be for all of us. Also, please remember to
dress your child in layers as the room temperature tends to
fluctuate and the floor is cold.
February will bring talk of friendship and love. We lost one
friend from our room, Iris, but gained two new friends Rashmi
and Ritvik. We will introduce the heart shape and continue to
talk about feelings and emotions. We will stress using words
to talk about what we are feeling. We will also discuss the
job of a mail carrier and walk to the mailbox to send a letter.
We will be making new play dough and flubber, as well as doing
more collaborative art work. We'll also concentrate on collaborative
play with blocks and manipulatives.
A big thank you goes out to all our parents for making sure
your child has all the necessary items they need to go outside
everyday. It is a lot to transport at times, but the children
love getting outside and it is wonderful for their developing
motor skills.
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Butterflies
Older Toddlers
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