Thursday, September 26, 2013

CHICKENS AT SCHOOL

We would like to thank Rory Coyle for bringing three of her adolescent chickens into our classroom today. We talked about the different kinds of chickens and how they lay different colored eggs. Wouldn't it be something to open the fridge door and find a bowl of green eggs inside?
 Then the children got the opportunity to touch the chickens - to the delight of most and the dismay of others! 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A RAINY WEDNESDAY DIDN'T SLOW US DOWN!

Thanks to all who have sent in items to help out the various animal agencies  around Savannah. Here is a sampling of some of the items we have received so far.
The children participated in making some cat toys by coloring towel rolls which will later have small holes punched in them, be filled with cat kibble and sealed at the ends. Cats love to play with these handmade toys to get the tasty treats out.   
On our rainy Wednesday, we spent extra time counting and matching with the peg boards, playing with dinosaurs at the fine motor table, and exploring at the science table. A little rain doesn't slow us down! 
 
 
 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

FAIRY BREAD AND MUSIC

Every Thursday Miss Jenna visits our classroom to lead music class. Here the children each have an instrument and are joining in with the song!
 This past week we learned about Australia and some of the interesting animals that are unique to it. Most of the children can tell you what a marsupial is as well as some interesting facts about Koala Bears. We ended the week by enjoying a favorite among Australian children - Fairy Bread!!!

And here is a quick reminder to enjoy your child everyday. Before you know it, they will be off making a life of their own. Here is my oldest son, Dane, getting ready to go to class at UGA's Vet School. It seems like yesterday that I dropped him off for preschool and he cried his eyes out. Good Times.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

OUR DINOSAUR DIG

Here the children are pretending to be paleontologists digging for dinosaur bones. They carefully used their shovels (spoons) to uncover dinosaur fossils.  
We were very careful and took our time as we worked.
 We were all very excited as we unearthed our treasures.
Our dinosaur unit was a BIG HIT.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

FOSSILS AND VOLCANOES

Along with our dinosaur activities, we have been discussing volcanoes. We decided to see if we could make one "erupt" in the classroom. Sure enough, with the help of some baking soda and some white vinegar, we did just that. One again, notice how well the children are doing at using their self control and waiting for their turn!
 Here, you can barely see the small dinosaur we added to our model. We found that if he did not move fast enough, the "lava" got on him and this is one way that the fossils of the dinosaurs were made.
Next we worked with some self-hardening clay to  create some fossils of our own.
DINOSAURS DEFINITELY ARE FUN!!!!!






Friday, September 13, 2013

MUD AND MARBLES


We've been spending part of each morning learning about dinosaurs - what they ate, how big or small they were, that they hatched from eggs, and that they are now all extinct. We've learned about fossils and how they came to be. Here we are making mud, like the kind one would find on a riverbed where many fossil were made. Stirring and stirring worked some of our large muscles and was a great practice in patience. Notice how the children in the background are waiting their turn - we have already come a long way! 

 Here we are working our fine motor muscle by using magnet wands to move marbles through a maze. Again, we practiced waiting our turn, even though we may not have liked it! :)



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Our mornings always begin with table activities. This allows the children to work on their fine motor muscles and learn how to work and play with one another.
 Here they worked together to build a tower out of the star blocks.
Open play/project time gives the children another chance to work on their social skills. We all need to learn how to be a good friend, how to use our words, how to be patient, etc. A child's work is never done it seems - but what fun it is!
Here, we have a couple FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA!
               And, believe it or not, we sometimes get a "QUIET" moment!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

A NEW YEAR BEGINS......








WELCOME TO A BRAND NEW SCHOOL YEAR!
THE CHILDREN SPENT LAST WEEK GETTING FAMILIAR WITH ONE ANOTHER, THEIR NEW TEACHERS, AND THE SCHOOL ITSELF. THERE'S A LOT TO TAKE IN, WITH NEW RULES AND NEW ROUTINES. THEY ALL ARE DOING GREAT AND REALLY SETTLING IN.
OF COURSE, THE PLAYGROUND WAS A BIGGEST HIT! 

 SNACK IS ALSO A FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY.