This week:
https://gvsps.blogspot.com/2018/04/week-29-spring-holidays-and-finishing.html
Last Week:
https://gvsps.blogspot.com/2018/04/week-28-asia-and-chinese-culture.html
Hello Parents,
This week we finished off our Asian Country focus on China and then started a brief unit on the Spring holidays, in particular Passover and Easter, and on next Monday will talk about April's Fools day in relation to the calendar. We still have the very popular egg dying work out, as you probably have seen by the colorful hard boil eggs sent home. We also have offered Matzo and talked about astronomically want is happening in this season!
Monday- We reviewed the date and calendar at circle. We talked about China in terms of its location in Asia and animals. There are now two China Animal matching works on the shelf. We also began talking Beijing and the Forbidden City. We read The City of Dragons, by Laurence Yep, about a child with a disfigured face that used his gift to bring prosperity to his village. Popular works today include the Bank Game, word problems, Stamp Game, Parts of Turtle and Frog, reading and sounding out words or letters.
Tuesday- We reviewed the date and calendar. We talked about the Great Wall of China and looked at it on the map. We had a lesson on building the Great Wall of China using our model materials. Some students were interested in reading Through Time Beijing, by Richard Platt, while others were more interest in constructing a physical wall with glue. I can honestly say that the Great Wall was built with many helpers and to accomplish such a task would require a day of failures and (hopefully) tomorrow) some leadership. Our first attempt highlighted the need for directions coming from the children (Should they build from this spot and plant trees here? Should they just build in every direction from a tower? Should the wall have holes in it? Should we lay the brick on top of each other or out of phase so the wall is stronger?) Our highlights from it was some interesting conversations about why build a wall (protection, tourism, to keep people out, to keep people in, and because they could, ect..) It was a learning experience for sure! Other popular works included egg dying, Abstract art project, Map of Asia, Writing Asian Countries books, and flag work. We also had a great Spanish Lesson outside with Sra. Rosa!
Wednesday- At morning circle we celebrated a birthday walk. Happy 3rd Birthday R****! We briefly reviewed what we learned from the Great Wall Building project and restarted it. We also had a Music Lesson with Mr. Wolfe practicing how we are going to stand at Art's Night. As it turns out standing to sing adds another level of difficulty with the songs, so we did have to practice that a bit! Reminder Arts night is April 13th! Other popular works include metal insets, egg dying, season mat, Asian Lacing, Spindle Box and Stamp Game. At the end of the day we took a moment to talk about Spring holidays, with a focus on Passover. We talked briefly about what Passover means in a historical content and what is means today (Freedom). Then we very briefly explained the celebration of a Passover Seder meal, and sampled some matzo (for those of the children that wanted to try it).
Thursday- Ms. Laura was in for Ms. Becky. She had a great time leading morning circle, again reviewing the date and calendar. Many children used this opportunity to show off challenging works. Popular works included Stamp Game, Reading out-loud to a teacher, movable alphabet, Art Projects, and egg dying. We also had a surprise fire alarm as we were cleaning up to have recess.
Friday- Today we talked about more spring holidays, turning our focus to Easter. We left the children explain their favorite parts of Easter (easter eggs and candy), while saying that some people believe that the son of man died and then rose again on Easter. We also brought in the pagan celebration of the return of the sun, where people celebrated the new harvest season, the rivers swelled, and the sun appear larger in the sky. The excitement in the classroom was felt all day as conversations at snack time, recess, and lunch all revolved around these easter eggs and what each child remembered from last year's celebration. Popular works included Pink Tower and Brown Stairs, Color Tablets, Sandpaper letter games, Geometric solids, Multiplication book, Egg sorting, Egg dying, Asian Lacing, and Metal Insets.
Okay I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season (if they celebrate)!
See you on Monday!
Ms. Becky and the Preschool Staff!
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