Good Night! Sleep Tight!

This week we are talking about bedtime and the night sky.

Table activities include a night sky sensory bin, design your own pajamas, star painting, drawing constellations with chalk or white crayons, and day and night sky drawing.

Small group include decorating your own pillowcase and bed and blanket pictures.

KDIs for the week are-

Healthy behavior: Children engage in healthy practices.-good sleep is so important to our growing brains and bodies!

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.-What do we see and hear during the day and what do we see and hear at night?  

Jesus Time- This week we hear the story of Pentecost. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples went to Jerusalem to wait for the Counselor or Holy Spirit. Ten days after Jesus ascension, the disciples were in a locked room and the sound of a loud wind came, even though there was no wind, and tongues of fire appeared on the head of each disciples. Crowds heard the noise and gathered outside of the house where the disciples were gathered. They had been in Jerusalem for  a festival from many different countries and when the disciples went out to them, they were able to speak in many different languages so the people could understand them. Peter was given boldness to stand before them and tell them about Jesus, about how he had been crucified because of us and how he had risen from the dead. The people wanted to know how they could be saved. He told them to repent and be baptized and over 1000 people became believers that day! The disciples are following Jesus directions and spreading the good news to all people!

Books of the week- "Good Night, Sleep Tight" by Mem Fox, "The Sleep Book" by Dr. Seuss and "Goodnight Everyone, Goodnight" by Harriet Ziefert.

On Wednesday, wear your pajamas for our Pajama Day!!

We have a guest joining us this week- It is Lydia Schultz, sister of our kindergarten teacher, Maggie Schwartz. Lydia is studying to be a preschool teacher and is doing some of her early field experience with us! Welcome Miss Schultz!

Next week is graduation at 6:30pm on Wednesday, May 29th! We do have school that day!!!

Next Friday is a water fun day! Preschoolers are welcome to attend with their parents. The water fun starts at about 10:15 followed by a picnic lunch. Hope to see you there!

Have a super week!
Mrs. Schneck

Numbers

This week we are looking at and counting a lot of numbers!

Table activities include a plate number full of pompoms, painting with sponge numbers, unifix number towers and number dotters.

Small group activites are placing numbers in order and tracing number symbols for our journals.

KDIs for the week are-
Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols.- Children match the spoken word for the number.

Counting: Children count things.- We also work on realizing what each number means- an amount of something.

We also worked on some number sense- what can you do with numbers? You can add them together, take them away, divide them into even piles, when you have a certain number as long as you don't take any or add any, however they are arranged, it is still the same number!

Jesus Time- Our story this week takes place 40 days after Easter. Jesus calls his disciples to meet him on a hill outside Jerusalem. There he instructs them to go and tell the good news to the whole world and gives them the comfort that he will always be with them, no matter where they go! After he says this, he is lifted up into heaven. The disciples stand there, watching him, until two angels ask why they are looking up into the sky. They assured the disciples that this same Jesus will come back to take us to heaven someday. The disciples went to wait in Jerusalem until Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to them at Pentecost.
We are still waiting for Jesus to come back! He is with us as we do the job he has given us to do- Go tell the good news!

This Wednesday is our Detroit Institute of Art field trip! Please meet there by 9:30. Here is some parking information-

Museum Parking Lot: A lighted, secured parking lot is located east of the DIA. Located on John R. St., south of Kirby St. and north of Warren Ave. Daily parking rate is $7; cash and credit cards are accepted.

Valet: Valet is not currently available.

Wayne State University Parking: Two parking structures operated by Wayne State University are within a short distance of the DIA:

Rackham parking structure is located on Warren Ave, East of Warren and West of Woodward Ave. Credit cards only.

Welcome Center parking structure is located on Putnam St., just west of Woodward Ave. Credit cards only.

Street Parking: The City of Detroit has metered street parking located around the DIA. Parking is limited to a maximum of two hours. The DIA’s Parking Zone is 202. To pay, visit a kiosk or download the “Park Detroit” app(opens in new window).

Hope to see you all there! Have a super week!

Mrs. Schneck

This week we are learning about wind and the letter Ww.

Table activities are designing pinwheels, adding beads to the tail of a kite, blow painting, making windsocks, windchimes  and fans to make wind.

Small group activities are designing a kite, flying foam flyers in the wind, and adding Ww is for wind to our journals.

KDIs for the week are-

Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing in using their large muscles- making our kites fly and flying foam aircraft demand timing and flexibility.

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.- Observing the effect of something unseen on the world around us.

Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds. - We have now been introduced to every letter and sound they make. 

Jesus Time- This week we hear the story of Thomas. Thomas was one of Jesus' disciples, one of the group of 12 closest to Jesus. When Jesus appeared to the group of disciples in a locked room on Easter evening, Thomas was not there. The Bible never tells us why, but he didn't get the chance to see Jesus that day. When Thomas later returned, the disciples excitedly told him that the Lord had appeared to them. Thomas did not believe them. He chalked it up to grief and refused to admit they had really seen the risen Jesus. Thomas stated that he would not believe unless he put his fingers in the nail marks in Jesus' hands and his hand in the spear wound in Jesus' side, he would not believe. A week went by and we find the disciples locked in the upper room again, this time Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared, assured the disciples of his peace and went right up to Thomas. He told Thomas to go ahead, put his fingers in the nail marks, his hand in his side, stop doubting and believe. Thomas immediately fell to his knees and proclaimed, " My Lord and my God." Jesus called him blessed because he believed, but proclaimed that those who have not seen and yet believe are even more blessed! That's us, we haven't seen Jesus, but we believe in him through the work of the Holy Spirit! 

Books of the week- "Miss Maple's Seeds" by Eliza Wheeler, "Bringing the Outside In" by Mary McKenna Siddals, "Flora's Very Windy Day" by Jeanne Birdsall and "The Wonky Donkey" by Craig Smith.

You should have received the attendance slip for the DIA field trip next Wednesday. Please return by Wednesday.

No School this Friday, May 10th. There is a big school track meet, so they have no school and siblings and children of preschoolers and staff ;) are participating.

Have a super week!!
Mrs. Schneck

How does your garden grow?

This week we are concentrating on learning about and exploring plants and gardening!

Table activities include playing in dirt with garden gloves, pots and worms, "planting and picking" vegetables in our box garden, investigating seeds and flowers, playdough flower and plant mats.

Small group activites include making a "garden in a glove", yarn flowers and adding a plant page to our journal.

KDIs for the week are-

Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.- How does a seed become a plant?

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world. - What do leaves and seeds look like up close, inside?

Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment. - How do we work together with plants? 

Jesus Time- This week we hear about two disciples who left Jerusalem the Sunday after Jesus was crucified. They were very discouraged and were talking about all the events that transpired on Good Friday and the strange story they had heard that morning, Jesus was no longer in the tomb! What was going on!? Had someone stolen Jesus' body, was he really alive, like the women said the angel told them? They were so confused. They were walking to the town of Emmaus, a few miles outside of Jerusalem, when someone began to walk with them. He asked what they were talking about and they were surprised he hadn't heard! They told him all about Jesus, how they hoped he was the Messiah. He brought up Old Testament prophecies, showing how Jesus fulfilled each one. The disciples arrived at Emmaus and were entering an inn to have a meal. The man who had joined him seemed as if he were still walking on when they invited him to join them. As they sat down to the meal, the stranger as to bless the food. As he lifted the bread to break and bless it, their eyes were opened, and they realized they had been walking and talking with the risen Jesus!! He disappeared and they left their meal and sprinted all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples they had seen Jesus! It was true! Jesus was alive!!

Books of the week- "How Does Your Garden Grow?" by Pat Patterson, "All Kinds of Gardens" by Mari Schuh, "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle and "Lola Plants a Garden" by Anna McQuinn.

Have a great week!!

Mrs. Schneck

Yy is for yarn

This week we are looking for and listening for the initial sound of Yy and playing with yarn.

Table activities include a yarn cutting bin, painting with yarn, wrapping twigs in yarn and lacing with yarn.

Small group activities help us begin a Mother's Day gift (shh!) and we add Yy is for yarn to our journals.

KDIs for the week are-

 Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts.- This is getting better and better as we talk to each other to work things out!

Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play. - Sometimes we play out scenarios that are real, other times that are totally make believe and we are learning to know the difference.

Fine-motor skills: Children demonstrate dexterity and handeye coordination in using their small muscles. - We keep building those skills to handle all the writing coming in kindergarten! 

Jesus Time- This week we hear about Jesus rising from the dead. Jesus had been placed in a borrowed tomb, like a cave, on Good Friday. The women did not have time to properly prepare his body for burial, so they planned to return on Sunday morning, after the Saturday sabbath.
Jesus' enemies were concerned that the disciples might try to steal Jesus' body from the tomb and say he was alive, so they asked Pilate to place guards at the tomb to prevent that from happening. Early in the morning on Sunday, an angel appeared like lightning at the tomb. The guards were so frightened, they fainted and then ran away. When the women came towards the tomb, they remembered the large stone and wondered who would help roll it away for them. As they drew nearer, they saw the stone had already been rolled away. One woman, Mary Magdalene, thought Jesus' body had been stolen and was inconsolable. The other women continued on to the tomb where they also saw an angel who asked why they were looking for the living among the dead. "He is not here, he is risen!" is what the angel said. Meanwhile, Mary finds who she thinks is the gardener and asks him if he knows where they put Jesus' body. The man says, "Mary", she lifts her head and realizes it is Jesus! He is alive!!

Books this week are- "Charlie Needs a Cloak" by Tomie dePaola, "Extra Yarn" by Mac Barnett and "Grandma's Knitted Kingdom" by Rachel McRoy.

Taste of Kindergarten visits have begun and so far, lots of fun! Hard to believe it's that time of year already!! Graduation will be here before you know it!

Have a great week!

Mrs. Schneck

Happy Easter!

This week we are talking about Easter and our activities have an Easter theme to them.

Table activities include coloring wooden crosses, playing with plastic eggs and playdoh, decorating paper mache eggs with glue and tissue paper, playing in an Easter bin, plastic eggshell stacking and Easter coloring pages.

Small group activities include cutting out and painting an egg with q-tips, Easter Bingo, and making a hand Easter Lily.

KDIs for the week are-
History: Children understand past, present, and future.- As we listen to our Bible story about Jesus, it's important to put it in time and recognize what it means for us today.

Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong- Knowing why Jesus had to go to the cross to save us shows us our sins have consequences.

Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings. - Even Jesus had feelings, God does too.  

Jesus Time- This week we are hearing the story of Jesus going to the cross. We talked about sharing a last meal with his disciples where he gave them a new command - To love each other as he had loved them. Jesus also introduced the last supper or communion there. Then Jesus went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane. He prayed to his Father, asking if there were any other way to save the world, but if not , he would do what he needed to do. He was arrested in the garden and taken before the chief priests and leaders and questioned. They took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, where he was mocked and beaten and whipped. Then he was sentenced to death. He died on a cross to save us from our sins. He loved us so much, he took our place and our punishment. We didn't leave him there, we did talk about how he rose from the dead and we will talk about that more next week.

Books of the week- "The Easter Story" by Carol Heyer, "The Easter Story" by Allia Zobel-Nolan, "The Easter Lily Parable" by Liz Curtis Higgs and "Peter Rabbit's Happy Easter" by Crace Maccarone.

We do have school this Good Friday, but we do not have school on the Monday after Easter, April 22nd.

I would also like to start having two students at a time go visit Kindergarten for an hour in the morning- I call it a Taste of Kindergarten. Whether you plan to attend Peace or another school, it just gives a taste of how preschool and kindergarten are different. I will send a schedule home of who is going when.

If you do not want your child to visit kindergarten, please send me a text or email privately- 907-230-6715 or dschneck@atpeacewithgod.org.

Have a happy Easter!
Mrs. Schneck

Xx is for box

 This week we are listening for the sound of Xx. Since Xx makes it's unique sound in the middle or at the end of words, we are playing with boxes.

Table activities include stacking boxes, designing our own box, coloring inside and outside a huge box and pounding golf tees into boxes.

Small group activities are painting our own treasure box, making a gift and putting it in a box and adding Xx is for boxes to our journal.

KDIs for the week include-
Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play- we learn to work together to stack and imagine with boxes.

Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play.- Boxes are open ended, they can be anything, today they were cars, cages for dogs or cats, caves, steps, Mario hideaways- who knows what Wednesday and Friday will bring?

Phonological awareness: Children identify distinct sounds in spoken language. - even if they are in the middle or end of a word. 

Jesus Time-
This week we begin the stories of Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was entering into Jerusalem to die. He knew this and went willingly. Recently, Jesus had raised his friend Lazarus from the dead, with that act, the leaders and chief priests knew they had to get rid of him fast. They plotted to have him killed soon. Jesus and disciples headed for Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On their way, Jesus instructed several disciples to go into a town and take the foal of a donkey. He was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a foal of a donkey. They placed their coats on the donkey and Jesus road in to cheering crowds waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna to the Son of David!" Hosanna means 'save us'. They knew that Jesus was the Savior, they just weren't sure what kind of savior he was. The chief priests and leaders were upset that Jesus was receiving so much praise and they asked him to quiet his followers. He told them that if he asked them to be quiet, the very rocks would shout out!  We know who Jesus is and we know he is the only one who can save us! Sadly, less than a week later, many of these same people would be shouting "Crucify!" May God keep us in his grace!!

Books of the week- "What to do with a Box" by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban, "A Box Can Be Many Things" by Dana Meachen Rau and "A Box Story" by Kenneth Kit Lamug.


Exciting Easter for Families this Saturday, April 13th from 9-10:30- come use this time to focus on Easter's true meaning and enjoy an Easter egg hunt! Fun for everyone!

Have a great week!
Mrs. Schneck