Uu is for upside-down!

This week we are experimenting with upside down and listening for the sound of Uu.

Table activities include stacking upside down cups, coloring on an upside down table, weaving on upside down table legs, coloring upside down pictures and turning cups and bowls upside down in water play.

Small group activities are using our muscles to put large rubber bands on upside down chair legs making squares, triangles and x's, and then taking them off again and adding a Uu to our journals. On Wednesday, our visit from the Leslie Science Center from 9:15-10:00 will take the place of our small group.

On Wednesday we will learn about how animals get ready for winter! Parents are welcome to come watch. Still drop off and pick up at the usual times.

KDIs of the week are-
Body awareness: Children know about their bodies and how to navigate them in space.- We tried turning our bodies to look upside down at our names written upside down on the board, hung upside down on a chair to throw a ball, weird ways our bodies may not have moved before.

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world. - Leslie Science Center will help us with this concept! 

Jesus Time- Now we move ahead until Jesus is twelve years old and attending Passover in Jerusalem with his parents for the first time. Jesus and his extended family travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem to spend a week worshiping at the temple and visiting with each other. When it is time to return to Nazareth, Jesus is not with Mary and Joseph, but they assume he is traveling with family or friends making their way back home. When night comes and Jesus still isn't around, they become worried and return to Jerusalem to find him. They searched the city for three days. When they finally find Jesus, he is sitting in the temple fielding questions from the scribes and elders, who are amazed at the knowledge of this young boy. Mary and Joseph ask him why he worried them by disappearing. He stated that he had to be about his Father's business. Jesus was reminding them who he was and why he came, not to be a carpenter in Nazareth, but to be the Savior of the world. He went home with them and the Bible tells us that he grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. Jesus does what he needs to do to accomplish our salvation, living a perfect life and dying an innocent death. He was both true man and true God.

Books for the week- "Round-trip" by Ann Jonas, "Silly Sally" by Audrey Wood and "Upside Down Day" by Julian Scheer.

Wednesday we have our visit from Leslie Science and Nature Center from 9:15-10:00 and on Tuesday, January 22nd, all are welcome to join us at Airtime on Warren Rd from 9:45-12:15 for a school wide field trip on the trampoline!

Have a super week!

Mrs. Schneck

Jj is for the jungle!

This week we are learning about Jj and what lives in the jungle!

Table activities this week include creating paper animals with animal print paper, stamping with animal feet, creating a jungle scene with stamps or playdough, figuring out where in the jungle certain animals live and jungle sensory play.

Small group activities are creating a jungle rain stick, a snake paper plate and adding Jj is for jungle to our journal.

Our KDIs of the week are-

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world. As we learn about animals and the climate of the jungle, we learn about the world.

Classifying: Children classify materials, actions, people, and events.- Which animals live in a jungle? Which do not?

Jesus Time-
This week we hear about the Wise Men or Magi who come from so far away to praise and worship the Savior of the world! When Jesus was born a large, bright star appeared in the sky. Several wise men from the east saw that star and decided to follow it where ever it lead. We can only guess that they heard the promise of a Savior perhaps from Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego or maybe Daniel in the Old Testament. They followed the star for almost a year when they reached Jerusalem. It made sense to them that if there was a newborn king, he would be in the capital city. They asked around seeing if anyone knew anything about a king. Word of their arrival reached King Herod, who was a very wicked king. He certainly knew nothing about a new king and was not about to lose his throne. He called the wise men before him and asked what they knew and what they were looking for. Through his own wise men, he found out that the new king was to be born in Bethlehem, not far from a Jerusalem. Herod asked them to go worship the newborn king and then return to tell him exactly where this little one was. He was not looking to worship Jesus, but to get rid of a challenger to his throne. The wise men continued to follow the star to Bethlehem where it stopped over a house where Jesus and his family now lived. They entered and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they were sleeping, an angel appeared to them and told them to go home a different way so they wouldn't run into Herod again. Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, urging him to wake up and take Mary and baby Jesus and flee to Egypt. So God kept Jesus safe and sound, ready to do the job of being our Savior.

Coming up- Next Wednesday, January 16th, Leslie Nature Center will be presenting "How Animals Get Ready for Winter" from 9:15-10:00. We will have regular school besides that presentation, so still arrive at 8:30, but if you'd like to see it too, you are more than welcome.

Also, an all school field trip is taking place on Tuesday, January 22nd. There is no school for us on Monday, January 21st since it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We are invited to go to Skyzone from 9:30-noon. I will let you know more details as soon as I have them!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!! Happy 2019! The kids were as amazed as I was that next year will be 2020 and they will all be in kindergarten!

Mrs. Schneck

Christmas!

This week we are thinking about Christmas and all the traditions or customs associated with Christmas.

Table activities include baking soda, vinegar and candy cane experimenting, jingle bells and magnet wands, making light string patterns, Christmas tree scissor cutting activity, coloring pages and puzzles.

Small group activities include naming shapes and putting them where they belong on a Christmas tree, Christmas baking soda experiment, and opening our presents on Friday.

KDIs of the week-

Shapes: Children identify, name, and describe shapes. - We are thinking about Christmas shapes too!

Self-identity: Children have a positive self-identity.- Jesus came for us! How he loves us!! We are special to him! 

Jesus Time- This week we keep the story going. Last week we stopped when baby Jesus was born. Things were still and quiet in the stable. This week we hear about what the shepherds heard and saw! During the night, shepherds were watching their sheep and an angel appeared to them. The angel said, "Don't be afraid! I have the best news! A Savior is born for you today in Bethlehem! This is how you will know who he is. He is lying in a manger, wrapped in clothes." Then thousands of angels appeared with the angel and praised God! After the angels went back into heaven, the shepherds rushed to Bethlehem to look for the Savior. They found him just as the angel said. They praised him and were so excited that they returned to the fields telling everyone they saw what they had seen and heard! We are so excited to share the news with you too this Sunday!!

Books of the week- "A Christmas Wish for Corduroy" based on a story by Don Freeman, "A Night of Great Joy" by Mary Engelbreit and "Christmas in the Barn" by Margaret Wise Brown.

This Friday is our party, so bring your gift. If you would like to bring a little fruit, veges or crackers or cheese, that would be fine. I doubt much will be eaten. We will be practicing the Christmas service  and having morning meeting and free play time. Then we will open gifts and have our snacks and play a game or two and maybe get outside.

On Sunday, please be a church at least 15 minutes before the service you chose to attend- so 8:15  04 10:45. The service lasts about an hour. We look forward to seeing you there!

Have a wonderful Christmas holiday!! We resume school on Monday, January 7, 2019!

Mrs. Schneck

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

This week we are listening for the letter Hh and the sound it makes. We hear about the holidays and think of Christmas. The original word was Holy day- a day set apart for God. We set apart Christmas to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

Morning activities include coloring ornaments, invite to create Christmas trees, ribbon cutting, wrapping stars with ribbon, beading candy canes and Christmas character puzzles.

Small group include matching letters on our letter wreath, decorating cookies and adding a Hh is for holidays page to our journal.

KDIs for the week-

Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.- we worked well on matching and naming our letters.

Fine-motor skills: Children demonstrate dexterity and handeye coordination in using their small muscles. - lots of work on this this week- cutting, beading, wrapping. 

Jesus Time- This week we hear about Jesus birth. Mary and Joseph were ordered to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted by the Roman government. It was a long trip for a very pregnant young girl. They may have ridden a donkey or walked, the Bible doesn't say. The trip may have taken as long as 7 days. It does seem they were some of the last ones to make it to Bethlehem as there was no room left for lodging. Finally someone made room for them in a stable, probably a cave carved into the hills outside Bethlehem. It was warm and dry, but probably also smelly and crowded. There Mary gave birth, to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger. It was done, God became man to save us from our sins. As they sat in the quiet, resting after their long ordeal. Mary thought and treasured. It wouldn't stay quiet for long, soon the shepherds would burst in on the scene. We'll hear about them next week.

Books of the week- "Mortimer's Christmas Manger" by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman, "Mooseltoe" by Margie Palatini and "Snowmen at Christmas" by Mark Buehner.

Lots going on in the next two weeks-

 This Saturday, Christmas service practice from 9am-10:30am. This is a time change from my original note.

Sunday, December 23rd is our Christmas service. You can choose to attend either the 8:30 service or the 11:00 service. There is a sign up sheet in the sign in room at preschool. If you are unable to attend, please let us know that as well.

Wednesday we will decorated cookies from 10:45-11:15, bring your own or decorated some that I am making.

Your child picked a name today for our Christmas gift exchange which will take place on Friday, December 21st. Here is the list in case you have lost yours-

Jace has Noah
Natalie has Jesse
Noah has Rosie
Abigail has Abel
William has Charlie
Charlie has Brennan
Maicoll has Peyton
Rosie has Jace
Brennan has Maicoll
Abel has Tessa
Harper has Abigail
Peyton has William
Tessa has Harper
Jesse has Anna
Anna has Natalie

In general, the girls love unicorns and the boys love superheroes.
Good luck!

Have a marvelous week!

Mrs. Schneck

Gg is for gingerbread

 This week we are having fun with gingerbread and listening and looking for the letter Gg.

Morning activities include creating a paper gingerbread man, playing with gingerbread people clay mats, baking play, cookie cutter printing,gingerbread sorting and gingerbread playdough.

Small group activities are a torn gingerbread man, decorating real gingerbread cookies and adding a Gg is for gingerbread page to our journals.

KDIs for the week are-
Community: Children participate in the community of the classroom. - We are working together and helping each other out pretty well. We talk about how to be friends and work together.
Building relationships: Children build relationships with other children and adults. - There's never just one gingerbread, we learn about friendship from our stories and activities this week.


Jesus Time- We move into Christmas stories this week. Today we were introduced to Mary and Joseph and the angel. Mary was a young woman engaged to Joseph. They both lived in the town of Nazareth. Joseph was a carpenter. One day while Mary was home, an angel appeared to her and told her that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God. She was afraid and confused. How could she have a baby? She wasn't married yet. The angel explained that this baby would be true God and true man. Mary accepted what the angel said.

When Mary told Joseph, he thought she had done something wrong. He still loved her, so he was going to quietly end their engagement to not bring her any shame. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The baby she was carrying was from God and would be true God and true man.

Mary and Joseph were married and were soon on their way to Bethlehem to be counted by the Roman government.

Books of the week-
"Gingerbread Friends"  and "Gingerbread Christmas" by Jan Brett and "Maisy makes Gingerbread" by Lucy Cousins.

Hopefully we'll get outside every chance this week! Let your little one know where you've put their gloves, I know we have ones to borrow and they like to, we'll try to help them find their own.

Sign up for the Christmas service of your choice or let us know if you are unable to come! Christmas fun is on it's way! Have a wonderful week!

Oo is for occupation

 What do you want to be when you grow up? What's your mom's occupation or your dad's occupation? This week we are thinking about our occupation and the sound and shape of Oo.

Morning activities include dramatic play to "try out" different occupations such as flower shop, pet shop, post office, airport, library and restaurant.

Small group activities are coloring a picture of yourself dressed for what you want to be, drawing where you'd like to work and putting a picture of you in it and adding a "When I grow up, I want to be... page to our journal.

KDIs for the week include-

Community roles: Children recognize that people have different roles and functions in the community.- As we study occupations, each person does something different for their job.

Diversity: Children understand that people have diverse characteristics, interests, and abilities.- We had lots of different choices today, police officers, artists, ballerinas, veterinarians. 

Jesus Time- This week we hear the story of Jonah. Jonah was sent to Ninevah by God, but he didn't want to go. He tried to run away from God, boarding a ship that was sailing in the opposite direction of Ninevah. God made a storm come up. Jonah was sleeping in the hold, when the sailors woke him to draw straws and see who God was angry with, he drew the short straw. He told them to throw him overboard, he knew that he was the cause of the storm. When they reluctantly threw him over, the seas calmed and Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish. He spent 3 days inside the fish's belly, cramped, covered in fish slime and seaweed, possibly irritated by stomach acids and he prayed! He repented, and God had the fish cast him out on the shore closer to Ninevah. Jonah went and proclaimed repentance or vengeance on Ninevah. He thought the people wouldn't listen, so after 40 days of preaching, he sat outside the city to wait for it to be destroyed. But they did listen! The king of Ninevah lead his city in repentance so they were not destroyed. Jonah kept complaining and God showed him that he deserved nothing. Everything he had received was a blessing! And so it is with us! WE are so blessed!! Lord, please help us to not complain, especially during this holiday season when our joys so often turn to grumbles and sharp tempers, keep us centered on you and your love for us!

Books of the week- "Roberto, the Insect Architect" by Nina Laden and "Everybody Works" by Shelley Rotner and Ken Kreisler.

We have started learning our song and recitation for our Christmas program. This year it takes place on Sunday, December 23rd. The preschoolers are only asked to do one service, although you can do both if you desire. The services take place at 8:30 or 11:00 am. I will have a sign up sheet out next week. If you are unable to attend, you can let me know on the sign up also.

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Schneck

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week we are doing activities around the theme of Thanksgiving!

Table activities this week include making a paper turkey, Thanksgiving themed dot paintings, Thanksgiving pattern blocks and candy corn activities.

For small group this week, we are making a name turkey and adding a "I am thankful for..." page to our journal.

KDIs of the week are-

History: Children understand past, present, and future.- We are talking about why we celebrate Thanksgiving and some of the history of it.

Counting: Children count things. - We'll be counting candy corn and feathers this week. 

Jesus Time- This week we hear another story about a young person helping someone to increase their faith. This week's story is about Naaman and his young servant. Naaman was a general in the army of Aram, one of Israel's enemies. When they had defeated the Israelites, a young girl was taken and she became a slave of Naaman's wife. Naaman had leprosy, an incurable and contagious illness. The young slave girl suggested to her mistress that he go to see the prophet Elisha and be healed. Naaman went to see Elisha with a letter from his king, riches and promises of wealth. When he went to Elisha's house, he was told to go wash in the Jordan River seven times and he would be healed. Naaman thought that wasn't miraculous enough to work. Why didn't Elisha make a big deal of healing him? He grumbled and started to head home. His servants intervened, just give it a try, they urged! So he did wash in the Jordan and he was healed. His skin was like a baby's, smooth and soft!  He returned to Elisha and apologized and confessed his faith. Because of a slave girl's bravery, he believed. 
How often aren't we afraid of what could happen as we share our faith? God is with us!! He will protect us and make His word work wonders!

Books of the week- "Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving" by Dav Pilkey, "Thanksgiving Day Thanks" by Laura Elliot and "Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks" by Margaret Sutherland.

Here is a picture of what your children are thankful for today-