Away We Go!

In the book "Away We Go" by Rebecca Dotlich the children learned about all of the many different types of transportation that we use and how they are all so unique. Then they used colorful squares, rectangles, ovals, circles, diamond and triangle shapes to make fire trucks, space ships, trucks and helicopters. Some children created vehicles with very special characteristics that they couldn't wait to share. It was fascinating as we observed our creative minds at work!

Designing detailed tunnels and bridges with curved wooden blocks was really fun especially when they were complete and we could travel through and over them with our many transportation vehicles.

Small cylinder blocks represented the many people waiting for the train that would be arriving shortly.

Creating roadways and finding just the right location for gas stations, road signs, bridges and construction sites has been a favorite activity. Boats traveled by water and the airplanes were arriving at the local airport. It was quite a busy place!

Many cars entered the parking garage which even had an elevator that was often crowded and spent a lot of time going from floor to floor. We discovered it was a form of transportation, TOO!

Some of us, weary from traveling enjoyed a cup of tea in Housekeeping. Mom even had enough change to buy us a little snack, too. It was such a long trip!

Alpha and JK enjoyed a special visit from author, Mariannne Berkes. She shared her book, "In the Ocean, In the Coral Reef." We learned that the illustrations in her book were photographs of sea creatures that the illustrator had made out of clay. The colors and details were beautiful and we loved the story!

In the beginning of our new month and new year, January 2012, at lunchtime the boys and girls have been finding their name card on the lunch table before going to get their own lunch or lunch box!! How exciting! There has been much discussion of letters and beginning sounds of their classmates names. Now letters seem to be popping up everywhere, even in the Legos.

In Music Mrs. McIvor and the children were lost in the ocean and had to determine what type of vehicle they would need to get back to Shorecrest.  They decided a boat would be best, and so they all rowed their boats back to school while singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat!"

At the easel the children painted brightly colored snowmen. They painted three circles or ovals for it's head and body and then added hats, scarves, buttons and faces. Some had arms and legs and a beautiful snow scene all around them.

 

Our themes this week for Exploring were Circus, Firefighters and Winter. In the circus room the children dressed up in costumes and walked the high wire.

The children learned to juggle scarves or toss them back and forth to a friend. It was challenging, but they caught on quickly.

Face painting was a definite highlight during the Circus festivities. Tigers and butterflies were everywhere and delightfully admired themselves in the mirror!

Tossing animals into the "Rectangle of Doom" to land in the bucket was a favorite for many!

In the winter wonderland the boys and girls used handled ice tongs to transfer ice cubes from bowl to bowl.

Snowflake stamps were dipped in pastel paints to make snowflakes on black banner paper. Then the children sprinkled glitter on top making a beautiful snowy scene!

Firefighters rescued people from fire with their big ladders and fully equipped trucks!

Important dates to remember:
1/18  Field trip to Fire Station
1/20  Exploring
1/27  Grandparents Day
2/3  The Big Event - New Athletic Center
2/9  Parent Teacher Conference
2/14  Valentine's Day Party - We will need parents to assist at party and read children's valentines to them.
2/17  No School - Teacher Inservice Day
2/20  President's Day - Holiday

Please email me about your desired conference time for Thursday Feb. 9th. You may also call me after school. My email is nmundell@shorecrest.org. THANK YOU!