January 1, 2017 by toddletowne2015

Homework Alert: January

The children have a “homework assignment” for our TRANSPORTATION theme: to cut out pictures of transportation to bring in for our bulletin boards. The children will use these pictures to classify air, land, and water transportation; learn transportation terms; become alert to many different and unusual methods of transportation and to people who use specialized forms of transportation.

Of course, their assignment includes cleaning up any mess they may make cutting – Have fun!

X marks the spot: This month we will be using Pirates as a theme for our activities. The children seem to enjoy this exercise in fantasy. One of our important topics will be the use of the “Jolly Roger” to signify danger. We will be on the look-out for this sign and also Mr. Yuk, the more modern counterpart of the pirate flag. Just in case we find a treasure map, we are also working on left and right so that we can follow the map and find the treasure. Many of our activities will be done outside each day, check your calendar. We will be using the pirate’s treasure for many of our classifying activities, if you have any old “junk” jewelry which you could donate for our activities we would appreciate it. Also, we will be using medicine droppers, seashells, and rocks for many activities, If you have any of these to donate, we will put them to good use.

Beginners: Pirate treasure will be used with size, numbers, sequencing and placement words like on/off and in/out. Fingerplays are lots of fun and beginners will use them to add to vocabulary and develop self-confidence as they use motions and join in on at least a few of the words. Learning their parent’s names and starting on addresses is the first step in personal safety. Independence in the bathroom is always encouraged but they will be working especially this month on pulling up their own pants. Children are considered potty trained when they have fewer than 6 accidents a month.

Preschool: As pirates, counting out treasures will give children lots of practice with money and numbers. Children will also be working on putting their numbers in sequence (just another pattern). Just in case they get lost at sea, they are also working on personal information like parent’s names, addresses including zip-codes, and practicing self-help skills like snaps, buttons, zippers, and knots. Children will be busy with opposites, rhymes, utilizing placement words and recognizing and working with patterns, a good lead-in for starting an accumulation of personal and standard sight words.