Preschool

As we study all about our marvelous bodies we will talk about ways that we are all alike and ways that we are all different. We will learn all of the ways to keep our bodies healthy like sleep, nutritious food and exercise. Please remember that we go outside to play every day unless it is extremely windy, rainy or too cold (less than 40 degrees). Dress your child accordingly. Remember fresh air is good for children and there are fewer germs in the outside air. As Thanksgiving approaches we will talk about what makes us thankful.

November 4 – 8 – This week we are going to look at all of the ways that we are just like our friends and all of the ways that we are different from our friends. One way we are alike is we all have bones and we’re going to look at them with x-rays at the light table.

November 11 – 15 –In celebration of Veteran’s day we are going to write the Toddle Towne Peace Treaty and learn about ways that we can settle differences without fighting. We continue to learn about our bodies as we explore what our hands and feet are capable of.

November 18 – 22 –It is a busy week as we explore facts about mouths are for tasting, ears are for hearing, noses are for smelling, skin is for feeling and eyes are for seeing. This week we will practice using all of our senses with nosey necklaces, pumpkin pie paint, textured paint, and cooking.

November 25 – 27 –This week we will prepare our own Thanksgiving feast by cooking, green beans, cranberries, stuffing and cornbread. Since we already learned how to cook a Thanksgiving dinner we can help at home to cook for the family! Please remember we are closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving break.

We will focus our attention this month on “Our Marvelous Bodies”. We will encourage the children to become more aware, and appreciative of how their bodies function. We will investigate ways in which we are all alike and other ways in which we are different.

We will of course also spend some time enjoying the Thanksgiving Holidays. Any discussion of Thanksgiving must recognize the intermingling of the Native American culture and the individual cultures of all of the immigrants who have made the United States their home. It is the blending of bits and pieces of all of these cultures which has formed the society which we recognize as “America”.

In any discussion of Native Americans, we will emphasize the following concepts in an attempt to help the children form a more accurate picture of the Native American culture. You must be born a Native American, it is not a job, a costume, or something you can choose to be. Native Americans who lived in different eras and areas were very different from each other. Some similar values which were shared by Native American tribes include: a respect for the importance of individual freedom and self-worth; respect for bravery; a belief in a Supreme Being; and equality for all…beliefs which are not too dissimilar from those of our present culture.

Beginners: Children will add seasonal words and body part names to their vocabulary. They will lay the foundation for later math by increasing their awareness of numbers and shapes. A lot of practice on stairs, throwing a ball, stringing beads, hopping jumping, and turning somersaults will absorb some of the tremendous energy of our younger group as well as increase their balance and coordination.

Preschool: Children will prepare for future reading skills by practicing recognition of identical pictures, shapes, patterns, letters, and sounds. They will enhance their ability to listen by recognizing everyday sounds without visual clues, and clapping in rhythm to music. Coordination and endurance will improve as they jump and run. Remember it is important to develop all aspects of the child. The physical skills are as important as the academic skills