Fire Safety/Fall/Leaves

We have been very busy! On Friday we had a special guest- a woman who lives on a farm brought one of her chickens to come visit us! She talked to us about her chicken, the chicken's body parts (beak, feet, feathers, wings), and she also brought us a green pumpkin for our classroom. She might come back to visit in the spring when she has baby chicks on her farm.

On Monday we attended an anti-bullying assembly. The host of the assembly did some magic tricks and talked to us about being buddies not bullies. We learned BAND- Buddies not bullies, Ask for help, No one deserves to be bullied, and Don't join in, help instead.

Last week we really emphasized fire safety- we learned that we need to dial 911 if there is a fire and we need help (from a firefighter or a police officer). We talked about items we should not touch because they are not safe for kids (lighters, matches, stoves, irons, grills, etc.). We also learned about the tools firefighters use. The kids took turns pretending to be firefighters (2 firefighters and one child to dial 911 to be rescued.

We have been talking about Fall- we have talked about apples and now we are talking about leaves- what happens to them in the fall (change colors, fall off trees). Today we went on a leaf hunt outside and collected lots of leaves and pinecones. At the science center we will be using magnifying glasses to look at leaves and pinecones up close. We will be reading the book The Leafman and will be making our own leafmen. 

Today at the art center we made paper bag fall trees and used tissue paper for the leaves. Each child received a paper lunch bag with pre-drawn lines for them to cut, then they had to twist the strips the cut into branches. Next we used paintbrushes to apply small amounts of glue to stick the "leaves" to.

Math Center- Cut out trees, leaves, and numbers were available at the math center. Students pick a number (if they are unsure of the number they can count the dots under the number), velcro it to the tree, and then put that many leaves on the tree.

This week we have been using our listening center (without headphones due to some technical difficulties). We have listened to Apple Trouble and Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed. 

To wrap things up, each day we do a morning message during circle time. This is where we identify letters, review themes, and answer a daily question. We have learned to recognize question marks- here is a friend who found a question mark in a box of magnetic letters and numbers:

Next Week:

Letter Pp- pumpkins, police, post office (continuing our Fall/community helpers theme).

Reminders:

Lending Library book bags (all 5 books and folder) go home on Fridays and are due back the following Thursday.

Homework goes home on Mondays and should be completed and returned by Friday, Monday at the latest. 

Parent Conferences for the first report card are Friday Nov. 16th- we dismiss at 12:00 that day. I am willing to meet before school on that day or other days (afterschool will be an option I'm just waiting to find out about a part-time job I applied for so I know what days I can be available). I will be bringing the sign up sheets to breakfast and dismissal- Afterschool parents need to send me times that work for them.

Have a great night!