PreK - Mrs. Young & Mrs. Buntain
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During a recent sunny, winter morning, the PreK students and the 5th/6th Graders teamed up to make observations about the sun and shadows. After chapel, the upper school students joined the PreK students in the parking lot to trace the PreK students' shadows, locate the position of the sun and observe the length of the shadows, and make predictions regarding what might happen to the shadows as the day progressed. The PreK students were surprised to see that in the morning, their shadows were longer than Dan Parks! We returned to the site to examine the way the shadows changed over time throughout the day, while noting the position of the sun. Some of our students observed that as the sun moved higher in the sky and that their shadow moved and became smaller. We will team up with the upper school students once more when the 5th/6th Graders help us write about shadows and reflections using as a model the writing style of author, Thomas Locker in his book, Water Dance. The upper school students will help the PreK children identify and record descriptive words. The PreK students enjoy the friendships that they have developed with the 5th/6th Grades students, but the upper school students have also become outstanding academic role models to our young learners.
The PreK students will continue examining the skies as we move into discussions focused on outer space. We will be reading Wait Until the Moon is Full by Margaret Wise Brown, Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by I. Trapani, The Sun by Justin Martin, and several Frank Asch books. The students will take a field trip to the Third Grade classroom to see the solar system projects recently completed by Mrs. Tapscott's students. The Third Graders will also lead brief presentations for the PreK students describing the planets. During our studies, the students have been listening and discussing It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw. They observed the clouds and painted their favorite cloud shapes. Be sure to check our hallway display of their artwork.
The students are learning to hide God's word in their hearts. In recent weeks, we have noticed the students reciting February's Bible verse, "Be kind to each other." 1 Thessalonians 5:15. In March, we will examine another Fruit of the Spirit, goodness. Recently, we read the creation story and learned that after God created all things, He said it was good.We will learn that goodness overcomes evil. For example, Jesus provided an example of a way to show goodness to others in the story of the woman at the well. Our Bible verse for this month is, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21.
During Lent, we will be reading Carolyn Nystrom books to the students to learn more about Jesus, what it means to be a Christian, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the church. Also, we will read the story of Jesus' resurrection.
In the Science Center, the students will be learning about the world God created, when we examine the planets and develop new constellations. In the Block Center, the students are sharing books describing the space shuttle and the space station and will include these new ideas in their creative play. In Mathematics, the PreK students will continue to work on expanding number knowledge, exploring and ordering objects by length. In the Math Center, the students will sort and order worms by length, and use linking cubes and "giant feet" for measuring. We are working on writing the numerals from 0-5.
Important Dates and Details to Remember:
*During the cold winter months, the students will dismiss from the Rainy Day Dismissal porch by the gym. The PreK students will wait inside the building by this entrance. PreK parents will need to come to this porch to sign out your child. If you are a single car rider, you may park in front of this entrance by the sidewalk. We will continue to leave the lane by the sidewalk open until 2:55. If you are a picking up a student in Grades K-6, you may park your car in the usual hook up line for Grades K-6 (not the lane by the sidewalk) and then walk to the Rainy Day Dismissal porch to sign out your student.
February 26: Field Trip to Nashville Children's Theater to see Miss Nelson is Missing
February 28: Last day to purchase books from Scholastics Books. Link to Scholastics website: Order Scholastic Books
Remember, every time you order books from Scholastic, you earn books for your child's classroom! Please email Mrs. Buntain if you need the class user name or password.
March 5: The Night of Knights annual auction. See website for more information.
March 11: Field Trip to Sudekem Planetarium.
March 12: Early Dismissal 11:15 for PreK, 11:30 for rest of school.
March 15-19: Spring Break
PreK Weekly Schedule and Art Room Opportunity
Below you will find the PreK weekly schedule and themes we will study. Each week, we offer the opportunity for our PreK parents to assist Mrs. Thompson when our students visit the Art room. If you would like to volunteer to help in the Art room on Thursdays from 12:55-2:05, please contact our room mother, Christy Johnson, for more information.
PreK 2009-10 Class Schedule.doc
PreK Classroom Themes We Will Study.doc
What are PreK Literacy Work Stations.pdf
What are PreK Handwriting Without Tears Stations.pdf
Education Weekly Article: Experts Urge Earlier Start to Teaching Science
To view photos of the PreK Classroom Activities, click on the following links:
August-October 2009-10 PreK Photo Collection #2Link to Upload August-October 2009-10 PreK Photo Collection #2
August and September 2009-2010 Photo Collection
2009 Book Character Day Photo Collection
Link to Upload 2009 Book Character Day Photos
October - December 2009-2010 PreK Photo Collection
November-December 2009-10 PreK Photo Collection
Link to Upload November-December 2009-10 PreK Photo Collection
January-February 2010 PreK Photo Collection