Newsletter 9/12-9/16
Beaumont/Alameda Pre-K
Newsletter for the week of September 12-16
Hello Pre-K families! We had fun this week learning about our class! We really enjoyed sharing our “Life in a Bag” and learning about all our friends at school. In the beginning of the week, we made handprints and will keep them displayed in the classroom until the end of the year. The students did the first part of their time capsules, which included their favorite book, movie, food, animal, and color, as well as their height. We will do this again at the end of the year to see how/if our interests have changed! On Thursday, we celebrated Charles’ birthday. Happy Birthday Charles! We played different versions of the “Name Game” each day to get to know each other. We drew our self-portraits and painted them with watercolors. We talked about what we like about ourselves, and students had the choice to make an “I Like Myself” book. Outside, we learned how to play the game “Man on Mars.” During circle time, we learned the “Penguin” song, the “Pirate” song, and we added musical instruments to the “Bumble Bee” song that we learned last week!
Thanks and Reminders
Thank you to Coco and her family for the nice dry erase boards and markers!
Thank you to Hudson’s family for providing fruit for snack this week!
We will share our family photos for “Sharing” next week. If you have not provided a family photo for the classroom yet, please do so. If you have, you will not need to provide your child with any more photos, as we will share the photos that are already in our classroom.
Thanks to all the students for a great second week of school!
In the next two weeks, we will be focusing on Family, Friends, and Pets.
The Week in Review
Monday: Today we read the following books: The Sleep Book and I AM ME! In circle today, we went over the calendar, weather, and the school rules. We named our new class spider…”BUTTERFLY.” Our special project today was to make our handprints. The following children shared their Life in a Bag today: Lola shared a seashell, and lace with a butterfly (because she likes fancy things). Kate shared a microphone, nail polish, and a baby. Hudson shared acorns because he likes oak trees! Leo shared a Star Wars book, a cape, a lion and cheese. Daphne shared a card she made for her mom, a pig she loves, a picture of her sister at a cabin and a crystal heart her dad gave her. Davis shared a picture of his family, the train he made, a train ornament, and a drawing of a train.
Tuesday: Today was super fun! We started out the morning with “The Penguin Song” at circle time. We learned more about our new class tarantula, and read “Have You Filled a Bucket Today,” and “Knuffle Bunny Too.” We made art with tissue paper scraps, feathers, and foam pieces at our Creation Station, and the special project was a Time Capsule, which was an informational paper all about us – our favorite food, animal, color, etc. Our teachers helped us fill it out, and we wrote our signature at the bottom. We played parachute games in the gym, and had some outside playtime, too. We also continued sharing our Life in a Bag project. August shared a beaded necklace, his blue monkey, and an acorn; Margret shared her ballet slippers, an award from gymnastics class, and a picture of her at Disneyland; Henry shared his stuffed lion, some markers, and a tool; Ella brought seashells, a photo of her dog Charlie, and a necklace; Coco shared a jewel, a toy dog and horse, and a photo of her family; and Gabriel brought a giant $10 bill, the top to his favorite drink (Mango Tango), and some fruity Cheerios.
Wednesday: We started off the day by singing a song called “On the day I was one I had some fun. The day I went to sea I jumped aboard a pirate ship and the captain said to me we go this way and that way.” During group time we read the book Whoever You Are. We also did the weather and calendar. Students who shared their life in a bag were: Deacon, who shared several pictures and information on Sea Turtles, a picture of his brother and himself and a book called Owen and Mzee a story of friendship between a hippo and a turtle. Charles shared his taekwondo white belt, a piece of coral and a photo album of his family. Jack shared two movies (DVD’s) called Turner and Hooch and Justin Bieber Never Say Never and a picture of him dressed in a blazer shirt. During group time we also read I’m Gonna Like Me letting off a little self-esteem. We learned a new line up game together. The teacher would say and show a letter from the alphabet and if the students name began with the letter then they would line up. Each student was also asked the question: “If you could invent something what would it be?” At 9:30am we had a fire drill the students did a fabulous job lining up. We were already outside when the alarm sounded. We finished up the students time capsules during choice time. Some of our free choices today were: snap cubes, bristle blocks, stencils, foam sticky creation things, picture word lotto and magnetic counting maze.
Thursday: Today in Pre-K we began our day with a special birthday celebration for Charles. Happy 5th birthday, Charles! Our special project today was to make our own self-portraits! We had a really good time drawing with the Sharpies and painting with watercolors. The following students shared their “Life in a Bag” today: Benton shared some cool rocks, a bug jar, and a picture of dinosaurs that he drew. Tess shared a baby calico critter, her snuggle bunny, and a picture of her cat, Davenshire. Dominik shared a whisk (because he likes to cook with his mom) a picture of a pirate piñata from his birthday, and his zoo card. Simone shared a picture of her at her dance recital, snowboard goggles, swimming goggles, and a picture of herself at the beach with a starfish. Chase shared his swimming certificate, pirate map/pirate booty, and a book! Vincent shared a picture he drew of his sister, seashells he found with his mom, and a picture of a box truck. Dani shared a picture of people in pretty dresses, a “baby thing,” a cupcake necklace, and a pretty headband. Today we read Jamberry and School! and In the Night Kitchen.
Friday: We started today musically! Everyone took turns playing our percussion instruments to the beat of one of our favorite songs. We also talked about our “personal bubbles,” which is the space that surrounds us that is all ours. The project choice today was making a little book called “I Like Myself.” This included a poem about loving ourselves, and a blank page to draw something, all tied together with string. Some other choices today included using glue and colorful sand to make art, and building with our wooden trains and train tracks. We also concluded this week’s sharing project, Life in a Bag. Boone shared his special change purse, and some photos – of himself at the river with his brother, of a skate park, and of a dinosaur. Maggie shared a drawing that she created at her old school, a photo of herself and friends at ballet class, and a pink origami crane she made. Quincy brought her special tea cup, a photo of herself in her ballet tutu, and her ballet slippers as well. Lucy brought in a beautiful beaded necklace, a pencil representing that she loves to draw, and a balloon to represent that it’s her birthday soon! Gilbert shared his racing number from a race he participated in, a photo of his family, and book called Dazzling Diggers. Beck brought a Lego skateboard, a medal he was awarded from T-ball, and a very special object-disappearing magic box. What a great day!
Have a great weekend!
