He's Got the Whole World

Our students are enjoying this wonderful weather this week! What a blessing to be able to spend a portion of our day outdoors enjoying the wonderful creation God has created. The students are beginning to form friendships with one another and expand their play inside and out! It is a joy to see the children grow each day that they attend our preschool.

Morning Stories:

Don't let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems

A perfectly messed up story by Patrick McDonnell

If you give a cat a cupcake by Laura Numeroff

Pigs to the rescue by John Himmelman

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Planning and Recall Time [HighScope Curriculum]:

The students are still getting familiar with the classroom. For planning and recall this week, they are able to discuss with their peers and take turns listening to one another while sitting in a circle.

Bible Time [One in Christ Curriculum]:

For bible this week, the students have been going into detail about how God created the world. Creation is taught at the beginning of the year to show the students how great our God is. God's gift to us in the story of creation can be recalled throughout many other lessons in the school year. Everything that God made was good and made for a specific purpose - only God knows! God has a plan for all he has created, including us! This week they are able to see how God created something out of nothing. He is the one who loves and cares for us! What a blessing. On Tuesday they had a visit from Pastor Chris Ewings who shared more about our bible lesson this week. They have focused on Genesis 1:10, "God saw that it was good." A song that they have been learning this week is 'He's got the whole world' which reviews the parts of creation for the students.

Movement Time [SPARK Curriculum]:

Our lesson this week has been about spatial awareness. They have bee introduced to a new term this week, 'homes'. Homes are circles that are placed on the ground for the children to use. The homes are used during the movement activities. These homes are also used to help remind the students of their own personal space during stretching and the movement activities. They are working on warming up their bodies for the lessons through activity songs. The students are able to do several different movements and remember the term 'home' when necessary.

Music Time [Sing and Make Music Curriculum]:

For music, the students are learning to sing and use their hands. Their lesson this week revolves around a new song, 'pat a cake'. They are able to use their hands and arms to perform movements while learning the words to this song. Our returning students are able to help perform the song and sing the words to help familiarize the new students. Lessons will continue to become more and more challenging for the students as they have new concepts.

Small Group Time [HighScope Curriculum]:

The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for this week is a mathematical concept. Shapes: Children identify, name and describe shapes. The students will also focus on the letter A throughout the week.

Monday: The students took an outline of the letter A and used triangle shaped stickers to fill the outline. This helped them work on their fine motor skills as well.

Tuesday: Students were given several outlines of different shapes (circle, square, rectangle, oval, etc) in the shape of the letter A. They had to find the shapes that fit inside of the outline.

Wednesday: The students were able to use several different blocks to create the letter A and to build a tower.

Thursday: For the small group activity, the students used pattern blocks and design cards to create a variety of pictures.

Friday: They were able to create a letter A art project of an apple with red tissue squares.

Afternoon Table Activities:

In the afternoon, the students are able to choose from snack, the sensory table, or the table activities.

Monday (Math Items): printed numbers to trace with dry erase markers.

Tuesday (Fine Motor Items): pom poms with tweezers and a numbered muffin tin, alphabet beads with string and pencils with paper.

Wednesday (Manipulatives): large legos and small table puzzles.

Thursday(Art & Literacy Items): watercolors, letter popsicles and National Geographic books on animals.

Friday (Sensory Items): floam! 

Jesus Loves Me

Faith Lutheran Preschool is back in session! The students were able to start school on Monday of this week. It is a joy to have so many returning and new students in the classroom. They are beginning to form relationships with one another and communicate well. We are so blessed to be able to teach your children each day. God is good.

Morning Stories:

I will take a nap! by Mo Willems

If you take a mouse to school by Laura Numeroff

The Pout Pout fish goes to school by Deborah Diesen

Clark the Shark by Bruce Hall

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

Bible Time:

This week the students have been talking about the creation of the world. We are using the One in Christ curriculum during this class period. The children will learn that even though God created the whole world and everything in it, he still knows and cares about each one of us. It is amazing to see the wonderful power of our Lord. He was able to take nothing and make it into a beautiful creation. They have been focusing on Isaiah 43:1, "[God says] I have called you by name, you are Mine." Despite some of the mistakes we make in life, our Lord shows us His mercy. He shows us that we are His children and that He will take care of us. This week they have been learning the song 'Jesus Loves Me' with sign language actions. The students were able to have a visit from Pastor Chris Ewings on Tuesday to share the bible lesson with them.

Movement Time:

This week the students have been able to get to know one another and play the 'Wake Up' game. For movement we use the SPARK curriculum. The students were able to go to sleep and wake up to display a certain animal. The students were able to talk with one another about what animals to choose as well as act them out as a large group. The students seemed to really enjoy this opening activity. They were able to display their knowledge of running, walking, hopping, galloping, and more!

Music Time:

This week in music the students have been able to learn and review familiar songs. They have focused on 'Jesus Loves Me' during music as well. The students were able to learn a few finger play songs in their music class. For music we use the Sing and Make Music curriculum. Our lessons this week focused on the students learning how to use their voices to make music. They have enjoyed being able to use their voices to make high and low sounds in the songs we sing.

Small Group Time:

For small group this week, the students have been able to focus on an Artist. This week, their artist is Vincent Van Gogh. The students have been learning how to blend and swirl the colors together like some of the pieces of art Van Gogh created.

Monday- The students were able to use watercolors to swirl and blend while creating a picture. They were able to create a picture of whatever they would like.

Tuesday- They worked with primary colors. Students were able to take blue, red and yellow and create new colors such as purple, green and orange! The students enjoyed being able to mix and swirl on their paper to create a new color!

Wednesday- They were able to create their blue sky background. The students will be recreating one of Van Gogh's pieces "The Starry Night"

Thursday- The students will be able to add the dark shadows onto their night sky. We will also discuss more about the painting and how Van Gogh made it.

Friday- The students will be able to add the clouds, stars and moon to their pictures.

Afternoon Story:

Franklin's Bad Day by Paulette Bourgeois

Afternoon Table Activities:

During the afternoon table activities, the students can choose from snack, the water table and the table items.

Monday(Math): number popsicles, dominoes and tracing cards with numbers.

Tuesday(Fine Motor): lacing cards, links and tracing with colored pencils.

Wednesday(Manipulatives): foam blocks, bananagrams and stacking blocks.

Thursday(Art&Literacy): stamps and National Geographic magazines.

Friday(Sensory): Floam and PlayDoh.