We began the week by cutting green leaves and added a tissue paper butterfly egg. They now adorn our tree on classroom bulletin board. We read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and Melvin Berger's book, Butterfly, which displays actual photographs of the metamorphosis of a butterfly. We had discussions about this process and talked about how the chrysalis becomes transparent before the fully shaped butterfly emerges.  |
Creating caterpillars was the next next step in the butterfly process. We have a real milk weed plant and we will add the caterpillars to the bulletin board as the real caterpillars emerge on the plant.
Moving to the song "Butterfly, Butterfly" with scarves was a favorite activity in Music this week.
One child discovered orange and she placed a lime green scarf over a hot pink one!!
Creating a classroom environment where children are encouraged to think, question, build, and discover is one of my many goals!! On another day, this child created an airplane from mobilio blocks complete with wings and a propeller!
Ms. Fenech and I felt honored and loved at Teacher Appreciation on Tuesday. The door, wonderful lunch, flowers, and basket of fragrances and soaps helped to make a truly memorable day!! You touched our hearts with your photos, gifts, and most of all kind words!! Many, many thanks!!
Gluing diamonds onto a diamond was another center time activity. Some of the children created patterns with the diamonds.
Building with insects provide avenues for creativity, conversation, and reduces fears of these creatures.
Folding paper, writing our initials, adding dots of paint, and refolding was the process for creating symmetrical butterflies. Another activity in conjunction with the painting was using pattern blocks to display symmetry on a butterfly cutout.
The Relay For life all-school assembly was held on Friday on the football field. Shorecrest hosts a Relay for Life each year in March to raise money for the American Cancer Society. All of the children walked with an upper classman to kick off this very special event.
Then it was off to Junior Kindergarten for exploring. Each year in the Spring we visits the JK building to meet and work with the JK teachers and see the building. This process helps to familiarize the children with where they will be heading to in August. The exploring activities included a shadow room, creating structures using recycled materials, flyswatter painting, making a butterfly for snack, and a grass caterpillar in an egg carton.
I had a wonderful coincidence occur. As I was waiting for a red light on my way home one day, I discovered a beautiful rainbow in the sky. This was on the same day that we had read What Makes a Rainbow by Betty Schwartz and talked about needing sunlight and rain for this event to occur!!
DATES TO REMEMBER:
April 16 - 21 Celebrate the Arts Week
April 19 - 21 Upper Division Production, The Sound of Music
April 20 - 11:00 a.m. The EC and Lower Division students will sing for the parents on the LD quad amongst the pine trees which will be followed by a family picnic lunch.
April 25 - Field trip to the Dentist
April 27 - Parents Day -Student Activity Center - 8:30 a.m. After singing for you in the SAC, we will proceed to the classroom for presents and a special snack. We will head to the playground at approximately 9:45, followed by a mini-exploring in both of the Alpha classrooms.
April 16 - 21 Celebrate the Arts Week
April 19 - 21 Upper Division Production, The Sound of Music
April 20 - 11:00 a.m. The EC and Lower Division students will sing for the parents on the LD quad amongst the pine trees which will be followed by a family picnic lunch.
April 25 - Field trip to the Dentist
April 27 - Parents Day -Student Activity Center - 8:30 a.m. After singing for you in the SAC, we will proceed to the classroom for presents and a special snack. We will head to the playground at approximately 9:45, followed by a mini-exploring in both of the Alpha classrooms.
