Miss Terri's Kitten and Puppy Classes Rehearse for Graduation Day!

News from Miss Gloria's Class: 05/14/10

Friday, May 14, 2010 Letter of the Week: U

On Monday, we read two books by Faith Ringgold. The Art Museum sent Cassie's Word Quilt and we also read Tar Beach. Cassie's Word Quilt takes the reader on a patchwork tour of her home and neighborhood. In Tar Beach, Cassie has a dream to be free to go wherever she wants to go. On Tar Beach, the rooftop of her apartment building, Cassie is lifted up by the stars and she flies away. Cassie says that anyone can fly because all they need is somewhere to go that they can't get to any other way. For our art project, the boys and girls made the nighttime sky with Cassie and her brother, Be Be, flying across the sky. We asked the children to tell us where they would fly, if they could.

Tuesday was our trip to the Art Museum. The theme of the lesson was People, Places, and Things. We visited period rooms and architectural spaces. In each of the rooms, the children looked for various objects that filled these rooms. They participated in a hands-on lesson to search for objects, such as a sofa, a door, a chandelier, a teapot, a jar, a cup, and a chair. For their art project, the boys and girls made an object, fabric, and drawing quilt collage. All of our trips to the Art Museum have been wonderful learning experiences for the children and we hope that our visits have opened up the world of art to them.

On Wednesday, one group of children read The Growing-Up Feet by Beverly Cleary. In this book, a trip to the shoe store makes Jimmy and Janet very excited when they get new red boots. The journal group put pictures of their favorite Playschool activities, like building with blocks, painting, putting puzzles together, cutting paper, and reading books, on their page. In yoga, Miss Kim asked the children to name their favorite animal as they practiced yoga breathing. The boys and girls played "Yoga Freeze Dance" and posed as a giraffe, dinosaur, and snake. They also posed as the animals in the book, Barnyard Boogie.

On Thursday, we read Mole's Hill by Lois Ehlert. Mole is asked to move because her mound of dirt blocks the path to the pond. Mole plants seeds on the hill and beautiful flowers grow there. Instead of moving the hill, Mole digs a tunnel through it in order to save her hill. For our letter of the week art project, the boys and girls made a mole living underground. We began teaching the children the songs that they will sing for you at their graduation.

On Friday, we read The Magic Hat by Mem Fox. In this book, a wizard's hat moves like this, and it moves like that. As it moves through the air, the hat lands on the heads of people, changes them into animals, and then, back into people again. Wherever the hat lands, magic happens. For our art project, the boys and girls painted their graduation hats.

*Thank you to Tommy, Michael, David, Katherine, Max, Julian, and Avery for being our super "kids of the day" for the past two weeks. Thank you to all of the parents who attended the Parent Teacher Conferences and thank you to all of the parents who accompanied us to the Art Museum.
*Summer camp applications are now available. Camp begins on Monday, June 7. Please let us know if your child will be attending.
*Here are some other important dates to mark on your calendars:
*Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20 - The Playschool will be closed for Shavuot.

*Friday, May 21 - Last day of Afterschool Arts Clubs

*Thursday, May 27 - Playschool Graduation for the 2 year old Tuesday/Thursday class 11 AM

*Friday, May 28 - Playschool Graduation for the 2 year old MWF class at 11 AM, the Pre-K
Graduation at 11:30 AM, and the 3 - 4 year old Graduation at 12 PM.

*Have a great weekend!

Miss Gloria, Miss Allison, Miss Sophie, Miss Mindy and Mr. Noah

Ms. Terri's Class is Building an Ocean for Graduation Day!!!

Building an Ocean

Happy Mother's Day!