Announcements from Miss Cheryl, Miss Ginger and Miss Kelley’s Class
OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK
We are moving from the long ago land of the dinosaur to the world of caterpillars and butterflies. This week’s story is one of my favorites- “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. The class will learn about the life cycle of the butterfly from the egg to the butterfly. We are very lucky this year to have been given by the Cobb County Schools Science department some painted lady butterfly chrysalises. This is very good timing because they just arrived on Friday. The children will be able to watch the chrysalises grow and change into butterflies over the next few weeks. They always love this event. This week’s activities will include sequencing the life cycle using pictures and other visuals plus their own bodies. They will start out as eggs and end up as beautiful butterflies. We will also learn about the healthy and unhealthy foods that the caterpillar eats. In addition we will work on the days of the week. Time is a very difficult concept for many young children to understand. Of course we will participate in science and math activities. In science we will watch how the egg changes to a caterpillar using a paper covered straw and a few drops of water; balance a paper butterfly on our finger or nose; and we may even fly some paper butterflies using magnets. One of our group math activities will involve the children playing a counting game with a caterpillar, a chrysalis (box)and some numbered butterflies. Please remember that butterflies appear from a chrysalis and moths appear from cocoons if you want to be technically correct. Usually these words are used interchangeably.
Vocabulary Words:
egg caterpillar cocoon (chrysalis) butterfly
hungry leaf stomachache nibbled food
Homework:
- Finger play
Good times to play this with your child are during periods when you have to wait. Finger plays increase vocabulary and are an excellent way to increase motor planning.
Caterpillar
There was a little caterpillar crawling all about.
He worked and he worked without a doubt. (Wiggle and inch index finger on arm)
Wrapping himself in a snug cocoon. (Cover index finger with other hand)
Waiting and waiting, will it be soon?
Look! He’s coming out, my oh my!
For now he is a beautiful butterfly. (Cross thumbs and flit fingers like butterfly wings)
2. Draw or download a small butterfly or caterpillar that you and your child can decorate by coloring, painting or gluing on decorations. Let him/her cut it out (if they are able)before decorating it. Once completed (and dry) use the butterfly to practice positional words of on, in, under, over, in front of, behind, between, and beside (next to). Adjust the number of prepositional words to your child’s developmental level and abilities. Always make sure that you demonstrate and repeat where the butterfly should be if they do not know.
3. Check out this online interactive butterfly story- The Butterfly Trail- on BBC. The address is
www.bbc.co.uk./schools/laac/story/sbi.shtml
This is from the United Kingdom. The story uses some words that are British (i.e., rucksack instead of backpack)
4. Another site to check out the butterfly life cycle is BillyBear4Kids.com. This site has much information about butterflies and bugs.
Pre-Academic Activities for the Full Day Students (Letter and Number Time)
Our letter this week is letter Xx. The number this week will be number 7.
Make sure you review the vocabulary sheets with your child. You can make this fun by making up riddles or descriptions about the pictures. Make an extra copy, cut both up individual pictures, turn over and play Concentration or a matching game. Be creative and have fun teaching your child.
Please review the number 7daily. If they seem to be having any challenges with the previous numbers continue to incorporate those numbers into your daily reviews. Find numbers in books and magazines. Look for them on mailboxes, on the speed limit signs and in stores that you visit. Count and make sets with your child. To make numbers real and relevant to your child you must create awareness of them in their world.
More activities for increasing letter sound awareness and handwriting-
- Go on a treasure hunt around your house (inside and/or outside) to find items that begin with each letter sound. (Use the vocabulary words I have sent home to help you.)
- Sing songs or nursery rhymes using only the letter sound instead of the words.
- ALWAYS practice writing their names in upper and lower case letters—not just upper case (capital letters).
- Practice writing the letters.
Strategies to use-
a. Using a shortened normal sized crayon or pencil will encourage the correct hand position when they are writing if this is needed for your child. The shortened length requires your child to have to hold the writing instrument using a more appropriate grasp. A crayon helps the writer increase pressure when writing. Pencils tend to slip easily and may not be the best instrument to use for beginning writers.
b. Writing on a slanted surface such a 3 inch binder helps to keep their hand and arm in the correct position if needed.
c. Writing with chalk on an easel encourages correct arm and hand position PLUS it increases the need to add pressure.
d. While they are writing say the chants I sent home with your child will help remember the correct way to form the letters.
e. Have your child write while laying prone (flat) on his stomach. This is another way to reinforce the correct position for the arm and hand when writing.
f. Roll playdoh or other modeling clay into snakes and form the letters.
g. Practice writing the letter shapes with their fingers on sandpaper; in rice, sand or flour; or hair setting gel in a sealed plastic bag.
Speech and Language- Miss Allison
Check out the Speech and Language page on the left side of this blog page.
Georgia Pre-K Content Standards Link
Here is a useful link to the Ga. Pre-K content standards. As special needs preschool educators our lessons are planned around these and the individual needs of each student. You may find information on this site helpful when you are working with your child at home and in your community. This site will help you as parents become familiar with the standards your child will need know or be exposed to during their preschool/pre-k years.
http://decal.ga.gov/Prek/ContentStandards.aspx
