A Week of Exploring and Learning through Hands on Activities in Early Pre-K

Zelamem and Danait
39 minutes ago
4 min read

Dear parents,

We hope you had a wonderful week. In our Early Pre-K classroom, the children experienced another fun-filled week of exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning. Every activity was thoughtfully designed to support their early literacy, cognitive growth, social skills, and natural curiosity. We are excited to share some of the highlights!

Large Group

Our large group sessions were energetic and focused on meaningful review. We revisited Zoo-phonics to help the children strengthen their understanding of letters and beginning sounds. Through actions, movements, and animal gestures, they practiced each sound with excitement. Their confidence and ability to recall each animal improved day by day.

We also explored the 3D shape cylinder using classroom objects and hands-on activities. The children described the shape, compared sizes, and looked for real-life examples around the room. It was wonderful to see how quickly they connected familiar objects to the shape.

Another highlight of the week was extending number recognition up to 20. The children eagerly identified numbers and enjoyed sharing them with their friends during circle time. This activity supported their number awareness, teamwork, communication, and observation skills.

Math

This week in our math session, the children had a wonderful time exploring the concept of measurement, focusing on the ideas of tall and short. The classroom was filled with curiosity, comparison, and lots of hands-on learning as the children used different materials to understand these important early math skills.

To begin, we introduced the words “tall” and “short” using simple examples. The children then had the chance to explore classroom materials such as blocks, stacking cups, and building toys. In small groups, they compared objects by placing them side by side, building towers, and observing the differences in height. It was exciting to see them point, measure with their eyes, and proudly explain which items were taller or shorter.

Throughout the activity, the children practiced important thinking skills: observing, comparing, describing, and problem-solving. Many of them experimented further by creating their own tall and short structures, testing different combinations, and learning through trial and error. Their enthusiasm showed how meaningful and enjoyable hands-on math learning can be.

By the end of the session, the children confidently used the words tall and short to describe their creations and identify objects around the room.

Science

This week in our science session, the children explored farm animals and what they eat through a fun, hands-on activity. To help them understand how different animals have different diets, we introduced a variety of leaves and natural materials for the children to observe, touch, and compare.

The children discussed animals such as cows, goats, sheep, and rabbits, and talked about which leaves or plants each animal might like to eat. They were excited to match the leaves with the correct animals and enjoyed pretending to “feed” the animals using the materials provided.

This activity helped the children build early science skills such as classification, comparison, and observation, while also strengthening their vocabulary about animals and nature. It was wonderful to see their curiosity grow as they made connections between the leaves and the animals they know.

Literacy

In this week's literacy session, the children enjoyed an exciting and active way of learning Zoo-Phonics. To make the experience fun and memorable, we prepared a game where the teacher called out a Zoo-Phonics character sound, and the children searched for the matching letter card placed around the floor. Once they found it, they happily stood on the correct letter to show their answer.

This playful activity helped the children strengthen their letter–sound recognition, listening skills, and ability to respond quickly. They also practiced taking turns, following directions, and supporting each other as they searched for the right sounds.

The children were highly engaged and confident as they moved, listened, and identified the Zoo-Phonics characters. It was a wonderful way to combine movement and learning, and we are proud of their growing literacy skills!

Art

In this week's art session, the children enjoyed a creative activity that combined art and early literacy. Each child worked on the beginning sound of their name, using the first letter as the base for their artwork. They decorated their letter by sticking a variety of materials such as cotton, beans, and small craft items, using glue to attach each piece carefully.

This hands-on activity helped the children strengthen their fine motor skills, practice letter recognition, and express their creativity. They were excited to see their initials transform into beautiful, textured artwork made from everyday materials.

The children worked with great focus and pride, and we loved seeing how each letter became unique and full of personality. It was a wonderful blend of learning and creativity!