Animal Exploration, Active Learning and more in Early Preschool!

2 hours ago
7 min read

Happy Birthday Abigail

Dear parents

In our early preschool classroom, it was a wonderful and busy week full of learning and fun. The children enjoyed creative art activities, explored shapes in literacy, and expressed their ideas freely. They were happy, engaged, and excited to share their learning with us. We hope to see you all for tomorrow's family day, from 10am-3pm!

Large Group

Our large group time is usually one of the highlights of our day; it is a chance to see the group interact all together, observe the student's interests and energy, and this week was no exception! We started our morning by singing our cheerful good morning song together. Then, we asked the children different questions about their mornings, such as what they ate, what they wore, what they did before coming to school, and so on. This helped them practice speaking, listening, and sharing their ideas with friends.

Next, we talked about who was missing from the classroom. Some children tried to look around and find which friends were not here, while others called out names. It was a great way to build awareness of their classmates and develop social skills. After that, we took attendance together. One student was chosen to help by picking a friend’s picture from the picture grid and finding that friend in the classroom. If the friend was present, they stuck the picture on the happy face board. The children took turns, and they were very excited and engaged in this activity.

After attendance, we sang more songs together and talked about the weather. The children observed the weather outside and chose the correct weather picture to place on the board. We also looked at a triangle on the board and asked the children what shape it was. They tried to identify and name the shape, which helped with their shape recognition and thinking skills.

We then enjoyed reading a book chosen by the children called “Please, Little Bear”. The story helped the children understand sharing and introduced new vocabulary in a fun and meaningful way. The children were very interested and participated by looking at the pictures and listening carefully.

Math: Counting with Lids and Pom-Poms

Our math activity this week was action packed and engaging, designed to help the children practice their counting and number recognition skills. To begin the activity, we prepared papers with different numbers written on them. In front of each number, we placed lids to show the quantity. For example, on number 1 we placed one lid, and on number 2 we placed two lids. This helped the students clearly see the connection between the number and the amount.

After introducing the materials, we gave the children colorful pom-poms. The students were asked to look at the number on the paper and carefully count the pom-poms to match the number. They placed the pom-poms inside the lids while counting one by one. This made the activity more engaging and helped them understand numbers in a hands-on way.

The children were very excited and focused during the activity. Many of them were able to count correctly and enjoyed placing the pom-poms while saying the numbers out loud. It was wonderful to see their confidence growing as they practiced counting and matching numbers with quantities.

This activity supported their early math skills, including counting, number recognition, and one-to-one correspondence, while also making learning fun and interactive.

Science: Listening and Finding Animal Sounds

Our science activity this week focused on developing the children’s listening skills. To begin the activity, we gathered the students together and introduced different animal sounds. Each child had pictures of animals placed in front of them. We explained that they would need to listen very carefully and try to identify which animal makes the sound they hear.

During the activity, we played or made different animal sounds and opened a card showing the animal after the sound. The children listened closely and looked at the pictures in front of them, trying to match the sound with the correct animal. They were very engaged and excited to guess the animals. Many of them showed great concentration and were eager to participate.

This activity helped the children practice careful listening, observation, and thinking skills. It was wonderful to see how excited they were when they recognized the sounds and matched them with the correct animal pictures. Overall, the students did an amazing job, and it was a fun and meaningful way to explore science while strengthening their listening skills!

Literacy- Outdoor Animal Exploration

For our literacy activity this week, we went outside to the grass area for a fun and active learning experience! We prepared two tables with animal toys and laminated animal pictures. Some of the animals were covered with tape, and some of the animal pictures were covered with paper and stuck on with tape.

To begin, we gathered our students and introduced the activity. We talked about animals and asked the children what animals they could see on the table. We also asked them about the sounds the animals make. The whole class was excited to answer, naming the animals and making their sounds.

After the introduction, the children had the opportunity to come to the table, choose an animal, take off the plaster, and reveal the animal. They proudly named the animal and made the animal’s sound. The children were very engaged and excited to discover what was hidden.

Later, we gave all the children free time to explore together. They ran to the tables, removing the plaster and happily saying things like, “I found this animal!” and sharing their discoveries with their friends.

For the next part of the activity, we threw the covered animal pictures into the air while counting together, “one, two, three!” The papers landed on the grass and the floor, and the children ran to pick them up. They removed the plaster and paper to reveal the animals and excitedly showed them to the teachers and their friends.

Most of the students were able to name the animals and make the animal sounds, which was wonderful to see. The activity was very engaging, and the children had a lot of fun while learning.

Art

In our art session this week, we continued the painting activity from last week. To start off, the children put on their art smocks to get ready for the activity. We provided paint, a straw, and a canvas for them to explore their creativity.

Our students were delighted! We placed one color of paint on the canvas, and small groups of three students worked together. They used the straws to gently blow the paint across the canvas, creating interesting patterns and shapes. It was wonderful to see them cooperate, laugh, and enjoy the process together.

Each child had more than three chances to try the activity, so everyone could explore and experiment. The children were very focused and happy during the activity, and they really liked the beautiful results they created. It was a fun and creative experience for everyone.

Gymnastics

During our gymnastics session, the children participated in a fun and active movement activity that supported their gross motor development. Before starting the main activity, we began with a short warm-up to help prepare their bodies. The children stretched their arms and legs and practiced simple movements to get ready for the activity. This helped them feel comfortable and safe before using the gymnastics mat.

After the warm-up, we introduced the gymnastics activity using a soft mat placed on the floor. The children practiced a forward roll movement on the mat. At first, the teachers demonstrated the movement and explained how to roll safely by tucking their heads and using their bodies carefully on the mat.

The children were very brave and excited to try the activity. One by one, they took turns practicing their rolls. Many of the children did very well and showed great effort while trying the movement. They were deeply engaged and focused as they practiced. Some children repeated the activity several times because they enjoyed it and wanted to improve their skills.

This activity helped the children develop important gross motor skills such as balance, coordination, and body control. It also encouraged confidence as they explored new physical movements. The children were very proud of themselves and happy with what they achieved during the gymnastics session. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and progress throughout the activity.

Library

During library time, the children had the opportunity to explore different books. Each child chose a book that interested them and spent time looking through the pages and listening to the story. They enjoyed observing the pictures, turning the pages, and engaging with the books in their own way.

After reading, the children were encouraged to share what they understood from the story. They talked about the pictures they saw and tried to explain the story in their own words. It was wonderful to see them using their imagination and expressing their ideas.

This activity supported the children’s language development, listening skills, and confidence in sharing their thoughts. It also helped encourage their interest in books and storytelling while creating a calm and enjoyable learning environment.

Clay

During our clay activity, the children had a wonderful and creative experience. Each student was given a piece of clay and was encouraged to think about what they would like to create. Before starting, the children shared their plans, and we wrote down their ideas about what they were going to make. This helped them think about their creations and express their thoughts.

The activity was done in two parts. First, the children worked with the clay to shape and create their ideas. We guided and supported them throughout the process, helping them talk about what they were making and encouraging them to try their best. It was amazing to see how focused and engaged they were while working with the clay.

After they finished shaping their creations, the children had the opportunity to paint them. They were very excited to add colors to their work. Some children shared what their creations were, for example saying “this is a pizza,” even if it didn’t exactly look like one. What mattered most was their imagination and the meaning their creation had for them. We appreciated their ideas, encouraged their creativity, and celebrated their efforts. This activity supported their creativity, fine motor skills, and confidence in expressing their ideas!