Color, Shapes, and Imagination at Work!

Betselot, Noha and Elsa
Jun 5
3 min read

Dear Parents,

What a wonderful week it has been! The classroom was filled with creativity, curiosity, and joyful energy as the children explored a variety of hands-on activities across all learning areas. From reflecting on their dreams and favorite things in literacy, to building with shapes in math, to adding vibrant colors to their hot air balloons in art, each moment was filled with excitement and discovery. Here are some of the highlights…

Large group

This week during large group time, we revisited some familiar digraphs that we had previously learned, such as SH, CH, and PH. The children enjoyed engaging with these sounds again, recognizing them in different words, and sharing examples as a group.

In terms of math, we focused on both 2D and 3D shapes. The students had a lot of fun choosing two different shape flashcards, identifying their shapes, and proudly sharing them with the whole class. This hands-on, peer-led approach not only reinforced their understanding of shapes but also gave them the opportunity to practice public speaking and shape vocabulary.

We also explored rhyming words, especially words that rhyme with salad. The children came up with creative and silly rhymes like “halad” and “malad”, which sparked laughter and excitement. These playful phonological activities helped strengthen their awareness of word patterns and sounds.

As the school year begins to wind down, we also had some thoughtful group discussions about the upcoming summer break. The children enthusiastically shared where they plan to spend their vacation and talked about what they’re looking forward to. Some even shared whether they will be returning or moving on to a new school next year. It was a joyful and reflective time that allowed the children to connect and look ahead.

Literacy

This week in literacy, the children took part in a fun and personal reflection activity. Each student received a sheet where they wrote their name, age, and birthday month, which helped reinforce their writing and number skills. They also drew a self-portrait and another drawing of what they’d like to become when they grow up, sharing dreams like becoming chefs, policemen, or football players!

In addition, they wrote and drew about their favorite animal and favorite food, sparking lots of excitement and lively conversations with friends.

Math

This week in math, we got hands-on and creative with the 2D and 3D shapes we’ve been learning about. Using sticks and Play-Doh, the students worked on building different shapes, exploring their sides, corners, and structures in a fun, tactile way.

After practicing with familiar shapes, the children let their imaginations take over—many began creating houses, towers, and other unique designs using the same materials. This session was not only a great opportunity to reinforce shape concepts, but it also supported their fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination.

Art

This week in art, we continued working on our hot air balloon project that we started last week. The students were so excited to see that the glue had dried and their balloon shapes had formed nicely.

We set out a variety of paint colors, and the children eagerly began painting their balloons, each choosing colors and patterns to make their creations unique. They were fully engaged, carefully adding details and enjoying the process of bringing their balloons to life.

It was a joyful session filled with creativity, focus, and pride in their work.

Science

This week, for science, the class did a fun activity making their own playdough. Playing with playdough is a fun way to engage in hands-on activities, especially in Pre-K, as it helps calm them and develop their fine motor skills. It also encourages creativity, allowing the kids to make different things.

When the class decided to make playdough, everyone was so excited! After discussing what we needed, we provided all the ingredients: flour, oil, salt, water, and food coloring. They mixed the ingredients and added food coloring based on their preferences. We had red and yellow, and some suggested mixing these two colors to create orange.

At this point, they used their background knowledge about mixing primary colors to create secondary colors. We were amazed by their memory and very proud of them. Finally, after making their own playdough, they played with it a little before taking it home. They were so excited to have their own playdough!