Explosions of Fun in Pre-K!

Dear Parents,

We hope this blog finds you well. In the Pre-K class, our week was filled with fun activities, including counting, tracing, learning letters, and engaging in experimental science and art. Following suit with how we arranged the group last week, the Pre-K class is working in two different groups based on our students' levels to provide support where they are and identify the areas in which they need assistance. This approach has proven to be an effective way of teaching, allowing the teams to focus on math and literacy while still enabling the rest of the class to engage in activities together on the same topic. Read on for more details...

Happy Birthday Emma!

Large group

This week, our large group sessions have been a delight as usual! We discussed the weekend on Monday, and our students always enjoy sharing their experiences with classmates and teachers. We also learned about tally marks this week. They counted their friends and made tallies on the board, which provided them with a deeper understanding of the concept.

Another activity we did this week was creating our own rhyming words. In the past, the teachers would provide the class with new rhyming word cards every week, and the students would name them. However, this time, we only provided one rhyming word, and then they came up with another rhyming word to share with the group. This helps them gain more knowledge about rhyming words, and gain a sense of ownership over the process of learning.

Additionally, we started giving everyone in the class job responsibilities throughout the day. For example, in large group time, we assigned roles such as calendar helper, caterpillar caregiver, watering the plants, along with line leader, pencil helper, and chair and table monitor. With this system, everyone gets a chance to take on a job responsibility. This makes our students more responsible and helps them respect each role.

For our large group book, we read "Corduroy,". Reading the same book throughout the entire week helps our students stay engaged with the storyline. In general, our large group is one of the most exciting sessions of the day because it prepares the students for what lies ahead. It’s a time when we introduce the activities they will have and remind them of the daily routine.

Math

In our math sessions this week, the focus was on counting objects. During the first session, the children selected different materials from the classroom and chose the number they wanted to count. They then took the corresponding number flashcard and began counting using the materials they had chosen. To our delight, many of them even asked for more flashcards some wanted to count beyond 20!

In the following session, we worked on a worksheet where the students counted objects and wrote the corresponding numbers. Through this activity, we practiced several skills at once: number identification, counting accuracy, and number writing.

For the next group, we focused on number identification for the second group. Last week, we concentrated more on identification and counting by teaching them one-to-one correspondence. We provided them with different materials along with number cards. While identifying the numbers, they also practiced counting. We will continue focusing on this topic in the coming weeks until they are fully familiar with basic number identification.

In our previous sessions last week, we worked on number tracing. Last week, they traced the numbers 1-5, and this week they traced 6-10. This practice helps them identify the numbers while also developing their fine motor skills.

Literacy

In our literacy sessions this week, the focus was on beginning sounds for vowel letters. The students worked on two different worksheets that helped them practice identifying pictures and recognizing the vowel sound each picture begins with.

During the first session, the children wrote the beginning vowel sound for each picture on their own, showing great concentration and effort. In the second session, they circled the correct beginning sound from a set of choices and then enjoyed coloring the pictures afterward. This activity helped reinforce their understanding of vowel sounds while also strengthening their fine motor and writing skills in a fun and engaging way.

Our second group took this time to work on letter identification along with pictures. We chose some letters and used Zoo Phonics letters to help them learn identification and sounds. To assist in their learning, we provided pictures that start with each letter.

In the next session, they traced and colored pictures beginning with the letters a, b, and c. After tracing, they continued sounding out the letters and naming them before coloring the pictures. This method helps them recognize the letters along with the pictures. Next week, we will continue to work on this topic.

Science

This week in our science sessions, we continued learning about volcanoes. During the first session, we gathered together to observe a picture of a volcano and discussed its different parts. The children learned that before the lava comes out, it is called magma, and once it erupts, it becomes lava. We also talked about how, when a volcano erupts, it forms an eruption cloud at the top.

The students were very curious and engaged in deep discussions—wondering whether water could cool down lava, how much water it would take to stop its heat, and what happens to lava after it comes out and stays for many days. Together, we discovered that lava eventually hardens and turns into rocks and ashes.

In the second session, we conducted another exciting volcano experiment, this time using sand and a cola bottle placed in the middle. Working in pairs, each child got a turn to drop Mentos into the bottle and watch the “lava” burst out! The students were thrilled by the eruption and learned that there are different ways to model and explore how volcanoes work—even with simple materials they can try at home.

Art

This week, for our art session, our class a delightful time creating volcano art. We started by revisiting the volcanoes from last week, which they made in groups using clay. Then, we split the students into two groups to paint them using yellow, orange, and red colors, as discussed in large group time. After painting, they recreated their volcanoes on large chart paper, using the same colors and adding brown for the mountains, all within their groups. They really had a blast making and painting the volcanoes! This session gave them a better understanding of volcanoes in a hands-on way and the importance of teamwork.

Next week's schedule

Small group

Monday: - Science, Literacy

Tuesday:- Library, Math

Wednesday:- Science, Literacy

Thursday: - Math, Journal

Friday:- Music

Thursday: - Literacy

Our Special

Monday: - Ethiopian center

Tuesday:- Library

Friday:- Art

Reminder

Every Tuesday is our library day, so we will be sending a book that your child picked from our library, which will be returned after a week on library day.

Every Friday is our art day so please send your child with art-appropriate clothing.

Thank you for your time!