Happy Learners in Early Preschool

3 days ago
5 min read

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.

Large Group

Our large group time this week was full of joyful moments, communication, and learning. We started our morning by singing a cheerful good morning song together, which helped everyone feel happy and ready for the day. Then, we asked the children different questions such as what they ate in the morning, what they wore, what they did before coming to school, their favorite color, and their favorite music. 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.

Literacy Activity: Exploring the Square Shape

This week, our literacy learning continued from last week with a focus on the square shape. The children were provided with a square template and a cardboard board designed with holes, along with shoe ties (laces). The teacher introduced the square shape, discussed its sides and corners, and reminded the children of their previous learning.

The children practiced threading the shoe ties through the holes around the square. This activity supported early literacy and pre-writing skills by strengthening hand–eye coordination, fine motor control, and concentration. As they threaded the laces, the children also reinforced their understanding of the square shape through hands-on exploration.

The children were engaged and motivated, carefully following the holes and enjoying the process of lacing. This activity encouraged patience, focus, and independence, while also supporting shape recognition and early learning foundations.

Art -free Sketching

In our early preschool classroom, the children engaged in a joyful free sketching and journaling art experience on canvas. Before beginning the activity, the children wore art smocks, and the teacher introduced the session by explaining that they could freely draw whatever they wished. A variety of paint colors were provided, and each child had the opportunity to choose their preferred colors, encouraging independence and personal choice.

There were no rules or restrictions during this activity, allowing the children to express their ideas and imagination openly. Many children shared their creations with excitement; for example, Bjorn proudly said he was drawing a house, while Millie shared that she was drawing a circle. Each child demonstrated creativity in their own unique way, using lines, shapes, and colors to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

This activity supported creative thinking, self-expression, and fine motor development. The children were fully engaged, happy, and confident as they explored art freely, showing enthusiasm and pride in their artwork. The free sketching session created a positive and relaxed environment where every child felt encouraged to express their ideas through art.

Gymnastics Session: Fun, Movement, and Outdoor Challenge

In our early preschool classroom, the children began the gymnastics session with some warm-up activities to get their bodies ready for movement. These exercises helped them stretch, build energy, and prepare for the challenges ahead.

After the warm-up, we moved to the grass area in the first compound, where the children explored two pieces of playground equipment: the chain bridge and the monkey bars. On the chain bridge, they practiced balance and coordination as they carefully moved across the wooden steps while holding the metal handrails. On the monkey bars, they tested their strength and confidence as they climbed and swung across, supported by their determination and encouragement from teachers.

Throughout the session, the children were challenged but motivated, showing effort, excitement, and pride in their accomplishments. The combination of warm-up exercises, playful movement, and outdoor exploration made this gymnastics session a wonderful opportunity for gross motor development, physical confidence, and joyful learning.

Science

Science -tasting

In our science session, the children participated in an exciting tasting activity designed to explore different flavors and develop their sensory awareness. We provided a variety of tasting items, including salt, sugar, lemon, orange, banana, and apple. Each child had the opportunity to taste the items one by one and observe how their senses reacted to the different flavors.

The children were highly engaged throughout the activity. They showed great excitement and curiosity as they tasted each item. It was especially joyful to observe their facial expressions when they tasted the lemon and salt, as these strong flavors surprised them and encouraged laughter and discussion. The children particularly enjoyed tasting the fruits and were eager to try each one, showing confidence and interest in exploring new tastes.

This activity supported the children’s sensory development, encouraged them to use descriptive language, and helped them recognize different tastes such as sweet, sour, and salty. It also promoted communication skills as they shared their feelings and preferences with their peers and teachers. Overall, it was a fun, interactive, and meaningful learning experience that encouraged exploration, curiosity, and joyful participation.

Ethiopian Center

During our work time, the students visited the Ethiopian Center, where they explored Ethiopian culture in a joyful and meaningful way. The children were very excited as they moved to the center and wore traditional Ethiopian clothes. Dressing in the cultural outfits helped them feel connected to the experience and encouraged imaginative role play.

We sang different traditional Ethiopian songs together, and the children enthusiastically danced to the music. They enjoyed copying the movements and expressing themselves through rhythm and motion. The children also explored the materials in the Ethiopia Center and engaged in pretend play. They acted out a coffee ceremony, pretending to prepare and serve coffee. Some children pretended to drink coffee and offered “coffee” to the teachers, showing kindness, creativity, and social interaction.

This session supported the children’s understanding of culture, encouraged social and dramatic play, and helped develop their language, confidence, and motor skills. The children were fully engaged, happy, and proud to participate in the cultural activities. It was a joyful and enriching learning experience that celebrated Ethiopian traditions and promoted respect for culture.