Mini Minds at Work In Early Preschool

Dear Parents,

We have had a wonderful week filled with fun and engaging activities that supported the children’s learning and social growth. It was great to see them share ideas, work together, and build friendships. We look forward to another exciting week ahead! Read on to see what we were up to…

Large Group 

We began our large group sessions this week with a cheerful "Hello" song to welcome everyone. This was followed by an engaging discussion with the students about different red-colored materials. Each student was encouraged to identify the material and name its color, helping reinforce their color recognition and vocabulary, building upon our red theme from last week.

After that, we took attendance and transitioned into reading the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" Although we had read this book previously, we chose to revisit it because it aligns perfectly with our current focus on learning colors. The repetitive and colorful nature of the book supports students in identifying and naming various colors.

To wrap up the session, we practiced the song "Abeba Ayehush" in preparation for the upcoming Demera celebration. The children enjoyed singing and participating in the festive rehearsal.

Gymnastics

In our gymnastics session, the focus was on climbing up, an essential physical skill. Before beginning the main activity, we started with a warm-up routine  to get the children’s bodies moving and ready. The warm-up included stretches, jumping, marching, and fun animal movements like bear crawls and frog jumps. The children participated enthusiastically and did a great job following instructions and staying engaged throughout. Following the warm-up, we introduced climbing activities using ladders. Children were encouraged to use both their hands and feet to climb, helping them build strength, coordination, and balance. Instructors provided guidance on climbing safely, taking turns, and being mindful of others.

Many children showed increasing confidence and independence while climbing. Some who were initially cautious became more adventurous as the session progressed. Reaching the top of the structures brought a real sense of achievement, and it was a joy to witness their smiles and excitement. This session supported key areas of physical development, including gross motor skills, muscle control, and spatial awareness. It also promoted problem-solving and self-confidence as children navigated the equipment and challenged themselves physically.

Literacy

As part of our literacy journey, we took the children outside the classroom for a hands-on activity called "Fishing for Red Materials"! This interactive session focused on color recognition, language development, and fine motor skills.Before we began, each child wore an art smock, and we explained the task. A bin was filled with only red-colored materials . There  were no other colors included. Each child used a spoon to carefully “fish” the red items out of the bin and place them into a separate plate. As they worked, we encouraged the children to name the items they picked up and describe their color. They practiced using descriptive words and full sentences, such as “This is a red heart” or “I found a red block”.

This supported their vocabulary growth, speaking skills, and understanding of the color red. The use of the spoon added a fun fine motor challenge, helping the children practice hand-eye coordination, grip control, and concentration. Throughout the activity, they stayed engaged, followed instructions, and took pride in completing the task.

This literacy experience supported color identification, as well as language and vocabulary development. Furthermore, the activity targeted fine motor skill strengthening, listening comprehension and direction following. The outdoor setting brought extra excitement, and the children showed great enthusiasm and focus. It was a successful session that combined learning with play in a meaningful way.

Art

In our recent art session, we had a wonderful time exploring color, creativity, and self-expression through a fun hand stamping activity. The process began with everyone getting ready to move into their creative space. We stepped out of the classroom with excitement, knowing that something fun and messy was waiting for us!

Once we arrived in the art area, the first thing we did was put on our art smocks to protect our clothes and get into the spirit of being young artists. After that, we all gathered together to talk about what we would be doing. The teacher introduced the activity: hand stamping using red paint.

Before we started, we had a short discussion about colors. The teacher asked, “What color do you think we’ll use today?” Many hands shot up with guesses, and when it was revealed that we’d be using red, everyone cheered with excitement. To make it even more engaging, a fun song about the color red was played in the background. The cheerful music helped set the mood and added energy to our creative time.

We then looked at the red paint and talked about what red reminds us of — things like apples, fire trucks, hearts, and strawberries. It helped us make connections and get inspired before we started our stamping. Next, it was time for the hands-on fun! Each child took turns dipping their hands into the bright red paint, feeling the cool texture on their palms and fingers. Then, with big smiles and giggles, they pressed their painted hands onto white paper to create bold and colorful handprint art. Some prints were neat and clear, while others had splashes and smudges — all of them were unique and beautiful.

As we worked, we talked about how our hands are special and how art can be made using simple things around us — even our own bodies. The red paint stood out brightly against the white paper, making each handprint pop like a little work of art. By the end of the session, the drying table was full of red handprints, and everyone felt proud of what they had created. It was a fun, sensory-rich experience that allowed us to explore color, texture, and creativity all at once.

Our art session was not just about painting — it was about discovering, sharing, and enjoying the process of making something with our own two hands. We can’t wait to explore more colors and creative ideas next time!

Math

In our math session we worked on a fun and interactive learning activity, where children were encouraged to explore and recognize different colors—focusing specifically on the color red. In this activity, a variety of materials are laid out in front of them, each differing in color, shape, and texture. The goal is for the child to carefully observe all the items and identify the one that is red. This step helps sharpen their color recognition skills and attention to detail, which are foundational in early childhood development. The activity not only engages their visual senses but also encourages decision-making as they choose the correct item.

Once the red material is identified, the child is asked to place it into a special box—but not just any box. The box is covered with red paper, adding another layer of color association and reinforcing the concept. Matching the red item with the red-covered box supports early categorization skills, helping children make logical connections between objects and their attributes. This simple yet effective process turns basic color sorting into an enjoyable and educational experience!

Next Week’s Schedule:

     Small Group

Monday Gymnastics

Tuesday Literacy

Wednesday Music

Thursday Math

Friday Science

     Work Time

Tuesday -Art

Thursday -Library

Friday- Ethiopian Center once in two week

Reminders:

• Every Wednesday is art day, so please send your child with art appropriate clothing.

• Every Monday is 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.

Have a nice weekend!