Week Two in Kindergarten: Exploring, Learning & Growing Together!

Dear Family,

We hope your week has been just as joyful and exciting as ours! As we wrap up the second week of our new academic year, we’d love to take you on a little journey through the fun, experimental, and engaging activities we did. Read on to see what we’ve been up to…

Large Group

Our large group is one of the most important parts of our day; it sets the tone, brings us together, and gets everyone ready to learn and play. Just like last week, we used this time to strengthen our classroom community. Our children practiced introducing themselves, sang lively new songs, and learned how to set up our calendar chart. Their enthusiasm and attentiveness made it easy to settle into routines quickly, and it was wonderful to see their confidence grow day by day.

“Now this is our class until we turn 6 yeah? Next August I go to a different school” -Leul

“I can fix the stars for today, yesterday, and tomorrow faster” -Liyat

“I know how to write my name in big and small” -Ahmed

Literacy

In our literacy sessions this week, we focused on one of the most exciting first steps; recognizing and identifying personal names! For our first activity, our children colored big, bold letters of their own names and drew self-portraits just below. This creative task helped them connect each letter to its sound while making the learning personal and fun. In our second class, we used white crayons, we wrote our children’s names invisibly on white paper. Then, with watercolor paints, they revealed their names in bright colors as if they were uncovering a hidden treasure. Both activities gave our children a playful introduction to the letters and sounds in their names which is a wonderful foundation for practicing name writing and building early literacy skills.

“This is Yichen, my name” -Yichen

“I think we will see a unicorn when we paint it” -Liyat

“No, I think Spider-Man is inside” -Ismael

Math

This week in math, we explored ABAB patterns; a foundational concept that helps children recognize order and sequence in the world around them. We began by sorting and arranging classroom materials like magnet tiles and big LEGOs into patterns. Since our children had just learned about working in pairs last week, they enjoyed teaming up to create their very own repeating designs. In our next class, we added a creative twist; using colorful beads to design patterned bracelets! These experiences not only taught our children how patterns are formed but also helped sharpen their observation skills preparing them to identify the color patterns in our classroom’s daily “caterpillar numbers” chain.

“Let’s make the colors like our caterpillar” -Leul

“I make blue blue yellow” -Ahmed

“I’ll give my bracelet to my sister and Jamie also will give it to his sister” -Liyat

“Can I make big small big small for my bracelet?” -Alen

Science

To kick off our science classes, we began with a hands-on activity making our very own playdough! Our children measured and mixed flour, salt, oil, and food coloring, watching with excitement as the ingredients transformed into soft, colorful dough. It was a wonderful introduction to experimenting, mixing, and creating. For our second science class, we tied in our weekly theme of personal hygiene with a fun germ experiment using black pepper and soap. We sprinkled black pepper onto water in a clear container, letting our children imagine the pepper as “germs.” When they dipped a finger coated in soap into the water, the “germs” quickly moved away. This simple but powerful experiment showed them how soap helps fight germs.

“I want blue color” -Yichen

“First we make a hole and add salt and oil then we mix” -Alen

“When I wash my face I use a different soap than this soap and when I wash my hair again I use another one” -Leul

“I wash with shampoo when I wash my hair” -Liyat

Art

This week for art, our children enjoyed easel painting outdoors by the preschool area. Working in pairs, they painted on chart papers taped to the easels. Being outside in the fresh air not only inspired their creativity but also helped them focus and collaborate with their partners. The result was a joyful mix of colors, teamwork, and self expression.

“When I stand up you sit okay” -Ismael

“I’m painting my Dubai house and it is bigger than my house here” -Liyat

“Paint paint” -Nai

“Let’s mix all the colors okay, Ismael” -Ahmed

Library

Our library time took on a unique twist this week! For our first session, we ventured outdoors, transforming our trampoline into a cozy reading nook. Our children quietly enjoyed their books in this unusual setting, demonstrating their ability to focus and appreciate reading in different environments. Our second library session took place in the library room, where children paired up to read together, sharing stories and engaging in collaborative reading experiences. 

Cooperative Game

Connecting to our theme of germs and hygiene, we played a fun challenge called the “Dirty Wipes Challenge.” Each child was given a clean wipe and encouraged to wipe around classroom materials to see who could make their wipe the dirtiest. To their surprise, our cabins and materials were so squeaky clean that the wipes stayed spotless! Of course, our children got creative; they began wiping the floor, the bottoms of their shoes, and even the spaces behind the cabinets to win the challenge. The room quickly filled with laughter as everyone joined in the fun.

“Look over here guys it’s dirty on the ground” -Alen

“Can we also go to the construction center and clean?” -Liyat

“My wipe is more dirty can I take another one?”- Leul

“Can I wipe the board?” -Ahmed

“What about the plants?” -Ismael

“Mine is clean but” -Yichen

Next week’s schedule:

Monday – Math, Literacy

Tuesday – Literacy, Science

Wednesday -Library, Math

Thursday - Science, Music

Friday - Library

Specials:

Monday- Art

Tuesday - Gym

Thursday - Ethiopian center/ clay

Friday - Football (happening soon)

Reminders and notes:

• Please make sure that our children are wearing suitable clothes on Monday as we have art class and activities get messy sometimes.

• Every Wednesday and Friday is library day. Our children will be bringing home a book of their choice in their library folder, so please make sure to read the book with them over the weekend. Please return the folder the following Wednesday so they can get a new one.


• Every Tuesday, we have gymnastics, so please ensure that our children come dressed in comfortable and loose-fitting sports attire to facilitate their exercise.

We appreciate you joining our journey. Stay tuned for next week’s adventures!