Hello Yellow Duck Families,
Our Ducks have been busy this week studying Humpty Dumpty. We’ve read different versions of the story with my favorite being, “After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)”. It was a lovely story about facing fear and moving forward bravely. I won’t ruin the ending for you but it almost always makes me mist up while reading it. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, here is the link to it online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUKt1a6I3yw
Thank you for sending in an egg this week for our egg drop. What is an egg drop exactly? It consists of trying to find a way in which to drop an egg from a certain distance without it being broken by the fall. We placed all kinds of materials on our table in which the children could construct a safe ride down for their Humpty Dumpty. Then, each child had the opportunity to test their design. We discussed what materials were used, and made predictions. Most everyone thought their egg would make the trip unscathed. We first dropped them from our short ladder. Several did not break, and those eggs were then dropped over the railing of our loft. And because it’s fun to throw things, we chucked the remaining intact eggs over the railing of the pirate ship on our playground. Of those, I believe five didn’t break and were sent home onto bigger challenges!
Doing this experiment provided not only great fun, but so many other learning experiences. The children learned that certain materials work better than others to protect an egg. They learned to encourage the others whose egg broke. This investigation reinforced self-regulation by taking turns, using their eyes to watch, and their ears to hear if the egg broke. It enforced how to dream big. Most important of all, they learned how to accept failure (and success), and accept it well. Failure is a part of life but an it’s an important one, as it’s usually the way we also learn. We’d still be in the dark if Thomas Edison had given up!
“Every great cause is born from repeated failures and from imperfect achievements.”
We broke out the markers again and let everyone make their own Humpty Dumpty to take home. Don’t worry, they’re not real eggs and yes, we used permanent markers again with four and five year olds. Like Humpty Dumpty, we live dangerously! We then played a game where the children split into teams and raced to balance their eggs while walking across the room. 🥚
Enjoying the “Don’t Drop Humpty Dumpty” game!
POPCORN! - We’ve been exploring this fun treat all week. We’ve studied popcorn popped in the microwave, on the stove top, in an air-popper, and a fan favorite—-Jiffy-pop (in the popcorn aisle at Walmart)! We listened to, watched, and then tasted every method. Ask your duck why a kernel of corn explodes when you heat it up and what those un-popped kernels at the bottom are called. 😉🍿
This week is National Bubble Week! We celebrated in and outside of the classroom. We used bubbles to make beautiful art and work on our breathing skills. We then gave everyone a bubble wand of their own, headed out to the playground, gave some simple instructions and let them go! Quickly, bubbles started to fill the air and those magical moments of childhood were drifting across the playground. Oh, to be able to bottle this and sell it on Amazon. I’d be a millionaire!
Thank you all for coming to our music program on Thursday. Our ducks did an amazing job of singing and cooperating while on stage. Giving them opportunities to speak in front of a group all year has been helpful for moments such as these.
Last but not least, Ms. Carina and I want to say thank you for all the love you’ve shown us this week. The flowers, cards with the sweetest words, lunch, and generous gift cards, all made us feel appreciated and loved! ❤️ You’re truly the BEST!
Monday, March 31st – Friday, April 4th: Spring Break, Preschool Closed
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! - Photo Specialties will take our school pictures (individual and class photos) on April 16.
Friday, April 18th & Monday, April 21st: Good Friday & Easter Monday – preschool closed
Tuesday, April 22nd: Field Trip to Morehead Planetarium. We will be taking the city bus and each child is allowed one chaperone. This is such a fun event to extend our learning about space. More details will follow as we get closer to the date.
May your spring break be a blessed one whether you are traveling or staying!
Peace,
Ms. Shelly & Ms. Carina