It is finally starting to feel like fall, and we have been loving our time on the playground!! We examined pumpkins, big and small, this week and used a venn diagram to compare pumpkins to apples. We cut a pumpkin open to see and touch the insides and cut yarn to create our own pumpkin guts picture with real seeds and everything. We used shapes to make jack-o-lanterns to decorate our classroom for Halloween, too.
On our science shelf we examined the pumpkin guts & seeds, as well as leaves and acorns, with a microscope and magnifying glass. In our sensory table we played with stretchy spider webbing and searched for spiderweb cards. We counted the spiders in the webs and matched them to the correct numeral. Some friends also noticed that they were color coded…good observation kids!!
October is also Fire Safety Awareness Month. We have begun by adding a burning building and firefighter gear to our dramatic play area. The Ladybugs have been busy saving people and spraying the fire (squeezing those spray bottles is an excellent exercise to strengthen hands for better fine motor skills 😉). We added firetrucks to our fine motor journals and drew the ladders ourselves. In doing this the children practice making various types of lines, starting with straight lines. This will help prepare them for writing letters.
On Friday we did an experiment with a candle. Miss Jenn taught us the word oxygen and we took turns blowing out a candle. Then she had us predict how we could put out the fire without blowing on it. Some thought we should clap it out. Miss Jenn showed them how putting the lid on the candle jar took away the oxygen and made the candle go out. We practiced stop, drop & roll afterwards. We will be learning more about fire safety next week when the fire department is scheduled to visit on Tuesday (Oct. 22). MWF Ladybugs are invited to join us in Ascension Hall (with a parent or caregiver) at 9:30 on Tuesday to meet the firefighters and see their truck!
Thank you to everyone for bringing pumpkins for us to paint! The Friday class had so much fun painting and decorating with jewels & glitter glue. Their pumpkins are unique and special, just like each of them. We will paint on Tuesday with that class. We will be using acrylic paints on the pumpkins so, please send your child in clothes that you will not be upset possibly getting messy on Tuesday!
REMINDERS:
As the weather gets cooler, please change out your child’s extra clothes with long pants and warmer shirts. Don’t forget a coat and to write your child’s name or initials on the tag inside.
We will have a costume parade with the Frogs class through Ascension Hall on October 30th & 31st shortly after dropoff. Please stay a few minutes to watch, cheer and take photos! Our class will celebrate Halloween with a party in the classroom afterwards thanks to the wonderful organizing help from our room reps. You will hear more about our plans from them soon.
**It is best to put your child’s costume over their school clothes, so that we can easily take it off when they’re ready. Most children usually want to shed them to play more comfortably. If that is not possible, please stay for a moment after the parade to help your child change. Thanks!
Have a wonderful weekend with your little Ladybug!!