Week of November 11th!

Reminders!

• School is CLOSED on Monday, November 11th, for Veteran's Day.
• OLQM is having our annual canned food drive.  All food will be delivered to St. Patrick’s Home Outreach Program. Please consider donating canned foods for our food drive.
•  Monday, November 18^th, is Mickey and Minnie Mouse Dress-up Day!
•  Dismissal is at 12:00 noon on Friday, November 22^nd.  The After-School Program will end at 6 p.m.
•   Parent-Teacher Conferences are on Friday, November 22^ndfrom 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Our Thanksgiving Performance is on Tuesday, November 26^that9:30 a.m.
• School is CLOSED on Thursday, November 28^thand Friday, November 29^th, for Thanksgiving.

Unit Topic:

• All About Us

Essential Question for the Unit:

• Who am I and who are the people in my life?

Focus Question for the Week:

• What makes me important and unique?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

Students will be asked to look at themselves in the mirror.  What do they see? What features do they notice on their own faces? Where are their eyes? Noses? Mouths? Ears? Eyebrows? Etc. What do they notice about their features? What shapes are they?  Students will then be encouraged to draw their own self-portrait.
Students will be asked to dictate their thoughts about their self-portraits with prompts such as, “Tell me about your self-portrait."

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.SEL.2: Recognizes self as an individual having unique abilities, characteristics, feelings, and interests.

Foundational Text for the Week:

• Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curato

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.ELAL.5: Participates in discussions about a text.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall 

What is different about Elliot?
Elliot is very small; what things are hard for him to
do since he is so small?
What does Elliot like?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
How do Elliot and Mouse help each other?
How do you think Elliot felt about having a new friend?
How do you think Elliot felt when he got his cupcake?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking
What are some things that are hard for you?
What are some things that are easy for you?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
What are some reasons you might like to have a friend?
What are some things you like might like to do with a friend?
What are some things you can do to be a good friend?
How do you make a new friend?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks-The student’s name cards will be available in block center.  Students are invited to write their names using blocks, discussing the lines in each letter of their name (straight, curved, etc.).

Pretend Play- Pretend play will be transformed into "circle time".  Students can take turns being the teacher and leading their friends in circle time activities.

Art- Various size shapes from construction paper will be cut out and students are invited to use the shapes to create their bodies. After gluing the shapes together, or to a piece of paper, children can use writing utensils to add additional details (hair, patterns on clothes, etc.).

Science- Students are invited to use magnifying glasses to explore fingerprints, skin, hair, etc.

Math- Students will beencouraged to refer to their name cards and count how many letters are in their name, then place the appropriate number card next to the name card. Children can count the letters in their own names as well as their peers’ names.

Library- Students are encouraged to read a book with a friend. One child could read to the other or they could look at a book together.

Writing-  Students will be able to play a matching game where they match pictures of the students in the class with that student's name.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of November 4th!

Reminders!

• School is CLOSED on Wednesday, November 6th, for a Teacher Conference Day.
• School is CLOSED on Monday, November 11th, for Veteran's Day.
• Dismissal is at 12:00 noon on Friday, November 22nd.  The After-School Program will end at 6 p.m.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences are on Friday, November 22nd from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• School is CLOSED on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th, for Thanksgiving.

Unit Topic:

• My Five Senses

Essential Question for the Unit:

• How do we use our senses to explore, investigate and understand the world around us?

Focus Question for the Week:

• How do we use our sense of taste?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

Students will have the chance to smell and taste a variety of apples.  The varieties of apples will be shown and named. Students will be asked to describe how they look. They will smell and taste each kind of apple and reflect on which apple they thought smelled best and which one tasted best.  They will record their answer by placing their picture on a chart in the appropriate column.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.SEL.2: Recognizes self as an individual having unique abilities, characteristics, feelings, and interests.

Foundational Text for the Week:

• Press Here by Herve Tullet

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.ELAL.5: Participates in discussions about a text.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall 

What are you supposed to press in this book?
What happens when you press the dots in this book?
What happens when you tilt and shake the book?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
Sometimes the book says to press gently on the dots. Press gently on your arm. How does that feel?
Sometimes the book says to press hard on the dots. Press hard on your arm. How does that feel?
The book says to blow gently on the dots. Blow gently on your arm. How does that feel?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking
What happens when you blow on something?
What happens if you blow on something really hard?
What happened to the dots when we blew really hard?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
When the book told us to clap more and more and more we clapped louder and louder and louder. Why?
Were the dots really moving in this book? How do you know?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks- Children are encouraged to use tree shaped blocks.  Students will be able to explore how the blocks feel and look compared to the other blocks in the block area.

Pretend Play- The Dramatic Play center will be transformed into an apple orchard. Students will be able to explore apples with their senses.    

Art- Play-doh will be added to the art center as children discuss how the play-doh feels, looks, and smells.

Science- A "Feely Box" will be added to the science center.  Students are invited to put their hands in the holes of the box and identify the object using only their sense of touch. 

Math- Students will be able to sort animal manipulatives by color, size, type, and texture.

Library- Students are invited to look at our classroom books and discuss what they see with their peers.

Writing- Scented markers will be provided in the writing center. Students will be encouraged to use their sense of smell as they use the markers.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of October 28th!

Reminders!

• Please bring in a picture of your family for us to hang on our family wall! 
• School is Closed on Wednesday, October 30th.  
• Our Halloween Parade will be held on Thursday, October 31st at 9:00 am.  Parents are invited to attend.  

Unit Topic:

• My Five Senses

Essential Question for the Unit:

• How do we use our senses to explore, investigate and understand the world around us?

Focus Question for the Week:

• How do we use our sense of smell?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

Each student will be given a set of cards, each with pictures of things that you can smell, hear, taste, touch, and see.  There will be five boards are each titled with a different sense.  Students will be able to work together to sort all the cards onto the correct board.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.Al.5: Demonstrates persistence.

Foundational Text for the Week:

• My Five Senses by Aliki

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.ELAL.5: Participates in discussions about a text.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall 

What are the five senses?
What do you use to see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Touch or feel? (In the initial read, focus on all senses. For later reads during the week that focuses on touch, highlight the sense of touch)

Level 2: Skill/ Concept
What are some things you can see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Touch or feel?
How many senses do you use when you listen to a teacher read you a story? What are they?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking 

Would you rather touch something that is hard or soft? Why? Smooth or bumpy? Why? Wet or dry? Why?
It could be dangerous to touch some things. What are some things that could be dangerous to touch?
What should you do if you see something that looks like it might be dangerous to touch?
How do our senses and body parts help us learn about our world?
How can our senses keep us safe?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
How can people communicate if they can’t hear or see?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks- Children are encouraged to use tree shaped blocks.  Students will be able to explore how the blocks feel and look compared to the other blocks in the block area.

Pretend Play- The Dramatic Play center will be transformed into an apple orchard. Students will be able to explore apples with their senses.    

Art- Play-doh will be added to the art center as children discuss how the play-doh feels, looks, and smells.

Science- A "Feely Box" will be added to the science center.  Students are invited to put their hands in the holes of the box and identify the object using only their sense of touch. 

Math- Students will be able to sort animal manipulatives by color, size, type, and texture.

Library- Students are invited to look at our classroom books and discuss what they see with their peers.

Writing- Scented markers will be provided in the writing center. Students will be encouraged to use their sense of smell as they use the markers.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of October 21st!

Reminders!

• Please bring in a picture of your family for us to hang on our family wall! 
• School is Closed on Wednesday, October 30th.  
• Our Halloween Parade will be held on Thursday, October 31st at 9:00 am.  Parents are invited to attend.  

Unit Topic:

• My Five Senses

Essential Question for the Unit:

• How do we use our senses to explore, investigate and understand the world around us?

Focus Question for the Week:

• How do we use our sense of taste?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

A "Feely-Box" will be added to the science center.  Students will be asked to reach their hand into the box, describe what they feel, and guess what is inside the box using only their sense of touch.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.AC.5: Demonstrates a growing expressive vocabulary.

Foundational Text for the Week:

• My Five Senses by Aliki

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.ELAL.5: Participates in discussions about a text.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall

What are the five senses?
What do you use to see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Touch or feel? (In the initial read, focus on all senses. For later reads during the week that focuses on touch, highlight the sense of touch)

Level 2: Skill/Concept
What are some things you can see? Hear? Smell? Taste? Touch or feel?
How many senses do you use when you listen to a teacher read you a story? What are they?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Would you rather touch something that is hard or soft? Why? Smooth or bumpy? Why? Wet or dry? Why?
It could be dangerous to touch some things. What are some things that could be dangerous to touch?
What should you do if you see something that looks like it might be dangerous to touch?
How do our senses and body parts help us learn about our world?
How can our senses keep us safe?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
How can people communicate if they can’t hear or see?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks- Children are encouraged to use tree shaped blocks.  Students will be able to explore how the blocks feel and look compared to the other blocks in the block area.

Pretend Play- The Dramatic Play center will be transformed into an apple orchard. Students will be able to explore apples with their senses.    

Art- Play-doh will be added to the art center as children discuss how the play-doh feels, looks, and smells.

Science- A "Feely Box" will be added to the science center.  Students are invited to put their hands in the holes of the box and identify the object using only their sense of touch. 

Math- Students will be able to sort animal manipulatives by color, size, type, and texture.

Library- Students are invited to look at our classroom books and discuss what they see with their peers.

Writing- Scented markers will be provided in the writing center. Students will be encouraged to use their sense of smell as they use the markers.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of October 14th!

Reminders!

• Please bring in a picture of your family for us to hang on our family wall! 
• School is CLOSED on Monday, October 14th, in observance of Columbus Day!
• There is NO AFTER-SCHOOL on Tuesday, October 15th.
• The Hispanic Heritage show is on Wednesday, October 16th at 9:30am!  Please dress your child in yellow clothing!  Parents are invited to attend.  The show will be held in the gymnasium.  
• School is Closed on Wednesday, October 30th.  
• Our Halloween Parade will be held on Thursday, October 31st at 9:00 am.  Parents are invited to attend.  

Unit Topic:

• My Five Senses

Essential Question for the Unit:

• How do we use our senses to explore, investigate and understand the world around us?

Focus Question for the Week:

• How do we use our sense of hearing?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

A "Feely-Box" will be added to the science center.  Students will be asked to reach their hand into the box, describe what they feel, and guess what is inside the box using only their sense of touch.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.AC.5: Demonstrates a growing expressive vocabulary.

Foundational Text for the Week:

• Tap, Tap, Boom, Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.ELAL.5: Participates in discussions about a text.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall

What makes the “Tap, tap, boom, boom” sound in this story?
What do the people in the story do to stay dry?
What was the surprise in the sky at the end of the book? What did people see?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
How does it feel when rain falls on you?
What do you do when you are outside and it is raining?
What would happen if you stood outside in the rain with no raincoat or umbrella?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Some of the people in this book shared their umbrellas. How do you feel when someone shares with you?
How do you feel when you share with someone else?
What are some things the people in the story probably heard when they went down into the subway tunnel?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
How might a little bit of rain sound?
How might a lot of rain sound?
In this book, they used words to sound like rain (i.e. tap, tap); what are some other things we could use to make the sound of rain?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks- Children are encouraged to use tree shaped blocks.  Students will be able to explore how the blocks feel and look compared to the other blocks in the block area.

Pretend Play- The Dramatic Play center will be transformed into an apple orchard. Students will be able to explore apples with their senses.    

Art- Play-doh will be added to the art center as children discuss how the play-doh feels, looks, and smells.

Science- A "Feely Box" will be added to the science center.  Students are invited to put their hands in the holes of the box and identify the object using only their sense of touch. 

Math- Students will be able to sort animal manipulatives by color, size, type, and texture.

Library- Students are invited to look at our classroom books and discuss what they see with their peers.

Writing- Scented markers will be provided in the writing center. Students will be encouraged to use their sense of smell as they use the markers.

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175