Bean Bag Toss

For our outdoor game this week the children had to throw old socks filled with bean into hula-hoops and name the food flashcard inside.  It was a fun way to revise the vocabulary we had been learning that week.

Preschool Science Fair

 

This Friday is the Feira Integrada at Upuêre and in English class the children have been conducting experiments which will be on display at our very own Science Fair!

This project-based approach integrated science and language learning.  There were opportunities to explore a broad range of skills, not just English. The project introduced, practised and integrated language skills in a natural way.  During our science learning, the children engaged in science processes. These science processes were problem-solving, inquiring, experimenting, hypothesising, researching and investigating.  The project has been a big success and I hope you all get the chance to visit our display on Friday.

 

Mouse Paint

 This is the story we used this week to hear and practise colours in English. To make it a bit more challenging for those who already know this vocabulary, the story introduces the idea of primary and secondary colours.  I used the Kindle version of the book, which you can download from Amazon books. I also told the story using foam puppets.

 

 

Come and visit the Art Room to see the beautiful wall display we made around the theme of this book.

I Can Sing A Rainbow

This is the song we are singing this week.  The children have picked it up really quickly and sing it so beautifully.  I'll get a video up here soon!

Looking After Our Pets

More kids have sent in their beautiful photos and here they are!  Great to see so many of you looking after your pets.  Good Job!!

How Many Bugs In The Box?

This was our story during our Seeds, Flowers and Leaves theme.  It seemed like a good fit considering we had also been looking at some of the insects that live in our playground and playing with toy-bug sensory trays.

 
We practised "How many....?" and numbers 1 - 10.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

To finish off our theme on seeds, flowers and leaves, we went on a "Nature Scavenger Hunt". Using a print-out of the photos above, the children searched the playground to find the different things.  Not only did it get them using their new vocabulary spontaneously, it also encouraged them to take a closer look at the plants and insects which share the space where they play each day.

I did this activity after a guessing game which was played at circle time.  The children had to guess how many bugs I had put in a bottle.  After passing the bugs around the circle, we read the story of the week "How Many Bugs In The Box".

Discovery Table

We took the lesson outdoors again this Friday and explored our theme with a Science Discovery Table.  The children had the opportunity to explore and discover seeds, leaves, flowers and fruit.

They had a great time touching, manipulating, studying and exploring these items.  There was also an area set up for free creative drawing, inspired by the items we were looking at.

 

Read about the benefits of sensory play at the Early Childhood News website.

Make them Playdough

By the way, here is the recipe for the playdough I made.  It's really easy and a great way for kids to build their finger muscles.  Homemade playdough is better for this than the one bought in the store. It's not as soft so it's more work for their fingers.  Instead of food colouring, try using TANG.  It will give it colour and a great smell.

Play Dough Recipe:

• 1 Cup Plain Flour
• 1/4 Cup Salt
• 3 tsp of vinegar or lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons of Oil (We made the original recipe with 1/2 cup and used olive oil, but some reader feedback said this was too oily)
• 1/2 cup of water
• Food Coloring

Method

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a saucepan
2. Whisk in the water over low heat
3. Mix in the vinegar
4. Pour in the oil
5. Continue to mix over low heat until it forms a playdough texture
6. Split up the dough, and knead in the food color (when it’s cool enough to touch)

Growing Things

We start September with a new theme - Growing Things! As part of this theme we will look at what plants and humans need to grow healthy and strong.  To do this I will use a project abased approach which will integrate content and language learning.  There are opportunities to explore a broad range of skills that children are developing, not just the language itself. Projects introduce, practice language and integrate language skills in a natural way. There is also evidence that, through repeated exposure, patterns of a second language can be internalised by young children in much the same way as they are with the first language.

We started the week off by playing games to introduce vocabulary for fruit and revise body parts.  We used homemade playdough to sculpt a banana, an apple and an orange.

Next, we played a balancing game to revise the vocabulary for fruit and body-parts.  The children had to try and walk around the room balancing their fruit on different parts of their body.  It was a lot of fun.

 

Semester 1 Meeting

Last night, I was joined by over 70 family members to talk about the progress of our children in the first semester of our new English programme.  For those who were unable to attend and for others wanting to see the extra videos and photos, I have included my presentation in this post.

Please feel free to come and talk to me about your child's individual progress or any of the materials your child's portfolio.  Don't forget that the portfolio's are due back next week!

Thanks to everyone for coming and for all the support I have received so far on this bilingual adventure!

Pet food

Still on the topic of pets, we played in our fine-motor centers with different pet related materials.  There was everything from bird seed to dog biscuits, puzzles and playdough.

Feathers, Fur or Fins

This is the song we listened to in class as part of our PETS theme.  We watched the video and then had to try to remember and name as many animals as possible.  We then watched again to check.

It's a beautiful song so why don't you listen and sing along!

LYRICS

Feathers, fur or fins,

Shell or scale or skin.

If it runs on legs or flies on wings,

If it walks or crawls or slithers or swims.

It's got it's place in the scheme of things.
Feathers, fur or fins,
Shell or scale or skin.

What animals make good pets?

We discussed what pets are and came up with this definition...Pets are animals that live with us.  We love them and take care of them.  They become part of our family.
The children decided that the animals which make the best pets are...

• turtles
• cats
• dogs
• birds
• fish
• guinea pigs

We played lots of games to learn these words in English and read a funny story.  It's called Go Dog Go! You can buy a copy on Google books in digital format.

In art class, we painted a picture of a turtle and then decorated its shell with smalls squares of green foam.  We also did drawings of animals and played with sensory bags.

Looking at Pets

We started a fun new topic this month...PETS!  Animals are a natural topic of interest to children of this age.  Many already have a pet at home or at the home of a close family member.  During this month, the children used vocabulary and structures related to naming, describing and discussing the care of pets.  The activities and themes we explored also taught them values such as respect for all living things and responsibility.  The theme also provided opportunities for revision of previously encountered vocabulary relating to size, habitat and food.

My Hands

There are so many things that we can do with our hands.  We explored the theme in English class this week and did lots of activities which help develop both our vocabulary and our fine-motor skills.

Fine-motor sensory trays...

  

Playing with finger-puppets...

Lacing cards and puzzles...

Playing musical instruments...

 

Hand printing...

Swatting flies...

Where Is Baby?

This song has been adapted from the traditional children's song Where Is Thumbkin and sung to the tune of Frère Jacques.  I adapted the words to our theme this week - Families.

Here are the lyrics so that you can sing along with your child at home.

Where Is Baby?

(Tune of Frère Jacques)

(Start with hands behind back)
Where is baby?
Where is baby?
Here I am
(Bring right hand to front, with pinky finger up)
Here I am.
(Bring left hand to front, with pinky up)
How are you today?
Very well, I thank you.
(Wiggle fingers as if they're 'talking' to each other)
Run away
(Hide right hand behind back)
Run away
(Hide left hand behind back)

REPEAT WITH THE OTHER FINGERS