Learning about safety around dogs.

Early this month, a Veterinarian Technician from a local Animal Hospital visited each class.  She taught us about safety around dogs.

First, you must use your eyes to look at the dog and to see how they are feeling and acting.

Then, you use your mouth to ask your parents and the owner if you can pet the dog.

Finally, you make your hand into a fist and have the dog smell you to determine if the dog wants you to pet them. You will know it is OK because the dog will lick your hand and use their head to push your hand while you pet them.

Also, the Veterinarian Technician taught us how to be safe around a stray or lost dog that may be wandering through your neighborhood.

If there is a stray dog where you are walking or playing, you should not call it over or make eye contact.  If the dog comes near you, stand still with arms at your side and your hands crossed in front of you while looking down at your feet.

If the dog stays around or starts to jump up at you,  curl up in a ball on the ground covering your head and face. 

Most importantly, DO NOT RUN away from any dog.  The dog may think you want to play, and it may chase  and/or jump up on you.

Some other important facts we learned were:

- when a dog is eating do not pet or bother them

- when a dog is scared or hungry it is best to leave them alone

- dogs don't like to be hugged tightly

- in the summer they need lots of water to stay hydrated

Please remember to give your dog exercise, food, water, regular check-ups with the Vet and lots of love.

How do you think the dogs in the next 3 pictures are feeling? Which ones would you pet?

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Tower Inquiry

After putting out the straws and connectors, we noticed that the students were interested in building a large tower.  Aidan looked at the instruction sheet and decided that he wanted to follow the diagram to make the Eiffel Tower.

After several attempts and much frustration, we devised a new plan.  We looked at a variety of different towers on the internet, and we checked out books from the library.  We talked about what we noticed in the designs of the towers.... the shapes, the patterns....

The students then decided to try again, but this time they wanted to draft pictures of their own towers and then begin construction.

 Referring to a picture in a book during construction.

 This student was excited to show us her dress with the Eiffel Tower on it.

 The students worked cooperatively to build this tower.  They are all so proud.

After how many links tall the tower is, we measured it together.  We were surprised to find out it is only 67 links tall.  Most of us estimated 100.  We will be measuring it with other manipulatives in the classroom this week and we will also be using a measuring tape as suggested by some students.

100 Days of School

Can you believe we have already been in school for
100 days!!!

We started off the day displaying a variety of 100 items on the tables. We discussed how different 100 looks depending on the shape and size of the manipulatives.

100 Silly Bands

100 paper clips

100 straws

100 blue M&M's

100 cups

The students enjoyed stacking and building with the cups throughout the day.

100 dominoes

Some classes had a scavenger hunt around the room to look for 100 items. In Mrs. Taylor's class, Lucas predicted it would take 4 minutes to find 100 mini chocolate bars.

It took 6 minutes and 15 seconds.

Below are some activities the students engaged in throughout the day.

At this centre students were asked to count 100 Fruit Loops, then string the cereal onto yarn to make a "100 necklace".  This centre was time consuming and taught the students how to be patient when practising their fine motor skills.

 

The students made their predictions as they signed in today.  We attached the paperclips and links together, then compared the lengths. We also connected 100 straws in the basement hall.  We were all surprised to see how far down the basement hallway they reached.

Thank you to the all the students who brought in 100 items.

The kids enjoyed counting them on a hundreds chart or grouping them by 10. 

 

Items from home included: different types of cereals, pennies, beads, pencils, pony tail elastics, rocks, Q-tips, hearts and the list goes on....

Ideas for home -- choose a smaller number to explore. 

Ideas for exploring the number 5.

• count items that come in 5 (fingers, toes, packages of food items)
• skip count by 5 (5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 35, ect.)
• write words that contain 5 letters

Additional ideas to explore a larger number -- 25.

• talk about money and the value of a quarter
• count by 25 to 200
• find items around the house, then count to 25 using one to one correspondence
• make 5 groups of 5

days of Playing, Exploring and Learning!!!

Busy Week

Kindernews: Just a few Friendly Reminders

This week we have many exciting things happening in our Early Years Program.


Monday, Feb. 13th 
A community helper will be visiting each class -- a Vet Technician.  She will teach us how to be  safe when we see pets walking down the street or at the park.

Tuesday, Feb. 14th  - Happy Valentine's Day

Students are welcome to bring treats to share with the class or cards to give to friends.  Please remember that all food must be peanut-free.  If students are bringing cards, we ask that students sign each card with their own name, but there is no need to address each card.  This will make it easier for us to pass them out in a timely fashion.  Teachers will be wearing red, white and pink to celebrate this day, and students are invited to do so as well. 

Wednesday, Feb 15th- Numeracy Night and Kindergarten Open House

Prince Edward will be hosting a Numeracy Night on February 15^th.  This is an opportunity for parents to visit the school to learn more about math activities that can be used at home to further promote students’ math skills.  Students and parents will visit primary classrooms. 

Come on out to learn more about MATH…… and what you can do to help your child succeed.  

The kindergarten classrooms will only be open for new students that are registering for September 2012.  All children born in the year 2008 are invited to Prince Edward on February 15^th to learn more about our program and to register for the 2012 school year. 
Kindergarten registration will also take place on February 15^th.

Friday, Feb 17th- 100's Day
We will celebrate the 100th day of school on the 17th of February.  Students are asked to bring in a collection of 100 items... marbles, elastics, cheerios.... whatever suits your family.


In addition, to all of these exciting learning opportunities this will be week 2 of the Growing Gardener's visiting our Early Years Program.  The Growing Gardeners are students from the University of Windsor teaching students about eating healthy, caring for plants and other exciting environmentally friendly activities .  There are with us for 6 weeks.  Last week they shared information with the students about the 4 food groups and planted a green bean seed.   

Rhyming Words - Dr. Seuss

To introduce and focus on WORD FAMILIES, we decided to

use the well known author of Dr. Seuss. Not only does Dr. Seuss’ imaginative stories make reading and learning fun, but his books contain many examples of word families, repetitive sentences and simple 'popcorn words' (high frequency words).

When children begin to learn to read, patterns are important.  Patterns are taught through rhymes, otherwise called word families. For example, if a child easily recognizes the word can it is likely they will quickly learn to read the words man, pan, Dan, etc.  Teaching word families can significantly improve a child's reading vocabulary and their ability to feel successful.


One of the favourite Dr. Seuss books this week was Green Eggs and Ham.

Yes, many of the children did try the Green Eggs!!!



Some of the word families we explored this week -
at - cat, hat, mat,
all - ball, mall, tall, fall
og - log, dog, frog



Ideas to Practise Word Families at Home


1.  An Envelope of Words:   To encourage your child to practice letter patterns, write the words on paper and cut each letter apart.  Place the letters in an envelope, and label it with the word family.  Then ask your child to build words.  Your child could also write the words he/she makes on paper, chalkboard, marker board, etc.


2.  Nursery Rhymes/Dr. Seuss books:  Place small sticky notes over words in the story that contain word chunks.  Let your child play a guessing game and guess what spelling patterns/words belong in the space.  Lift the stick note to check your answer.


3.  Texture Writing:    Ask your child to make words by using a variety of textures:  Play-Doh, shaving cream, sand, markers, chalk, crayons, finger paint, water paint, etc.


Most importantly, READ!  Share books with your child every day.  After reading a story for enjoyment, challenge your child to search in the text for word families he or she is familiar with. 



Language Curriculum Expectations
1.1 explore sounds, rhythms, and language structures, with guidance and on their own
1.2 demonstrates an awareness that words can rhyme, can begin or end with the same sound, and are composed of phonemes that can be manipulated to create new words

Learning about the Letters of the Alphabet in a Play-Based Program 

The students create letters with play dough, paint and many other craft materials. As they work, we engage in conversations about the letters.

The students write letters, their names and words in shaving foam, pudding and salt.  This stimulates their senses as they are learning about the letters.

As students engage in meaningful writing activities, they develop their understanding of letters, how they are formed and the sounds they produce.

The students play matching games where they match objects with the letters that they begin with.

A similar activity, but here the students are digging for hidden items in the sand table and then they are matching them up with an alphabet chart.

The students create signs to post in our ever-changing drama centre.  Here the students have created signs for a McDonald's restaurant.

Students utilize the word wall as they continue to develop their understanding of the letters of the alphabet.  Here, Hassan and Hamoudy are talking with eachother about the fact that both of their names begin with the letter H.

KinderNews

Jack Frost is here and it is very important that the students are dressed for winter weather every day.  Please remember hats, mitts, boots, snowpants and winter coats.  If possible, please consider sending your child to school with mittens instead of gloves.  Mittens will better protect their fingers from the cold, and they are easier for students to manage when dressing for outdoors. 

 We would like to begin inviting parents into our program to read a story to the class or to join us during centres.  Students enjoy having their parents at school with them, and when parents are actively involved with school activities, students realize the importance of education.  If you are interested in reading a story to the class or joining us during centres, please fill out the form at the bottom of the newsletter and return it in the note tote.

We will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with the students on February 14^th.  Students are welcome to bring treats to share with the class or cards to give to friends.  Please remember that all food must be peanut-free.  If students are bringing cards, we ask that students sign each card with their own name, but there is no need to address each card.  This will make it easier for us to pass them out in a timely fashion.  Teachers will be wearing red, white and pink to celebrate this day, and students are invited to do so as well. 

Prince Edward will be hosting a Numeracy Night on February 15^th.  This is an opportunity for parents to visit the school to learn more about math activities that can be used at home to further promote students’ math skills.  Students and parents will visit primary classrooms. 

The kindergarten classrooms will only be open for new students that are registering for September 2012.  Come on out to learn more about MATH…… and what you can do to help your child succeed.   More details to follow.

Kindergarten registration will also take place on February 15^th.  All children born in the year 2008 are invited to Prince Edward on February 15^th to learn more about our program and to register for the 2012 school year.  More details to follow.   

Please remember that parent teacher interviews will take place on the evening of February 9^th, and that there will no school for students on February 10^th.  There is also no school on February 20^th because this is Family Day. 

We will celebrate the 100th day of school on the 17th of February.  Students are asked to bring in a collection of 100 items... marbles, elastics, cheerios.... whatever suits your family.

                                Thank-you for your continued support,                                                          

                                                             The Early Years Team