All aboard!

The OLES train station is open for business.  Tickets are being sold at an alarming rate, so you'd better get your seat soon.  In all seriousness, the preschoolers are really enjoying this new learning center.  They each take turns dramatizing the roles of railroad employees as well as train passengers.  Now that we're traveling by train in February, the preschoolers look at a map of the United States instead of looking at a map of the world, so that they can see where we should go each day. 

While we have the large Amtrak train in the station that the preschoolers can ride on, the preschoolers also painted some extra boxcars for a train that can actually move around the classroom.  This moveable train has allowed us to discuss ordinal numbers and to work on our identification our numbers in the teens.  Lastly, our music teacher, Ms. Ricci, has taught us some fun train songs to add to our learning.  We are right on track for learning as much language as possible!

Gross Motor Group with Ms. Kasey!

Ms. Kasey always brings a variety of fun things for us to do in class.  She encourages us to work on our gross motor muscle development.  We have yoga exercises that promote flexibility and strength.  We've been practicing daily so that Kasey could see how strong we are getting.  Thanks for always keeping exercise, flexibility and strengthening activities fun for the preschoolers, Kasey.  We appreciate you!

 

Will the Groundhog See His Shadow - 2018?

Chasing Shadows

The preschoolers had fun learning about shadows, both inside and outside of the classroom.  My favorite part was watching the preschoolers as they began looking for shadows on their own.  When they were initiating conversations with their friends & asking them to join in on the hunt, I couldn't help but smile.  6 more weeks of winter (or not)...our mission was accomplished! 

 

Preschool Artwork - Pilots, airplanes & clouds

  

 

 

 

A new year brings....Snow & Winter Traveling!

January was a crazy month for Virginia Beach weather!  A positive aspect of all of that snow accumulation was the fact that, the real snow perfectly complimented our Winter Theme unit.  I think that the preschoolers truly understand what snow is...and that means that it was a fun learning experience for them.  While we did have 7 snow days in January, we were still able to learn a lot.  In preschool, we focused our learning on the vocabulary of winter & were able to take daily trips to the Arctic & to the Antarctic Polar Regions of the world.  When we were in school...our flights were always on time at OLES!  :) 

In preparation for those cold destinations, the preschoolers packed their suitcases with warm winter clothes.  Then, they planned and carried out daily flights to Alaska & Antarctica.  The preschoolers purchased tickets and boarded the plane independently.  They were also able to fly & land the plane like a pro.  Some of the preschoolers were flight attendants, taking drink orders from the other passengers.  Other students were pilots, co-pilots or air traffic controllers.

Upon arrival to the Winter Theme area, the preschoolers learned all about winter weather, how to read a thermometer, about winter animals and about lots of activities that could be accomplished during the winter months.  In the end, it was a cold, arctic blast of fun! 

 

 

 

 

Post Office/Bakery

The OLES post office and bakery are open for business!  Over the last few days, the preschoolers have been carefully writing their names on holiday cards & letters and addressing their package labels so that postal workers can deliver them to their friends.  It is exciting to watch their communication, literacy and dramatic play skills increase as they take on the different roles in this center.  While the two centers seem very different, they actually complement each other nicely.  In the preschooler's eyes, the bakery gives purpose to the post office.  Since many of the preschoolers have had minimal life experiences with the post office or receiving mail, the concept of sending packages/goodies to their loved ones helps to bridge this gap of understanding.  Our aim is to focus on the language behind these types of jobs and to encourage the preschoolers to interact with each other in a positive manner.  Sending and receiving packages to their friends encourages just that.

In the bakery, the preschoolers are able to make many delicious baked goods.  First, we have them choose a recipe card to follow.  Then, they collect the ingredients that they will need to make their food item.  Lastly, the preschoolers are encouraged to bake the dough, batter, etc. and then package or prepare it so that they can mail it to someone else.  It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

                                        

                           

 

Bears/Forest

                                        
 

During our Bears/Forest thematic unit, the preschoolers learned about nature & the animals that live in the forest.  Each day, they were able to explore a dark cave, fish like a bear and help the chipmunks & squirrels to hide nuts for the upcoming winter months.  The preschoolers learned what different kinds of bears eat, what they look like and why they hibernate.  As the preschoolers were actively playing in the forest, they were also learning many new vocabulary words & practicing their social/communication skills.

The preschoolers were also able to observe real items from nature such as fall leaves, acorns and pine cones in the forest.  They loved using the magnifying glass tools in this center.  The best part was that their excitement for learning led to many great discussions about the forest and season of fall/autumn.  In fact, the preschoolers were so excited to observe items from nature that they began looking for seeds, leaves, sticks and other items from nature everywhere they went!  They were bringing me items from home, the playground, etc. to add to the center daily.  We used this opportunity to have them practice their talking.  When they would bring something in, they would give their friends clues about what they had brought.  Their friends had to listen to the clues and guess what it was.  

During the last week of the thematic unit, we focused on the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  We read various versions of the story and compared the stories' similarities and differences.  The preschoolers favorite part was acting out the stories and using their "Big Papa" voice or "Baby Bear" voice.  This was exciting to see because it showed that they not only had comprehension of the story through listening, but that they were hearing the differences in my tone of voice & emulating it.