Goldilocks and the Three Bears

We had fun with the familiar story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  The students enjoyed acting the story out.  Retelling familiar stories that have been read aloud is an important pre-literacy skill.  

The students explored with oats and water so that they could pretend make porridge themselves.

We also made porridge for a fun snack!  We had to take a walk first, because just like the bears, our porridge was "too hot!"  The weather was beautiful, and it was fun to get outside.

Peeking inside the classroom window to see if Goldilocks found our room while we were out!

Zones of Regulation

Miss Kayla helped us make our own mini zones boards to take home this week!  Make sure to read the handout that came home with the zones board.  This board can be a helpful tool for helping with regulation at home.

Click here to see the rest of the pictures from our bear week!

Coming Up

Next week we will begin our snowmen/winter unit.  Important upcoming dates:

• December 4th - Let's Bake visit.  All students are welcome to attend
• The morning class will attend during their regular morning hours from 8:30 - 11:36 am
• The afternoon class will attend during their regular afternoon hours from 12:10 - 3:16 pm
• We are still looking for parent volunteers (especially for the afternoon class).  Please let us know if you can help out.
• December 5th at 6:30 pm - Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Christmas Concert
• December 5th and 6th - Early Dismissal days
• The morning class will dismiss at 10:36 am
• The afternoon class will dismiss at 2:16 pm
• December 20th - Christmas Party and Pajama Day
• All students are welcome to attend
• The morning class will attend during their regular morning hours from 8:30 - 11:36 am
• The afternoon class will attend during their regular afternoon hours from 12:10 - 3:16 pm
• December 21st - January 6th: Christmas break.  No School

Hibernation Week

It was a cozy week in Pre-K as our jammie-clad crew baked up some bannock, cuddled with stuffies during storytime, and had fun bouncing bears on a big blanket!

Bannock making

Thanks so much to our parent helpers for this special activity! The Pre-K's were super chefs. They followed a recipe, measured, stirred, and poured. The bannock was delicious plain or with butter/jam. Here is a link to the recipe in case you want to try it at home! Bannock Recipe

Mmm...delicious!

We also learned this chant to build our literacy skills and have fun saying hello in many ways. 

Storytime with Stuffies

We read a funny story called Big Smelly Bear about a bear who doesn't like to take baths. We started painting smelly bears that don't smell too bad at all! Cinnamon in the paint added a sensory element as the students developed their fine-motor skills. We will finish up next week.

More Bear Fun!

 

Loose Parts in the Kitchen

Loose parts is a wonderful term coined by Simon Nicholson. He believed that we are all creative and that loose parts empower our creativity. Loose parts invite endless possibilities.

The Pre-Ks loved exploring in the kitchen with all the different materials (loose parts) we added. 

See more pics of our week here!

Upcoming!

• Dec. 5  RBES Pre-K Christmas concert
• Dec. 5/6 Early Dismissal
• Dec. 4 The Bread Lady In-School Field trip 
• All students are welcome to attend on this day.  
• We will also be looking for parent volunteers, please let us know if you can help out!

From the Office:

Bears Bears Bears!

Our week felt quick with the early dismissal days, but was rich in culture and play as we began our Bear theme. 

Monday/ Tuesday we read a story called, Sometimes I feel like a Fox. 

Students enjoyed making different animal sounds and actions before creating their own animal mask. 

Mask Time!

Bear Dance!

We had fun dancing like bears on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Storytime 

This week we also read a wonderful book called, Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you See?

Students did a great job observing and retelling all the animals we met in the story as we practiced our colour words. Beyond being a simple animal and colour book, this story has rhythm. It is a fabulous story to read aloud again and again!

A Box or a Cave?

The Pre-K classes transformed a large cardboard box into a bear cave. They painted and sawed, cooperated and crawled, in and out...so much fun!

Calming Tools

Self-regulation is an important skill that, like other skills, needs to be taught. We have looked at the 4 Zones, identified the feelings associated with each zone, and are now introducing different tools we can use to help us stay in, or get back into, the 'green' zone. 

Tools we have practiced so far:

belly breathing, 
going for a walk, 
sitting in the egg chair, 
squeezing a stress ball, 
using a fidget, 
wearing noise-reducing headphones, 
and a new favorite: holding a weighted animal.

In Remembrance

We made poppies in honor of Remembrance Day. There is no school Monday Nov.12.

Upcoming!

Next week we will continue exploring all things Bears! Wednesday and Thursday are our Hibernation days. Students can come dressed in their cozy PJs and bring a bear from home if they like.

Bannock-making: Thank you to the parents/helpers that offered to come make Bannock with us next week! We are excited about this hands-on and tasty cooking experience.

Nov. 12 No School
Nov. 13/14 Bannock-making
Nov. 14/15 Hibernation Day, Wear PJs, Bring a bear or stuffie.

More Pics!

Click this link to see more pics of our week. 

Halloween Fun!

Our week was short, but it was pure Halloween fun!

Our afternoon Halloween parade!

The kids enjoyed a spooky witches brew story on the light table.

We also experimented yet again with vinegar and baking soda.  This time we discovered that you can use vinegar and baking soda to blow up a balloon - it was just like magic!

Thank you

A huge thank you goes out to the volunteers who helped out with our Halloween parties.  Thank you to Ally Reid, Kathy Massia, Katryn Mawson-Dalmer, as well as Hudson and Riley's Grandma for donating your time.  Party days always get a little crazy and we greatly appreciate the extra set of hands that allows us to give the kids special experiences such as pumpkin carving with their friends. 

 

Thank you also to the parents who sent party treats for our snacks.  The food was delicious and the kids were delighted to have a snack together on their special day.

Trick-or-Treat!

We hope you had a great time trick-or-treating with your little ones!  We had fun this week playing Halloween with our kids and pretending to trick-or-treat as one of our imaginative play stations.  This station developed language skills, emphasized turn taking, and encourage imaginary play skills.

Ball Pit!

Yes, the rumors are true - we now have our very own ball pit!  It has been an exciting week filled with turn taking and learning to be gentle with our friends.  Our ball pit will be up all year.  It provides a wonderful sensory experience and will be a valuable asset to our program.  Some of our ball pit rules include: no shoes, three kids at a time, and coming out when the your turn is over.

Click here to see more pictures from our Halloween week.

Christmas Cards

Christmas card orders are due on Thursday, November 8th.  Please check your email to preview the one of a kind artwork that your child has created.  You can order on your child's art on a set of Christmas cards if you wish!

Coming Up

Next week we will be starting our bear unit!  Important upcoming dates:

• November 7th and 8th - Early Dismissal Days
• the morning class will dismiss at 10:36 am
• the afternoon class will dismiss at 2:16 pm
• November 12th - midterm break, no school
• November 14th and 15th - Hibernation Day  
• wear your pajamas to school and we will hibernate like the bears!