A Wonderful week In The Pre-k!

Greetings dear parents!

How was your week? We hope you had a fantastic week. In the Pre-K class, we had a delightful time filled with sensory activities, new topics, insightful discussions and more!

Large Group

Our large group this week was literacy- focused. The class excitedly got busy reviewing all the letters of the alphabet, and identifying the missing ones in a set. We also dove deep into shapes- discussing hexagons, pentagons, heptagons, and more. We also practiced counting beyond 10, talked about the weather, enjoyed some music, and shared stories about our weekends along with other fun activities. As usual, it was a great time filled with bonding and conversation!

Literacy

This week, the class did a "missing letters" activity. Missing letter activities are very helpful for Pre-K classes to recap what they have learned so far about letters and sounds. After we went over a few things regarding this in our large group, we practiced in our literacy sections. Activities such as these are simple, interactive ways to engage children in recognizing letters, understanding alphabetical order, and improving problem-solving skills. Furthermore, these activities can help children become familiar with individual letters and their sounds. The class were incredibly focused and engaged in this session, and had fun as well! We also provided tracing letters to the students who needed them, to aid in recognition and enhance their fine motor skills.

Math

This week in math class, we focused on numbers above 10, specifically number 13. Some of our students have mastered numbers up to 10. For those learners, we had them trace number 13 and identify it among other numbers, then colored it in. After that, they practiced writing number 13. For the students who are still getting to know numbers up to 10, we provided a missing number of exercises. We recently had several students transition to Pre K from the previous class, and it’s important for us to make sure everyone feels included and not rushed. This approach helps them recognize numbers and practice writing up to 10. Additionally, we provided tracing exercises for other students to help them practice numbers up to 10, as we are working on their fine motor skills and number recognition. Everyone loved the math sessions and did an amazing job with their activities!

Science

This week's science activity was exciting and tactile- Making “Slime"! Slime is a fantastic project for Pre-K, for both engagement and academic purposes. First, we started by giving each child some cornstarch, then added water. They mixed the ingredients by squishing, stretching, and molding the slime. This activity helps develop their fine motor skills as they pinch and pull the slime, strengthening their little hands. Additionally, it’s a great way to demonstrate how mixing ingredients can create something new.

Hands-on activities like making slime foster curiosity, patience, and creativity. Plus, it’s just plain fun! Watching their faces light up as they stretch and squish their creations makes the slight mess well worth it.

Art

This week, the class worked on a seasonal delight to match the current time of year- a "Winter Tree." Winter is a magical time of year and is the perfect season to inspire creativity in Pre-K. Engaging in art projects that focus on winter trees helps children explore the beauty of the season while developing fine motor skills and a love for art.

We began by discussing the weather, which led us to the idea of creating winter trees. First, we went outside to collect tree branches from the compound. Then, we took them to the art room, where our students glued the branches onto paper. After that, they attached cotton balls to the branches to represent fluffy snow.

Winter tree art is more than just a fun activity; the children really loved the process of brainstorming, creating, and reflecting upon their artwork!

Ethiopian Center

This week in our Ethiopian Center, we embarked on an exciting culinary adventure by making “Shiro”, a beloved Ethiopian traditional dish! We kicked things off with a lively discussion about how it's made and the ingredients we would be using. Our children eagerly shared their guesses and buzzed with excitement about this new experience.

Afterward, we ventured outside to wash our hands thoroughly before gathering around the kitchen. There, we explored the materials and ingredients—like toy knives, chopping boards, onions, and tomatoes—that would help us in our cooking journey. Each child took turns being the chef, chopping onions and tomatoes with great enthusiasm!

As the cooking began, they stirred the pot and checked on the cooking process, all under the watchful eyes of an adult. Once the Shiro was ready, everyone washed up again and settled down to taste their creation. They shared bites with each other (gursha), embracing the Ethiopian tradition of eating together. The joy on their faces was priceless as they experienced this cultural delight, showcasing a rainbow of expressions from excitement to curiosity.

“My moms Shiro is yummy” -Liyat

“It’s spicy” - Lielena

“We want more Shiro” - Solomon

Gymnastics

This week's gymnastics session was a blast, as usual! We started by warming up to the "Let's Get Fit" exercise song, which has quickly become a class favorite and often gets requested in large and small group sessions. Then, we practiced spinning hula hoops. This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to practice their hand-eye coordination and balance. Everyone was so excited as we jumped onto the dot and went around. Finally, on the gymnastics mat, we practiced doing “flip flops”, which is an approachable way for children to build up to doing more advanced moves, like cartwheels and front flips. Once again, we’re incredibly proud of our well rounded learners!

Our Next Week’s Schedule:

Large group

Songs: Good morning songs

Circle time calendar

books

Small group

Monday: Science

Tuesday: Math

Thursday: Literacy

Our Specials:

Monday: Ethiopian center

Tuesday: Library

Wednesday: Art

Reminders:

Every Tuesday is our library day, so we will be sending a book that your child picked from our library, which will be returned after a week on library day.

Every Wednesday is our art day so please send your child with art-appropriate clothing.

Thank you for reading! Have a nice weekend.