Week 7

Dear PS2 Families…

What is more fun than raking leaves together and jumping into them? So many childhood memories come from moments like these. During our theme this week – “Let’s Go Jump in the Leaves” – we did exactly that. The children learned about leaves and the trees they grow on, from deciduous to evergreen. We collected leaves and other treasures on the playground. The children learned to identify maple and oak leaves. We used crayons to rub over prepared leaf plates, making magical leaves appear as we rubbed. We also “smoosh” painted by dripping red, yellow, orange, copper, and gold paint into the fold of art paper to create awesome prints. Painting with rakes and the leaves we collected was exciting, as was creating play dough nature collages with our natural materials. Process art abounds in PS2 every day!

We used magnifying glasses to examine leaves that had turned color, molded bright red and yellow play dough to stamp and cut leaves for fall-themed play, and served customers at the farm stand. We discussed the importance of trees in our lives, learning that leaves are the “nose” of the tree and how they take what we breathe out (carbon dioxide) and use that to make what we breathe in (oxygen). We learned that, after all that hard work, the tree loses its leaves to rest for the winter, then wakes up again in the spring to grow new ones!!!   Singing and reading (both fiction and non-fiction) are such important times for us to come together as a community. You may hear your child sing “I’m a Little Acorn Brown” or “Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel” at home this weekend!!

The sand hill on our playground is a tremendous draw for our students. They made “acorn soup” to fill dump trucks and then dumped their concoctions into giant holes they dug together. They spent time collecting acorns and pinecones in buckets and pails. Everyone enjoyed riding on bikes, swinging on swings, or climbing on structures as we spent precious time on the playground in the morning before starting our day inside together.

We began drawing in our journals this week!! The children had a great deal to say about what they chose to draw.  Many chose to draw family members, while others picked animals or events in their lives.  Everyone enjoyed participating in this activity and said they could not wait to draw again in the coming days.

Every day, we find ways to be kind, helpful, and polite to our friends and our teachers.  We hope you see signs of our classroom mantra in action at home as we reinforce these important concepts at school through our daily actions, activities, and stories we read together.

Each week, our class plays thematic BINGO together. Many preschool skills are reinforced by playing BINGO in a group, such as matching two pictures, listening and attending, following directions, taking turns, and socially interacting with peers. We hope you will ask your PS2 student about their BINGO game when they bring it home!!!

On Tuesday, we took a trip through the pumpkin patch in front of our school.  The children were delighted to see “hundreds” and “thousands” of pumpkins in all colors, shapes, and sizes in one place!! Everyone chose a pumpkin to take home to what we imagine is already a growing pumpkin collection at your house!!  On Friday, we enjoyed music with Miss Elaine.

Thank you again for your support with our thematic letter posters…  We cannot wait to show these off at the Pumpkin Painting Party Wednesday!!!

Speaking of which… We are most excited about our “Pumpkin Painting Party” next week and cannot wait to share time with one special grown-up on Wednesday (10/28) at 11:00 in our classroom. Please let us know in the coming days who the special grown-up will be joining our PS2 friends at our first Parent Event!!

Please consider sending in seasonal clothing for your child’s spare clothes bag. Thank you for helping us with this!!!

We hope you enjoy the upcoming (almost Halloween!!) fall weekend with family and friends…

Most Sincerely…

Miss Michelle, Miss Penny, and Miss Kathryn

 

Chunky Rosy Applesauce

7 (about 4 lbs) apples

2/3 cup water

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Core apples, but do not peel. Cut into pieces

Place apples and water into a pot. Heat until boiling.

Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for fifteen minutes, until the apples are tender.

Stir in sugar and lemon juice.

When cool, press the apple mixture through a food mill or strainer.

Cover and refrigerate.