From Halloween to Thanksgiving

Wow! I just realized that I totally missed out on posting the rest of our Halloween fun!  The week of Halloween we did a few book related projects that turned out GREAT!  This first picture is a class project.  We read Ten Timid Ghosts (and a few other books with a haunted house, too!)  then I told the kids I wanted to draw a Haunted House but I didn't know where to start! So they gave me every detail---right down to what shape of windows I should use and even an "Olaf" trick-or-treater at the door! They did a great job using their knowledge of our stories and their imaginations to create this with me. They were also given 3 Triangles and a semi-circle to create Jack-o-Laterns.  There was no preset pattern to use.  They just had to go for it! They did wonderful work!

We also spent a lot of time investigating pumpkins.  We did one week of pumpkin study during Halloween and the next week we did the first week of November with our Thanksgiving kick-off!  After reading SEVERAL "From seed to pumpkin" type stories, the kids got to use sequencing cards to create the life cycle of a pumpkin. And of course we used a real, BIG pumpkin to explore.  We investigated the inside and outside.  Weighed it and measured it.

As a fun inside recess project the morning class got to create these super fun PAPER bag pumpkins from brown paper bags and some newspaper for stuffing.  The corn was made after reading a book about growing corn and talking about how the Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to grow corn and squash.  The kids really seemed to enjoy learning about the Thanksgiving story.  BUT of course they enjoyed it much more from PETE THE CAT.  I am so very thankful that they are making Pete the Cat stories to engage kiddos in a variety of holidays!

I also decided this month to try something totally new.  I found these free Printable books from 1+1+1=1 Preschool Packs.  This site has TONS of FREE printables that are just great for PreK-ers.  (*Click the picture to get the pack THIS book is in)  Well we copied the books but it looked like we weren't going to have time to do them in class.  SO....I made them into a take home book project! I sent home instructions on how to do the book together as a family and how to encourage some pre-reading skills with it!  From the kiddos that brought their book back to share it with me, they seemed to LOVE getting to do this.  ((((So much so, that I already have a CHRISTMAS family book project ready to send home)))  I really enjoyed how the kiddos enjoyed this take home activity.

From one turkey project to another, this one just happens to be my FAVORITE turkey project maybe ever.  Using paint strips create a fanned out turkey tail and staple it together.  Then give the kiddos the other pieces to create an awesome turkey!  We crinkle folded (or accordion folded) the legs.  Then they were given their color words that they had to match to the right color on the tail (as you can see...we are still workin on that!) BUT the kids had a blast creating their special turkeys.

 Using their handprints they got to make Mayflower ships! Getting preschoolers to learn the name of the "BIG BOAT with those one people on it" is hard work!

They also really enjoyed getting to use shapes to create their Pilgrims and Native Americans.  Each character was made entirely from different shapes the kids identified as they were creating.

All in all I would say I am thankful for my little friends who make each day such a wonderful voyage.