Transportation and Hallowen

I'm not gonna lie...doing Transportation in the middle of October was hard.  I felt like we should still be doing some activities that related to the Halloween holiday.  SO, I got creative.  :) Here were a few of our Transportation Centers.  Fire Safety Matching, Firetruck with Firefighter Puppets, Magnatrucks and maps, and our really awesome Sensory Table. 

 The Transportation Sensory Table was full of black beans, small numbers, sandpaper numbers, Construction vehicles, and different road signs to match. 

Now...how did I mix Halloween and Transportation together?   WELL...we did a day airplanes so we made an air plane AND an owl.  Because they both fly of course! 

Then we made Bats and Boats.  Because they both start with B and bats are nocturnal like owls are!











Our letters of the week were letter T and letter C.  T for Transportation obviously and T for Triangle and C for CANDY CORN!

And of course we did school buses.  SO we made a school bus AND we learned The Spooky Wheels on the Bus.  Click the image to get your copy from Amazon.com

 

This song is GREAT! A counting, "spooky" spin on the Wheels on the Bus.

Total credit goes to the author of this story for these great lines.

1 spooky bus goes rattle and shake (shake your arms then bottom)
rattle and shake, rattle and shake.

1 spooky bus goes rattle and shake

All through the town.

2 white wipers go creak, creak, creak. (spread fingers apart and wave whole arm back and forth)

creak, creak, creak.

creak, creak, creak. 

2 white wipers go creak, creak, creak.

All through the town.

3 noisy cats go meow, hiss, hiss. (make hands into claws and swipe them up and down)

meow, hiss, hiss.

meow, hiss, hiss.

3 noisy cats go meow, hiss, hiss.

All through the town.

4 glowing wheels roll round and round. (standard wheels roll around maneuver)
round and round. round and round.
4 glowing wheels roll round and round.
All through the town.

5 big spiders spin their webs. (dance your arms around back and forth)
Spin their webs. Spin their webs.
5 big spiders spin their webs.
All through the town.

6 singing mummies hum, hum, hum. (hands pressed together, sway body back and forth)
hum, hum, hum. hum, hum, hum.
6 singing mummies hum, hum, hum.
All through the town.

7 silly monsters wiggle and waggle. (wiggle arms above head, wiggle arms down low by legs)
wiggle and waggle.  wiggle and waggle.
7 silly monsters wiggle and waggle.
All through the town.

8 wacky witches cackle and howl (let students howl at the moon)
cackle and howl. cackle and howl.
8 wacky witches cackle and howl.
All through the town.

9 magic brooms go swish, swoosh, swish. (pretend to hold a broom and sweep back and forth)
swish, swoosh, swish. swish, swoosh, swish.
9 magic brooms go swish, swoosh, swish.
All through the town.

10 goofy ghosts say BOO! BOO! BOO! (hold up ten fingers and open close them on each BOO!)
BOO! BOO! BOO!
BOO! BOO! BOO!
10 goofy ghosts say BOO! BOO! BOO!
All through the town.


*And that is how I sneaked in some Halloween during our Transportation unit!

Apples!

We have been working on Apples for the past two weeks.  Learning the lifecycle.  When we pick apples.  What can be made with Apples. The parts of an apple.  We read lots of nonfiction stories about apples and apple orchards.  We also read The Apple Pie Tree and Ten Apples Up On Top!

Here's a few of the projects we made!

First we worked in the math center on Patterning.

 Then we took those patterns and used them to create a sequencing activity for The Apple Pie Tree story.

 We did lots of group writing about the things we were learning about apples.  We also made Glitter Apples.  This is a great sensory type activity.  I make the kids spread the glue with their fingers and hands before we sprinkle on the glitter!

 We did an apple tasting! Each child got at least one slice of each color of apple then we voted on which one we liked best.

 We read Ten Apples Up On Top (like ten times!)  Then the kids got a picture of themselves and had to count out ten apples to glue them up on top of their picture!  They loved this project!

 We also cut apple cores.  They had to follow the curved lines, then color and draw seeds, to create an apple core!

I think we enjoyed our unit on apples.  This week we will focus on Transportation (and fire safety).  THEN we will get to do PUMPKINS and Halloween! 

Preschool Fall Songs and Projects

One of the things I absolutely LOVE about preschool is the songs we get to sing.  I have an old favorite and a NEW favorite! I'm an Autumn Tree is my old favorite.  The Leaves on the Tree is my new favorite.


I'm an Autumn Tree
(*Sing to the tune of I'm a little Teapot)
I'm an Autumn tree all orange and brown (Have your arms up in the air like a tree)
I shake my roots and my branches, too! (shake your legs "roots" and then wave your arms"branches")
On a windy day there's a howling sound! (continue to wave your arms back and forth)
WOOOOOO!!!!
And then the leaves fall down! (wave your arms down to the ground)

The Leaves on the Trees
(*sing to the wheels on the bus)
The leaves on the tree turn orange and brown (hold arms up in the air)
Orange and Brown
Orange and Brown.
The leaves on the tree turn orange and brown.
All through the town.

The leaves on the tree come tumbling down. (wiggle your arms and bend down)
Tumbling down.
Tumbling down.
The leaves on the tree come tumbling down.
All through the town. 

The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch. (march in place)
crunch, crunch, crunch.
crunch, crunch, crunch.
The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch.
All through the town.

The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish. (squat down and wiggle your arms/fingers back and forth)
Swish, swish, swish.
Swish, swish, swish.
The leaves on the ground go swish, swish, swish.
All through the town!


We have also made the PRETTIEST fall trees! We used a di-cut tree, drew a shape so the kids had a different shape on each tree to stay inside with their paint.  THEN we made a color/number key and made it into a Paint by Numbers activity! The kids loved it, and these trees are always my favorite project!

We are currently studying apples! I am excited to share all the cool work we have been doing and a few more cool fingerplays/songs we have learned!

Apple Seed Counting Book

So I searched to find activities to go with our Apple Unit starting on Monday.  I found the idea to make a "book" for them to count and draw apple seeds on an apple.  After searching I could only find them in places where you have to pay a membership every year to be a part of their teacher website. 

With TeachersPayTeachers, there is NO membership fee.  You just log in and look around!  So I made my own apple seed counting book! There is a title page, a page for them to write their name, and numbers are from 1-10.  This gives them a chance to do number recognition as well as hands on 1to1 counting experience for your math centers.


You can get your copy on my teacherspayteachers website! Click the link or the picture to purchase this item!

Happy Fall! :)

Sensory September

The new curriculum we have been using this year has been shifting our focus a bit to be able to provide sensory learning experiences for our students.  Basically they are getting a 360 full senses experience.  They get to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste a variety of things each day. 


In our science center, I have made a magnet sensory box.  There are different things for them to touch and learn with to figure out which things are magnetic or not.  Inside the box we have: feathers, pompoms, paper clips, popsicle sticks, jingle bells, buttons, and binder clips. The plastic horseshoe magnets came from Dollar Tree! :)

 

In our actual "Sensory Table" we have dry noodles and foam magnet letters.  The pizza pan is one from Dollar Tree that has just been spray painted to look neat! The students actually had the chance to help me dye the noodles to add to the sensory table!  We did that project during inside recess one day! We used sandwich bags, 2 drops of food coloring, and 2 pumps of hand sanitizer! They got to shake the bags and watch the magic happen!  They loved getting to be a part of making their center!

The kids love and learn from activities that engage their whole bodies, not just their brains!

Happy Fall Y'all!

In the fall lots of exciting things happen! There is Grandparent's Night at our school.  The kiddos get to make special projects for their grandparents (we painted grapes with the saying "I love you bunches!") and the kiddos can bring their whole family in to school to see our classroom and all the cool things they learn with each day.  They made cute shape houses during our "home" unit and they did a reading comprehension bag activity with our story The Bag I'm Taking to Grandma's.

With the people that signed in to my classroom for Grandparent's Night, I had 146 people attend!
IT was AWESOME! :) 

 Fall is one of my favorite times of year to plan activities.  Our curriculum had a great idea to use leaves to pattern with.  I was able to find these awesome (and durable!) leaves from Dollar Tree! I also added some leaf  number cards in the bucket so they can either patter or count the leaves!

Today, we took a field trip Bennett Springs!  We went on a nature"Adventure" in the woods and became real explorers! We found all kinds of mushrooms, plants, and even a snake skin!  We walked the whole trail with my afternoon class! It was 3/4 mile and the kids did a GREAT job!  They really got into looking around and seeing all the things on our trail!

We have some more exciting projects we will be doing this week so I will post more pictures of our awesome projects as we get them done!

HAPPY  FALL Y-ALL! :)

Attention Getters

It's already that time of year. 
When the first attention getter has worn off and it's time to learn something new.

We have been practicing, "Criss Cross! Hands in Lap! BUBBLES IN YOUR CHEEKS!"  It was not only my attention getter but also a directive to learn how to sit on our rug.  VERY effective during the first month of preschool.

Now we know how to sit on the rug.  Now we have a friend that we sit by.  Now it's time for the teacher to get creative and teach them something NEW. 

I found this pack of printable attention getter sheets from http://firstgradecharades.blogspot.ca/2012/09/first-day-fun.html! It was free to me, so if you click the image above it will be FREE to you, too! 

Parents: These will work at home, too!  Pick some that might work for you and give them a try!  I would reccomend "Holy Moly! Guacamole!" ,"Macaroni and Cheese! FREEZE!" , and "Yackety Yak! Don't talk back." REMEMBER: you will have to teach how to use the phrase AND practice it. Also remember, these are to grab their attention! Unless you choose, "Yakety Yak! Don't talk back!" and that can be effective for redirecting them when they may be making sad choices with you.

So 3 pigs and a wolf...

Our newest unit will be about "homes."

So what better story to use than the 3 Little Pigs? 

Click the picture to see the story we will be reading in class.  That way you will know the story and can share the story with your child, too!

After we read this story today, I will be introducing some different versions.
Some of my favorites will include:
The Three Little Gators and the Big Bad Boar.
The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.
The TRUE Story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.

Look for some pictures this week as well! We will be performing the 3 Pigs Play!

Recess and Summer Days

Normally, every child is all about recess! 
The kids are all about recess. Seriously-the kids will ask from the minute they get to school til the minute you actually line up to go outside, they will ask if we are going outside today.

Usually teachers really like recess, too!  It gives us a chance to take a break, get some fresh air, and let them run their wiggles out!  I go over the weather report every morning with the students and we will talk about if recess is an option for the day.  This week is quite a different summer scenario than most summer days.

According to KSPR, our county is under a Heat Advisory.
If it is dangerously hot, we will NOT be going outside.  Their little bodies are easily overheated (especially when they run and jump and swing!)

PARENTS---Please talk to your child about the heat and what it can do to your body.  They need to know that excessive temperature is just as bad as when it's really cold.  Also, please make sure to dress them accordingly!  Short sleeves, tank tops, shorts or capris. 
NO LONG SLEEVES, JACKETS OR COATS OR STOCKING HATS are necessary right now.  They will want to wear them and it's too hot for that. Also please dress them in LIGHT COLORS!  Dark colors attract light/heat and can make them even hotter, even faster!

Here are two examples of PERFECT outfits for this week!

 

KIDDING! JUST KIDDING! It would be both adorable and hilarious if you sent them to me like this however, this is not what I mean! ;)

 

Also, tell them not to be mad at their teachers when they say we have to stay inside because it's too hot to play! :) 

Our first project of the year

Can I just take a moment to stop and say...
Paper plates are AWESOME.

You can just do so many different things with them!!!!

Our first curriculum unit of the school year is "Same and Different." It's really more like an "All About Me" type unit that most of us preschool teachers may do.  The kids really seemed to enjoy making their "Plate Face!" 

It has been a very busy first full week of school but I can't wait to continue to share more of their work as we go along!

HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL!

Facebook!

So not many preschoolers are on facebook, right?

THEY ARE NOW!!!

Not only will they get a chance to blog with me, but they will also get to decide things that will get posted and shared on our facebook account!  I believe most of them will have probably heard of it through either their parents or siblings, so I think this will be something they will be excited to share in as well.

Find and like us on our facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/mrschristysclassroom!

Western Theme Back to School Bulletin Boards

Our Back to School and PBIS Theme of the year is a western theme.  After searching pinterest and googling for days, I think I found some ideas with a little modification to make them work for me!

 This board IS NOT a bulletin board set!  This was made on my computer by finding a font that looked "old western" style and then by googling "wanted posters."  COST: $0 :)

 This board was a pinterest inspiration.  The phrase with it said "Lasso a Good Read" but I thought "Ropin a Good Read" had a better flow.  The rope AND the bandannas came from Dollar Tree.  The bandannas were actually a 2 pack so I got them for $0.50 each!  Cost: $5

This board is made from a cricut and really cool background bulletin board paper!  You can order premade background bulletin board paper that fits a standard bulletin board from almost any classroom supply catalog now.  The boots were cut from my mom's Cricut machine!  Thanks Mom and Lori for having these supplies for me! :)

This board was also created from a Cricut machine.  The little people and the horseshoes were cut and placed together for our "3 B's" Esther Expectations Board.  I thought it turned out CUTE!

I will blog about our outside bulletin board after it is finished tonight.  I have created an interactive bulletin board for Open House!  The kids will get to chose what shape their name will go on (hat, star, or boot) then they will color it and it will get hung up during open house!  That way they are already a part of our classroom.

Before and Afters

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

BEFORE

 AFTER

 Two of my most FAVORITE areas!

 Cute "Entry way" made with a set of moveable cubbies,
but you could use a sturdy shelf of some kind!

 

 My Desk area is pretty awesome! :)

 I think it came out nicely ;)

I am pretty happy with the way things turned out.  I am thankful to have such wonderful parents to help me create these things to use, thankful to have such a wonderful teacher friend that hoarded such wonderful items for me to use to set up with, and thankful to have the chance to move and teach these little lives in this classroom.

T'was the Friday before Open House

Twas the Friday before Open House
and all through the school
All the teacher were stirring
and using their tools.

All the folders were stuffed in the cubbies with care
with hopes that the children soon would be there.

The children were all snuggled down in their beds,
while visions of new friends danced in their heads.

When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
When what to my wondering eyes should see?
Parents, and siblings, and 40 new friends for me.

This little, sweet teacher so lively and quick!
She knew in a minute they were the ones she would pick.
More rapid than busses her courses they came,
she smiled, and waved, then called them by name:

"Now Suzy, now Billy, Now Julie and Jim!
On Michael, on Lisa, on Caden and Kim!
To the cubbies! To the tables! To the centers and rug!
Now meet your friends! Find your things, give your teacher a hug!"

They heard the teacher exclaim as the families all drove out of sight,
"Welcome back to school! And to all a good night!"

First Item For Sale!

I created some signs for my centers this morning while drinking my morning coffee.  I think they turned out well! I searched for other pre-made signs but nothing quite fit exactly what I needed.  These signs were created in powerpoint, so it is easily accessible, easy to edit, and easy to print!  Click on the picture below or this link, Teachers Pay Teachers to visit my store and get your centers signs!

Step One: Completed

A Teacher's "Step One" consists of assessing your situation and putting things back where they need to be.  Room arrangement is KEY in setting up a successful, smooth running classroom.  It can take HOURS to set up your furniture just the way you want. 

I should know. 
I worked for a MONTH on getting my room to look the way I thought it would work best. 

This was my step one.
I used this picture I took after getting my room just the way I wanted it during summer school.  My room looks IDENTICAL to the pictures I took in June.  Saved me soooo much time this August!

STEP TWO:::
Bulletin Boards
Finish Decorating

STEP THREE:::
Stuff Folders
Stock Shelves
Name Tags & Bus Tags

STEP FOUR(if time permits):::
Organize book tubs

BONUS:::
My Momma is staying with us so that she can help me for a couple days so we can bust a move and get things done!

Zero

 BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Time's UP!
Summer is OVER.

It's August 1st! Rise and SHINE teachers!  It's our first day of school!

Time to get back into the classroom and work like crazy people until every folder has been stuffed; every decoration has been hot glued; every shelf has been restocked.

Today is the day.
Let's do this!

Countdown

My official countdown begins today.

There are only 4 days left before TEACHERS can go back to school.  That's right! FOUR.

After that there are only 10 days (*including weekends) until Open House. 

 The next week and a half are going to be BUSY BUSY BUSY! 

I don't know about you, but I am a big fan of countdowns. It gives you something to get excited about.  I count down each month for something be that a holiday, a birthday, or a day off.  Some things I count down for months such as I count down til Christmas (only 24 weeks left!) OR I countdown til the END of school (*it's never too early to think about that!).  

To get your kiddos excited about starting school you could do a countdown with them!  Print this countdown (or make your own) and starting NEXT Monday Aug. 4th, get them pumped up to come back to school! 

Thanks to Happy Home Fairy for the countdown to school!