Apples! Again!
This week we changed things up in our first circle and replaced our hello song with apples on the ground. Each child took a turn waiting to hear their name called in the poem, and when they heard their name they were invited to find their apple on the ground and hand it to me. On the first day, the whole class identified the color of each apple, their friend’s name, and the first letter of the name. The next day, each child was asked to find their apple on their own, tell the class what color, and the first letter of their name.
We also got silly with all the rain outside and did some apple exercising inside the by flipping over different apple action cards that asked the kids to do things like apple jacks (jumping jacks) or apple sauce (stamping feet on the ground).
This week's favorite story was The Little Red House. I began by giving the class a riddle: “Where can you find a little red house with no windows, no doors, a chimney on top, and a star inside?” No one knew the answer, but I had just the book to find it. Peter, the boy in the story, asked many people the same riddle I gave to the class, and after asking many people without much success, he finally sat under an apple tree to think. As he was sitting, an apple hit him on the head and Peter finally had the answer! An apple sure looks a lot like a house with no windows, no doors, and a chimney on top. Do they have a star on the inside? I magically had an apple with me for our “rectangle time”, so I cut it open, and there was a star inside!
On Tuesday, we began music class with Ms. Wada. The kids had a lot of fun—there were many giggles—and everyone was able to use their listening ears to follow Ms. Wada’s instructions. Along with the songs practiced, the kids learned that piano voice is quiet and a forte voice is beautifully loud. The kids then practiced singing and clapping using a piano and forte voice. I plan to practice this concept in our ‘rectangle time!’ :) The kids also got to try out their first instruments, egg shakers.
The projects this week were all apple themed. The class had a lot of fun and got to be little scientists making fizzy apples. They painted a paste of water and baking soda on an apple shape, then used pipettes to drop a solution of food coloring and vinegar on to apples, watching them come alive and fizz. The kids also had a blast making spin art apples for the classroom tree.
Just a couple reminders, no school on Monday and make sure to check the clips by your child’s cubby each day for art work.
Here are some conversation topics
What is a red house, with no windows, no doors, a chimney on top, and a star inside? (an apple)
What letter does your name begin with?
Did the fairy visit this week? (Yes, she left an apple in the garden. We also suspect her of hiding Finn’s name tag —This may happen any time Ms. Rappaport can't find something!)
Who is Ms. Wada? The Music teacher
Where was Music? Big room
It was a pleasure to have your kids in class this week. Hope you get out there and pick some apples!
Enjoy the long weekend,
Ms. Rappaport